The Ilocos Times

  U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires John Law joined Philippine Secretary of Health Francisco Duque III, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, and HIV AIDS Support House Executive Director Desi Andrew Ching, at the handover ceremony. Manila—The United States government, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), handed over 20,000 bottles of HIV prevention drugs, or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to the Philippine Department of Health (DOH).   The June 25, 2021 handover coincided with the formal launch of the PHP500 million (US$10.3 million) USAID-PEPFAR program in the Philippines. U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires John Law reiterated the U.S. government’s commitment to support the country in its journey to ending AIDS by 2030 through evidence-based strategies like DOH’s PrEP program. “This first tranche of HIV prevention drugs is an initial step toward achieving the country’s goal of ending AIDS,” said Law.   “We have a long road ahead of us, and the journey w

U.S. Air Force personnel unload weapons and equipment off a KC-10 Extender at Clark Air Base. Manila —Joint United States Military Assistance Group-Philippines (JUSMAG-P) officials delivered PHP183 million (US$3.8 million) worth of weapons and equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Clark Air Base on June 21, 2021. The delivery, funded by both Philippine national funds and US grant assistance, included nine M3P .50 caliber heavy machine guns, 10 mortar tubes and other equipment.   The delivery is intended to enhance the AFP’s counterterrorism and maritime security capabilities. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Bosse, ground programs chief with the Joint U.S. Military Assistance Group – Philippines, shows Philippine Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Anthony Madumma, contract management for international logistics officer with OJ4, GHQ, AFP, a newly delivered tactical helmet at Clark Air Base. “The United States will continue to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ capacity b

Members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element – Philippines conduct Tactical Combat Casualty Care Training for 21 Philippine Coast Guard District-Palawan personnel and crew of PCG vessels across Palawan from Jan. 28 to 31. 2021. Manila —From Jan. 28 to 31, 2021, members of the U.S. Civilian Military Support Element-Philippines (CMSE PHL) conducted tactical combat casualty care (TCCC) Training for Philippine Coast Guard District Palawan (CGDPAL) personnel and the crews of PCG vessels across Palawan as part of the Coast Guard’s Surface Support Force (CGSSF) Boarding Officer Course. Through training scenarios designed to simulate emergencies during maritime law enforcement, maritime security, and maritime search and rescue operations, 21 students were trained on skills to address and manage an injury on the spot.   Progressing through the three phases of TCCC and integrated into CGSSF’s Boarding Officer’s Course, this training strengthened the medical capabilities of the parti

(From left) Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region 6 Regional Director and Lead Convenor for Fisheries Management Area 11 Remia Aparri, Acting USAID Environment Office Director Paul Seong, USAID Fish Right Program Chief of Party Nygiel Armada, RMN Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Erika Sanchez, and RMN Chairman and President Eric Canoy formally launch the USAID-RMN partnership on marine conservation. Manila —The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Radio Mindanao Network (RMN) Foundation formalized a media partnership to promote marine conservation in the Philippines.   The partnership will target coastal communities that rely on radio as a source of information and entertainment in the Visayan region, the country’s seafood capital and home to more than 140,000 small-scale fishers.   USAID, through its Fish Right project, and RMN, will produce and distribute messages on biodiversity conservation and sustainable fisheries manag

  DTRA and USAID staff meet with Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi (left), and deliver a donation of more than Php3.6 million in PPE (right) . Manila —The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), distributed PHP14.8 million (US$300,000) worth of regionally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and COVID-19 treatment centers across the Philippines.   This latest donation brings overall U.S. government assistance to the Philippines’ COVID-19 response efforts to nearly Php981 million ($19.8 million).   U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim said, “This delivery of PPE demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the Philippines to stop COVID-19.   During this month, which began with a commemoration of Philippine-American Friendship Day, we are honored to support our Filipino friends, partners, and allies with

Office of the Civil Defense Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, and Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr. at a handover of new cots donated by the United States government. Manila —U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced on April 10, 2020 the US government's donation of nearly 1,300 new cots to support the Philippine government's response to COVID-19.  Ambassador Kim stated, "I'm pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners.  We stand together with the Philippines, as both of our nations work to save lives and protect our people in the fight against COVID-19."   Joining the Ambassador to receive the cots were Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. and Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, Administrator for the Office of Civil Defense.     In partnership with the Philippine government, the United States do