YESTERDAY, the Fourth of July, a day that commemorates both U.S. Independence Day and Philippine-American Friendship Day, was a special occasion to reflect on the remarkable achievements the U.S. and the Philippines have accomplished together over the past year.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson has even shared some of these important moments, highlighting the strong and friendly partnership between the two countries.
One of the biggest events was the Trilateral Leaders’ Summit in Washington, where President Biden, President Marcos, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida met.
This meeting underscored their commitment to making their countries and the Indo-Pacific region safer and more prosperous.
They discussed growing their economies, new technologies, clean energy, and maintaining peace.
They also announced plans such as the Luzon Economic Corridor and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) Investment Accelerator.
These initiatives aim to bring more investments to places like Subic Bay and Batangas, which will help many people and boost the Philippine economy.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized that economic security is crucial for national security, which means attracting more private investments to the Philippines.
In March, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo led a special trade and investment mission to the Philippines.
During this visit, U.S. companies committed over $1 billion for important sectors and formed new partnerships to help build a skilled workforce in the Philippines.
In May, the Indo-Pacific Business Forum took place in Manila, further strengthening U.S.-Philippine business ties.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to a Filipino company to provide affordable and high-quality internet to underserved areas in the Philippines.
This is part of a broader plan to bring more investments to the country with new tools and resources.
Later this year, the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will open a new office in Manila.
This will be their fifth office in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on critical areas such as renewable energy, agriculture, critical minerals, and infrastructure.
This move demonstrates DFC’s strong interest in supporting the Philippines’ growth.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation has also returned to the Philippines, with a team working to develop a program that will identify key issues hindering economic growth.
This program aims to create better conditions for new private sector and development partner investments.
The United States is committed to helping the Philippines transition to clean energy, according to Ambassador Carlson.
Last November, they signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Week in San Francisco.
This agreement will assist the Philippines in developing a peaceful and sustainable nuclear energy program.
Scholarships and academic exchanges on nuclear power and clean energy are being established, and USAID is collaborating with the Philippine Department of Energy to create a comprehensive nuclear energy policy.
USAID also partnered with the Philippine government to launch the first Green Energy Auction Program, allowing private companies to offer the best prices for renewable energy.
This initiative aims to drive billions of dollars in investments and increase renewable energy capacity by 65 percent by 2026.
Additionally, the U.S. Departments of State and Energy initiated the U.S.-Philippine Energy Policy Dialogue to deepen cooperation in the energy sector.
The military partnership between the United States and the Philippines remains robust. They have enhanced their bilateral exercises and developed new strategies to address modern security challenges such as cyber defense.
Joint naval exercises with countries like Australia, Canada, France, and Japan have bolstered maritime cooperation. The U.S. is also increasing its funding to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
As we celebrate these achievements, it’s clear that the strong friendship and family ties between the U.S. and the Philippines are more than just a foundation.
They are a starting point for future successes. Ambassador Carlson is excited to see what the next twelve months will bring, building on the positive momentum from the past year. (PR)