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Govt extends validity period for four US-assisted agreements

For health and climate projects

The Economy and Development Council (ED Council), chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved on October 2 the increase in cost, implementation extensions, and grant validity period extensions for four US Government Assisted Development Objective Agreements (DOAgs).

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said the ED Council approved the Improved Health for Underserved Filipinos (Department of Health) – Increase in cost to $524 million from $224 million to sustain improvement in health outcomes among underserved populations and strengthen overall health profile.

The Council also approved the increase in cost to $250 million from $150 million of the Enhanced Ecosystem and Community Resilience to enhance the ability of natural systems to provide ecosystem services and address climate change.

The implementation of the Economic Growth and Democratic Governance with Equity of the Department of Finance and the Improved Basic Education Outcomes of the Department of Education were also extended until Sept. 30, 2027 to further strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals and promote open governance in support of inclusive growth and scale up the Philippines’ capacity to achieve sustained and measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

DEPDev said the changes aim to ensure continuity in implementation during the transition of project management from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to the US Department of State.

“These timely adjustments are crucial to sustaining the gains we have achieved through these agreements. They will ensure that programs continue to deliver meaningful results for the Filipino people, particularly in health, education, economic growth, governance, and climate resilience. By approving these measures, we are making sure that implementation remains uninterrupted despite the transition in management," said ED Council Vice-Chair and DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

"This decision reflects our commitment to strengthen partnerships, protect hard-won progress, and keep our development priorities on track,” he added.