RP sees more US development aid after proposed cuts in military assistance (7:30 p.m.)
MANILA — The country expects more U.S. funding for development projects following a Bush administration proposal sent to Congress that would cut U.S. military financing for the country by half, officials said Tuesday.
Armed forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said U.S. military assistance comes mostly in the form of joint troop exercises and some equipment.
“We have not seen any cancellation of … funds that are already committed, so we believe we are getting as much as we have expected and we hope to get more for the Philippines,” Esperon told reporters.
If there are reductions in usual financing for the military, he said, “there could be more funds that … will flow to development projects.”
Esperon pointed to reported plans by the U.S. to spend some US$3 million (euro2 million) to repair the airport on southern Jolo island - where U.S.-trained troops are fighting Muslim extremists - and funds for engineering and civic action programs in other areas.
“So the relationship, as we all know, remains very robust,” he said.
Military financing for the Philippines would be cut by half under a proposal the Bush administration sent to Congress on Monday.
President George W. Bush requested US$15 million (euro10 million) in military aid be sent to the Philippines next year. He requested less than that last year, but the U.S. Congress boosted military aid to almost US$30 million (euro20 million).
The Philippines, which was under U.S. control for the first half of the 20th century, and Indonesia have previously had parts of their U.S. military aid linked to improvements in their human rights records.
U.S. officials have expressed concern over a wave of killings of left-wing activists blamed on Philippine government forces. The military says it has no policy of targeting civilians. (AP)
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