MANILA, Philippines – Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa has called on  the Philippine government to take greater responsibility in financing health programs, as reliance on international funding is no longer sustainable following a halt of foreign aid from the United States last month.

US President Donald Trump’s directive halts funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including assistance provided to the Philippines. 

“With growing nationalistic and individualistic idealism spreading across countries, the responsibility to fund health initiatives cannot fall solely on international donors,” Herbosa said Wednesday.

He said that while international financing remains crucial, the country must recognize its own priorities and integrate them into the national health budget.

“Sole reliance on external aid is not a sustainable financing model,” he said.

The health secretary called for an increase in domestic financing to ensure continuity of funding for programs previously supported by international donors.

 “We, as a country, must find ways to source funds that international partners have previously funded,” he said.

The US government has launched a 90-day review of USAID’s funding allocations, which could affect Philippine projects relying on American assistance. 

The US State Department issued a “stop-work” order on January 24, following Trump’s decision to review whether US foreign aid aligns with his administration’s foreign policy objectives.