Palace welcomes US proposal to increase military aid to RP

Malacañang welcomed yesterday the proposed budget allocation of the United States government seeking to increase US financial assistance to the Philippines in terms of military and economic aid.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye said in a radio interview that the proposed increase in US military and economic assistance to the Philippines demonstrates the importance given by the US to its relations with the Philippines.

"The additional military and economic help coming from the US only proves that the US continues to give importance to the Philippine-US relationship," he said.

The Bush administration asked Congress to pass its proposed budget for 2005, which includes a $164-million allocation for military and economic assistance for the Philippines.

The proposed budget includes $35 million in economic support funds ($20 million in fiscal year 2004) to help Moro National Liberation Front and Moro Islamic Liberation Front members and their families, and $30 million in foreign military financing ($17 million in FY 2004) to modernize and reform the Armed Forces of the Philippines and reinforce its counter-terrorism training.

The Bush administration also requested $26 million in development assistance ($23 million in FY 2004), $28 million in child survival and health funds ($22 million in FY 2004) and $3 million for international military education and training (IMET) for the Philippines.

"Malacañang welcomes this positive development," Bunye said. "We could say that this is the result of various bilateral meetings between President Arroyo and US President George W. Bush, as well as our designation as a major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally of the US."

Bunye said the Philippines’ status as a major non-NATO ally will greatly help the Philippines in upgrading its armed forces and facilitating socio-economic development.

The relationship between the US and Philippine governments was strengthened under the Arroyo administration, when Mrs. Arroyo pledged full support for the US-led coalition assault on Iraq to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and, later, the rehabilitation of Iraq.

Over 100 Filipino soldiers, police officers and medical personnel have been sent to Iraq as part of the Philippines commitment to the reconstruction of Iraq.

The Philippines is also eligible to participate in the multibillion dollar reconstruction projects in Iraq as subcontractors to the primarily American firms selected to undertake the reconstruction.

The Philippines now ranks fourth among the countries receiving US foreign military financing and is the world’s second biggest beneficiary of the IMET program.