The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday expressed its support for a newly approved U.S. Senate bill that allocates $2.5 billion in military aid to the Philippines over the next five years.
The proposed funding, part of the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act, earmarks approximately $500 million annually from 2026 to 2030. The measure was passed by the U.S. Senate on Dec. 17 as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and now awaits the signature of U.S. President Donald Trump.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military welcomes initiatives that strengthen the nation’s defense posture and readiness.
“The AFP welcomes developments that strengthen the country’s defense and security posture, particularly initiatives that support the modernization, capability development, and readiness of our forces,” Padilla said in a statement.
The grant is intended to deepen defense cooperation between the two long-time allies and improve the interoperability of their forces in response to evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Padilla emphasized that any assistance received by the military would be managed with full accountability.
“The AFP ensures that any support provided… is utilized transparently, responsibly, and in accordance with existing laws, policies, and alliances,” she added.
While the military welcomed the funding, Padilla noted that specific details regarding policy implications, timelines, and the official alignment of the aid with national priorities would be handled by the Department of National Defense (DND), the primary civilian authority for international defense cooperation.
