The Philippines will not be significantly affected by United States President Donald Trump’s order to freeze and review all foreign assistance, according to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon.

Edillon said the government can always ask other foreign development partners for assistance.

Edillon commented on Trump’s order to freeze and review the foreign assistance the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided, including aid for the Philippines.

“Iba na rin ang situation natin noon sa ngayon. Dati kasi we even depend on USAID sa school buildings natin,” Edillon said in a press briefing in Malacanang on Monday.

“Ngayon hindi na tayo sa ganoon situation. So, it’s really more of the technical assistance apart, which pwede naman tayo mag-source from other development partners,” she added.

The US government has ordered a 90-day review of USAID. Edillon stated that the Philippine government would need to wait for the review’s outcome, which would impact Philippine projects with USAID.

“We will have to wait ma-resolve yung issue na yan, but concerning the ongoing na mga technical assistance, we are actually still continuing with the studies,” she said.

Edillon said that some USAID staff in the Philippines continue providing technical assistance.

“We also have good relationship with the USAID staff. Marami naman sa kanila ang nagbibigay ng inputs, out of their goodwill naman,” she said.

The US State Department issued a “stop-work” order on January 24 for all existing foreign assistance after President Trump ordered a pause to review whether the aid allocation aligned with his foreign policy. | PND