Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday outlined the priority areas that will benefit from the USD600 million (PHP36.95 billion) grant from the United States to strengthen the country's healthcare system. Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the grant will support the implementation of the Strategic Objective Agreement for Integrated and Sustainable Health Systems between the Philippines and the US.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro noted, based on the Department of Finance's (DOF) statement, that under the agreement, the two countries will work toward three key results to reinforce the Philippine health system. These include strengthening disease surveillance, detection, and outbreak response; integrating health service delivery across disease programs; and enhancing domestic capacity to finance and manage the health sector.

The initiative will also support priority health programs, addressing Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), Neglected Tropical Diseases, and Maternal Newborn and Child Health, Castro added. "Iyan po ang mga programa kung saan ilalaan po ang naibigay po na grant ng US para sa ating health system (These are the programs where the US grant will be allocated to support our health system)," she stated.

The DOF said Monday the Department of Health is expected to use the USD600 million grant to upgrade medical delivery, bolster defenses against outbreak threats, and strengthen national health security.

On July 22, the Philippines and the US also signed a grant of USD193 million (PHP11.8 billion) to support a five-year joint program to detect, treat, and prevent HIV and TB.