Manila: The United States is set to provide more than PHP11.8 billion (USD193 million) to support a USD42-billion five-year joint health program with the Philippines in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB), the US Embassy in Manila announced.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippines and the US signed the Health Strategic Objective Agreement on July 22, which outlines a jointly funded plan to enhance the country's capacity to detect, treat, and prevent HIV and TB. The agreement was signed at the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings, attended by State Secretary Marco Rubio.
Of the USD42 billion, the US Embassy stated that the Philippines will co-invest more than PHP30 billion (USD492 million) in its health systems over the next five years. The United States Government, collaborating with the US Congress, intends to provide over PHP11.8 billion (USD193 million) during the five-year term of the Agreement to advance shared global health goals, combat the spread of infectious diseases before they reach an international scale, and enhance the autonomy and resilience of health systems in the Philippines.
The timing of US Ambassador Lee Lipton's signature on the Agreement, alongside Secretary Rubio's visit to the Philippines, represents a significant milestone in the Trump Administration's America First Global Health Strategy. The Embassy further noted that the Agreement aims to save lives in both countries, bolster the resiliency of the Philippine health system through coordinated co-funding, and promote innovations to curtail the spread of infectious diseases, such as TB and HIV, that pose threats to both nations.
The program will concentrate on improving the surveillance, detection, and response to HIV and TB outbreaks. Over the five-year period, the two countries will work together to integrate health service delivery across disease programs and enhance domestic capacity to finance and manage the health sector.
