Puerto Princesa City, May 20, 2025—On May 16, U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson led the turnover of three U.S.-government donated mobile energy systems (MES) that will provide safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity to remote communities in Palawan. 

 Joining Ambassador Carlson during the ceremony at the National Power Corporation (NPC) Irawan Switching Station in Puerto Princesa City were Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Raphael Lotilla, NPC President Fernando Roxas, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn, and DOE Undersecretary Giovani Bacordo. 

 “The MES are not just equipment.  They are essential tools of resilience and innovation that have been proven to provide power to some of the most remote locations in the country,” Ambassador Carlson said in her remarks.  “On behalf of the U.S. government, I thank the DOE, the NPC, the Energy Regulatory Commission, and all our partners for their leadership and collaboration in making sure that no Filipino is left in the dark, no matter where they live.”

The MES will be integrated into microgrids maintained by the NPC, delivering life-sustaining power to some of the most remote and disaster-prone locations in the country. 

Each MES unit is equipped with 9.18 kW of solar panels and a battery capacity of up to 70 kilowatt-hours—enough to power 10 Filipino households for a day.  On a single charge, it can support a disaster response team for a full week, providing power for satellite internet connectivity, five computers, ten mobile phones, ten two-way radios, and two electric fans. 

This is the latest batch of MES units donated by the United States to support the Philippines in achieving its energy goals under USAID’s Energy Secure Philippines program.  In 2024, the U.S. government turned over one MES unit to the DOE’s Emergency Operations Center in Manila and two MES units to the municipalities of Lal-lo and Santa Ana in Cagayan. 

Four more MES units will be deployed in the Philippines later this year. 

“Since launching the first MES unit last year, we have witnessed the MES units’ potential in action—from powering the DOE Emergency Operations Center during a blackout to enabling real-time government services in typhoon-hit areas of Cagayan,” Ambassador Carlson added.  “These mobile systems are flexible and are proven to provide reliable power to local communities across the Philippines.” 

Manila, January 17, 2025—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will help implement a new partnership between the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) Region 2 and the Partnership for Development Assistance in the Philippines (PDAP) that will expand efforts to counter human trafficking in Cagayan Valley (Region 2). 

“This partnership with USAID is not merely anchored on the similarity of our programs.  We share the noble goal and common desire to end this massive humanitarian challenge in human trafficking,” IACAT Region 2 Chairperson Rommel Baligod said at the signing of the memorandum of agreement between IACAT Region 2 and PDAP at the Department of Justice Region 2 office in Tuguegarao City on January 16.  “With this partnership that we forged with PDAP and USAID, it is our greatest hope that we will see significant strides in our campaign against human trafficking.” 

“The United States and the Philippines share a firm commitment to end trafficking in persons. ​ ​Through this partnership, we will strengthen local systems to protect individuals vulnerable to trafficking and promote the long-term safety of communities across the Cagayan Valley region,” said USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks. 

Under the partnership, USAID, IACAT Region 2, and PDAP will combat trafficking in persons by creating public advocacy campaigns to reach vulnerable populations, training frontline workers to improve their responsiveness, strengthening anti-trafficking efforts in schools and local communities, and assisting in the development and amendment of local ordinances to protect trafficking victims. 

In 2019, USAID launched the eight-year, Php364 million ($6.5 million) Strengthening Local Systems and Partnerships for a More Effective and Sustainable Counter-Trafficking in Persons (Strength CTIP) Program with PDAP.  Under this program, USAID and PDAP are working together to end trafficking in persons, protect survivors, prosecute perpetrators, and foster multi-sector collaboration aligned with the recommendations of the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and the Philippine government’s National Strategic Action Plan Against TIP.  

“The forms and challenges of human trafficking have changed dramatically.  PDAP will equip the region with effective community-based tools and models that our partners in nine other regions have used in countering trafficking in persons,” said Strength CTIP Chief of Party Eugenio Gonzales. 

For more information about USAID’s efforts to prevent trafficking in persons, visit www.usaid.gov/trafficking. 

Manila, December 13, 2024—In commemoration of Human Rights Day, the U.S. government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and The Asia Foundation launched on December 12 a Php16.8-million ($300,000) initiative that will strengthen the capacity of human rights organizations in the Philippines to thwart cybersecurity threats, including doxing, phishing, and organized digital attacks. 

As part of USAID and The Asia Foundation’s ongoing Initiative for Advancing Community Transformation (I-ACT) project, the “Cybersecurity for Human Rights in the Philippines” (C4HR-PH) initiative will provide tools and training to more than 150 local organizations across the country over ten months. 

Cybersecurity experts from The Asia Foundation will work closely with national human rights coalitions to design and deliver trainings in risk management, digital security assessments, phishing awareness, and the adoption of cybersecurity protocols such as multi-factor authentication and regular data backups.

The tools and knowledge provided through C4HR-PH will help human rights defenders conduct their crucial advocacy work, safeguard private data, and advance justice and accountability without disruption or retribution. 

“Now more than ever, civil society organizations are reliant on technology and the internet to operate and pursue our advocacies,” said Sheila Formento, National Coordinator of the Alternative Law Groups, a coalition of organizations that provide legal services to marginalized communities.  “We welcome this partnership as it helps us protect our members who are constantly online and vulnerable to cyberattacks.” 

C4HR-PH underscores USAID’s commitment to fostering secure, empowered, and resilient organizations that can continue their critical work of promoting human rights and democracy. 

“Cyber resilience is not just about protecting data; it is about ensuring that democracy defenders can continue their vital work without fear of digital interference,” USAID Philippines Acting Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks said during the launch event attended by human rights advocates, cybersecurity experts, and other stakeholders.  “This initiative reflects USAID’s commitment to fostering a safe and open digital space for civil society.” 

“Civil society organizations are considered a high-risk community for cyberattacks because they can become under direct threat of malicious attackers but have limited defense capabilities.  This crucial program will give our participants the tools and knowledge to better prevent disruptions, defend themselves, and continue to advance the work that they do,” said The Asia Foundation Philippines Country Representative Sam Chittick. 

Manila, December 3, 2024—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently donated more than Php7.6 million ($136,000) worth of educational materials to support the continuity of learning for more than 18,500 students in areas severely affected by recent typhoons in the Bicol region. 

USAID Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines (ABC+) Chief of Party Ina Aquino handed over the educational materials to Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara and DepEd Region V Director Gilbert Sadsad at Bula Central School in Bula, Camarines Sur, on December 2. 

This donation demonstrates the United States’ ongoing commitment to help communities rebuild and enable children to return to school despite the setbacks caused by typhoons and flooding.

“We recognize that education is not just a means of learning, but a lifeline that helps restore hope and builds resilience,” USAID Philippines Acting Education Office Director Yvette Malcioln said.  “We hope that these resources will help students and teachers recover and ensure that education can continue despite disruptions to learning caused by recent disasters.” 

The aid package includes 18,600 learner kits and 8,884 early grade reading materials that will help guarantee learning continuity for students in kindergarten through grade three.  USAID also donated 528 teacher kits that will support teaching staff across 54 affected schools in the region. 

“The Department faced a challenge in printing textbooks.  USAID and the ABC+ project came to our aid by providing us with materials and books for the children.  They did not skimp on the quality of their materials and their assistance to us,” Secretary Angara said.  “We are grateful to USAID and the ABC+ project.”  

These educational materials are in addition to Php336 million ($6 million) in assistance that the United States has provided to support the Philippine government’s response and deliver lifesaving assistance to communities affected by tropical storms, typhoons, and subsequent flooding since October 25. 

Manila, November 27, 2024—On November 26, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a partnership with Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), to strengthen the private sector’s role in making stigma-free care and lifesaving HIV services more accessible in the Philippines, which has one of the fastest-growing HIV epidemics in Asia. 

Supported by funding from the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the partnership will develop, test, and scale approaches to improving and expanding HIV care and prevention services in the Philippines, with a special focus on online health services and the direct delivery of critical medication such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—a drug that, when taken as scheduled, prevents the transmission of HIV. 

This partnership reflects the United States’ global commitment to partner with private sector companies to accelerate progress in the fight against HIV.  Together, USAID and AC Health will help more Filipinos access the

services they need without fear or judgment, combat stigma, and promote the lifesaving message of “U=U,” or “Undetectable equals Untransmittable.” 

“The agreement we are celebrating today will leverage the power of collaboration and the resources and skills of the private sector to address the HIV epidemic,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in her remarks at the partnership launch.  “As your partner in prosperity, the United States remains committed to working together for a future rooted in compassion, understanding, and improved access to healthcare for all.” 

Under this partnership, AC Health will integrate its ecosystem—including its KonsultaMD telehealth application, Generika Drugstore chain, and Healthway Medical Network—into local HIV networks to bring game-changing HIV-prevention solutions to more Filipinos, especially people living with HIV and those at an elevated risk of contracting it. 

AC Health will onboard qualified health service providers on the KonsultaMD platform, expand HIV awareness and screening services beyond health facilities such as in schools and workplaces, and increase the commercial availability of PrEP and other lifesaving technologies through their importation and distribution channels, IE Medica and MedEthix, and their Generika Drugstore chains. 

For its part, USAID will support community engagement, provide technical assistance to Healthway Medical Network, and introduce private sector models for HIV service delivery.  USAID will also train healthcare providers, share research, expand telehealth access through KonsultaMD, and coordinate with partners to provide free HIV self-testing kits. 

“Our mission at AC Health is to make quality and affordable healthcare accessible to more Filipinos.  Through our partnership with USAID, our dedicated teams at Healthway Medical Network, KonsultaMD and Generika Drugstore have been equipped with specialized training to serve key populations affected by HIV.  This collaboration brings us closer to bridging gaps in HIV prevention and testing, ensuring these critical services reach more communities nationwide,” said AC Health Chairman Fernando Zobel de Ayala. 

USAID and AC Health launched their partnership ahead of World AIDS day on December 1.  This year’s celebration under the theme “Collective Action: Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress” highlights the importance of uniting the public and private sectors, community organizations, and international partners to create an inclusive and effective response to HIV. 

Since 2020, USAID, through PEPFAR, has contributed more than Php2 billion ($34.7 million) to support the Philippines’ HIV response, making it one of the largest bilateral donors in this critical fight to save and improve lives. 

Manila, November 15, 2024—On November 13, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), donated over 200,000 learning materials worth Php25 million ($450,000) to Philippine government agencies that support educational, skill-building, and employment programs for out-of-school youth.

USAID Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn led the handover ceremony during the USAID Opportunity 2.0 Youth and Partners Summit in Quezon City, which gathered around 500 youth development champions from across the Philippines.  The donation, which consists of various educational resources such as life skills and work-readiness training modules, entrepreneurship guidebooks, and teachers’ manuals, will benefit programs like the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Alternative Learning System, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) technical-vocational training programs, and the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Youth Entrepreneurship Program. 

“USAID is proud to empower out-of-school youth by helping them acquire the skills and training needed to find good jobs and begin building careers,” said USAID Philippines Mission Director Washburn. “Our partnerships with DepEd, TESDA, DTI and other government partners grew out of our shared vision for creating a supportive learning environment for out-of-school youth across the Philippines.” 

The donation also includes manuals for local governments on establishing local networks that address the needs of out-of-school youth, as well as guidebooks and handouts for colleges and universities that support out-of-school youth programs.   

In his message, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said that USAID’s O2 program “has shown us what is possible in the Alternative Learning System: a thriving program fostered by an open partnership.  Thousands of out-of-school youth across the Philippines have benefitted from its well-crafted and targeted interventions.” 

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, representing the 15 city partners of the O2 program at the summit, cited how the program has helped create “more resources, improved access to education and training, expanded entrepreneurial opportunities for youth, and reconnect the out-of-school youth to the formal education system.”  

Since its inception in 2020, USAID’s O2 program has reached over 90,000 youth across the Philippines through DepEd, TESDA, higher education institutions, and other local service partners.  More than 82,000 young people have completed workforce development training, and more than 6,400 educators and administrators from DepEd and TESDA have learned innovative teaching strategies geared toward the learning needs of out-of-school youth.  Over 2,200 businesses have also provided work-based learning, career guidance and coaching, and employment opportunities for out-of-school youth. 

Co-designed with DepEd and TESDA, USAID’s O2 program is implemented by the U.S.-based Education Development Center in partnership with Accenture, Catholic Relief Services, Philippine Business for Education, SEAMEO INNOTECH, and Voluntary Services Overseas.
 

Manila, November 14, 2024—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional Php196 million ($3.5 million) to support the Philippine government’s response to Tropical Storm Kristine, known internationally as Tropical Storm Trami. 

Through this assistance, USAID will support logistics and provide clean water, sanitation, shelter, and cash assistance to help residents in the most affected areas of Bicol and Batangas meet their basic needs.  This assistance is also supporting communities that have been affected by subsequent disasters. 

This new funding is in addition to the Php84 million ($1.5 million) announced in October to provide emergency shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene assistance, and critical logistics support, raising the total value of U.S. support for the Philippines’ disaster response to Php280 million ($5 million). 

“As your friend, partner, and ally, the United States is committed to working with the Philippine government and people as they rebuild and recover,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said. 

Since October 25, the United States has been working with humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving assistance to communities affected by tropical storms, typhoons, and subsequent flooding.  The Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) distributed 1,500 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,500 kitchen sets funded by USAID to disaster-affected families in Albay and Camarines Sur.  These relief items were prepositioned in the OCD humanitarian relief depot at Fort Magsaysay, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Nueva Ecija. 

USAID and IOM are working together to assist more than 4,000 families in the Bicol region, Ilocos region, and Batangas by providing shelter grade tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, and WASH kits.  Through USAID funding, the United Nations World Food Programme also mobilized 92 trucks that supported Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development in delivering more than 150,000 family food packs and other relief items to Albay, Benguet, Camarines Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union. 

This new assistance builds on the United States’ previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, including during catastrophic flooding in Mindanao in February, Super Typhoon Carina in July, and Super Typhoon Julian in October. 

Since 2010, the United States government has provided more than Php22 billion ($393.6 million) in disaster relief, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines. USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters. 

Manila, October 29, 2024—The United States government is providing Php84 million ($1.5 million) to support the Philippine government’s response to Tropical Storm Kristine, known internationally as Trami.

This funding will augment the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) ongoing efforts to deliver lifesaving assistance that will help individuals severely affected by the storm in the Bicol region and Batangas recover safely and with dignity. Through this funding, USAID will provide access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, emergency shelter, and cash assistance. USAID will also provide logistical support in the management of evacuation centers.

On October 27, USAID supported the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in dispatching 1,500 shelter-grade tarpaulins and 1,500 household relief kits to the Bicol region through a C-130 provided by the Singaporean government. These disaster relief items were prepositioned in the OCD humanitarian relief depot at Fort Magsaysay, an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Nueva Ecija.

U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. launched this critical joint humanitarian prepositioning effort in September.

“My heart goes out to all those suffering the devastating effects of Tropical Storm Kristine,” Ambassador Carlson said. “We are working side by side with the Philippine government to bring relief to communities in need.”

Since October 25, the United States has worked with humanitarian partners to deliver lifesaving humanitarian relief material prepositioned across the country. With USAID funding, the World Food Programme mobilized 33 trucks to support the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development in delivering more than 53,000 family food packs and other relief items to the Bicol region.

This assistance builds on the U.S. government’s previous support to Philippine government’s disaster response efforts, such as during the massive flooding in Mindanao in February, Super Typhoon Carina in July, and Super Typhoon Julian earlier in October.

Since 2010, the U.S. government has provided more than Php21.85 billion ($390.2 million) in disaster relief, preparedness, and early recovery in the Philippines. USAID works year-round to help communities build resilience in preparing for, and responding to, the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters.

Manila, October 28, 2024—On October 24, the Philippines and the United States held their third Maritime Dialogue in Manila where the two sides underscored their shared commitment to strengthening compliance with international law as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.  They also stressed the importance of the 2016 arbitral award on the South China Sea. 

First held in 2022, the Maritime Dialogue serves as a platform to improve maritime policy and operational coordination between the United States and the Philippines.

Led by Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis Alferez and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin, the delegates reviewed ongoing cooperative efforts and discussed ways for the two sides to jointly address current challenges and shared maritime concerns, particularly in the South China Sea.

Both sides also discussed deepening cooperation on maritime law enforcement, including capacity building of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG); addressing the impact of climate change and sea level rise; and countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF).   

Representatives from the defense, justice, foreign affairs, security, fisheries, environment, and law enforcement agencies of both sides participated in the discussion, including Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary for Maritime Julius Yano, Philippine National Security Council Assistant Director General Francis Jude Lauengco, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Brandon Yoder. 

During the Maritime Dialogue, the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement announced Php450 million ($8 million) in new funding for the modernization of the PCG.  This funding will support the PCG’s infrastructure enhancements, training program development, and resource acquisition and management planning. 

The U.S. and Philippine governments decided to convene the Maritime Dialogue at the 11th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., in April 2024 to build upon the outcomes of prior dialogues and exchanges.  

Manila, October 25, 2024—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), recently partnered with the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide specialized training for 24 DOJ prosecutors to enhance their expertise in handling environmental crimes.

Facilitated by USAID-trained experts from the DOJ, the training was held in Pampanga and Bataan from October 15 to 18 as part of USAID’s Sustainable Interventions for Biodiversity, Oceans, and Landscapes (SIBOL) project.  The participants underwent mock court proceedings involving actual expert witnesses and environmental law enforcement officers, as well as crime scene investigation simulations within Bataan Natural Park.  These exercises enhanced the state prosecutors’ knowledge about crime scene investigation, evidence handling, and case building.

The training ensures that strong evidence is collected before cases are filed, increasing the chances of successful convictions and strengthening the DOJ’s efforts to effectively safeguard protected areas under Philippine law.

“USAID, through the SIBOL project, is proud to support the DOJ in improving the capacity of state prosecutors to tackle environmental crimes through practical, hands-on training,” said Thomas Kaluzny, Deputy Director of USAID Philippines’ Environment Office.

“We do not just want prosecutors to be skilled in investigating and prosecuting cases, but we also want (them) to live by the principles of environmental leadership,” said DOJ Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Hazel Decena-Valdez.

Since 2022, USAID has trained 209 prosecutors in environmental law enforcement and supported the DOJ in developing additional courses on illegal wildlife trade, forestry, and fisheries.  USAID, through the SIBOL project, works with partners from the Philippine government, private sector, and civil society to strengthen science-based decision-making and address threats to biodiversity created by unsustainable practices, irresponsible tourism, and environmental crimes.