On orders of US Pres. Trump
TACLOBAN CITY – A climate resilience project in Borongan City led by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is facing uncertainty after former U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a 90-day freeze on foreign aid, affecting the operations of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“It’s unfortunate that our partner, CRS, is affected by this development, as all USAID programs have been suspended,” said Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda.
“CRS has been our long-time partner, and we have collaborated on many initiatives. That’s why we are saddened by this, especially since it is a very good program,” he added.
Borongan is one of the beneficiaries of the Climate Resilient Cities program funded by USAID, along with Batangas, Cotabato, Iloilo, Legazpi, and Zamboanga.
The project aims to enhance climate adaptation, promote nature-based solutions, utilize climate data for planning, and ensure the sustainability of resilience-building efforts.
The five-year initiative, which began in 2022, is being implemented by CRS in partnership with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, Conservation International, and the Rocky Mountain Foundation.
As Borongan is highly vulnerable to climate-related hazards such as typhoons and flooding, Mayor Agda stressed the project’s significance in helping local governments develop effective resilience strategies with guidance from experts.
“This is a great program that benefits many, especially local government units (LGUs) that are just starting but are determined and willing to work and learn. Being a local chief executive is a learning process—if you don’t study, you will be left behind because there are many outstanding LGUs out there,” he emphasized.
The mayor expressed hope that Trump would reconsider his decision, emphasizing that USAID funding has helped millions worldwide, not just in climate resilience projects but also in humanitarian aid and health programs.
Earlier, an official of Tacloban City has also disclosed that two of projects funded by the US government through USAID were also cancelled due to this freeze order of Trump.
These projects include Urban Connect focuses on urban development and management, while the CHANGE program aims to strengthen democratic governance by making local government units more responsive, transparent, and accountable with the participation of civil society groups.
Both programs, which began in 2023, are set to run for five years.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
