After suspension of VFA abrogation, Philippines sees more US aid to fight COVID-19

The Philippines could expect more aid coming from the United States to fight the COVID-19 pandemic after it suspended the abrogation of the two countries' Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday.

"In the next six months -- this is only my guess -- the assistance of the US will increase to fight the pandemic. They already give us some help or assistance recently, especially in providing equipment in our quarantine facilities," Lorenzana told CNN.

He was referring to the P298-million or $5.9-million additional assistance given by the US to the Philippines on May 7 to curb the spread of COVID-19, bringing the total amount of assistance to more than P768 million or $15.2 million.

Lorenzana welcomed the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to suspend the VFA abrogation, noting that the Philippine defense is ready to continue working with its US counterparts in finding solutions to their common concerns, including the health crisis.

Asked about the impact of the suspension on the territorial issues in the West Philippine Sea, Lorenzana said American soldiers have been patroling the region even if the VFA abrogation is not suspended.

"For the South China Sea, even without the suspension of the abrogation of the VFA, the US continues to patrol the South China Sea because according to them that's international waters and they can go there anytime they want," Lorenzana said.

"Our strategy in the South China Sea is independent of what the US is doing. We are dealing with the Chinese in our own way to manage the situation in the South China Sea," he added.

In a note verbale dated June 1, the Philippines government stated that "the suspension shall start on even date and shall continue for six months, which period is extendable by the Philippines for another six months, after which the tolling of the initial period in Note Verbale No. 20-0463 dated 11 February 2020 shall resume."

The VFA took effect in 1999 after being ratified by the Philippine Senate, effectively allowing American soldiers to train and advise their Filipino counterparts in disaster response and its fight against terrorists.

However, under the agreement, US forces are not allowed to take part in combat operations. --KBK, GMA News