THE US Agency for International Development (USAID) has scrapped funding for all activities under the Philippines’ natural resource projects, including at least two UST initiatives, saying they are “not aligned” with Washington’s interests.
In a letter to USAID grantees dated Feb. 25, US State Secretary Marco Rubio and acting USAID deputy administrator Peter Marocco said the US government has determined that the Sustainability and Partnerships for Inclusive Growth and Regenerative Ecosystems (INSPIRE) program does not align with its priorities.
INSPIRE is a five-year project under the GRF that sought to develop natural resource resilience and security through increased participation of civil society organizations, media, academe, and local communities.
“In accordance with the referenced authority, the subject award is hereby completely terminated effective immediately as of the date of this letter. Immediately cease all activities, terminate all subawards and contracts, and avoid incurring any additional obligations chargeable to the award beyond those unavoidable costs associated with this Termination Notice,” a copy of the letter obtained by The Flame read.
The directive was relayed to all USAID INSPIRE grantees through an email sent by Philippine donee institution Gerry Roxas Foundation (GRF) last Feb. 26. The move forced grantees to end operations and begin a close-out process recommended by the GRF, including the termination of employment contracts and the preparation of a commodity disposal plan.
In January, the Trump administration implemented a 90-day freeze on its foreign development assistance to review whether the funded projects are efficient or are consistent with US interests and policies.
The policy paused new obligations and disbursements of assistance funds to several humanitarian and environmental programs benefiting various countries, including the Philippines.
On Feb. 27, the Trump administration announced the elimination of over 90% of the USAID’s foreign aid contracts along with the $60-billion cut in global assistance.
Among the terminated projects is “Siquijor Island Conservation and Restoration: Toward a Regenerative Ecotourism Destination” which aims to ensure the conservation and restoration of the island’s natural ecosystems. Led by the UST Research and Endowment Foundation Inc. (REFI), the project received a P16.5 million grant from GRF and USAID in June 2023.
Prof. Moises Norman Garcia, one of the project heads, said the team is looking for alternative sources of funding as “one-third” of the initiative has yet to be completed. His research team is looking into UK-based Global Center on Biodiversity and Climate (GCBC), an assistance program that supports developing countries on sustainability and biodiversity management.
READ: UST ecotourism project eyes UK funding after losing USAID support
The USAID had also granted $30 million to another INSPIRE project, US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL), a five-year program involving UST that aims to boost Philippine higher education’s global competitiveness through innovation and entrepreneurship. F
