Victims of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon (habagat) receive  cash support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Marikina Sports Center on August 22, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- The United States' freeze order on foreign aid is not expected to "severely affect" the Philippines, a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official said on Saturday, noting that deals forged under Manila and Washington's military alliance are not aid packages from the world's richest economy.

The statement comes after newly installed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio released an internal memo saying that "no new funds shall be obligated for new awards or extensions of existing awards" until the department finalizes a 90-day review of foreign aid the US has been sending to its partners and allies.

READ: US freezes almost all aid except for Israel, Egypt arms -- memo

"We're still talking to the Americans about that… but freezing is not a permanent freeze," DFA Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega.

"Economically, we have a lot of partners… I think even with the freeze, it's not like it is going to severely affect us kasi maliit lang naman yung aid packages," he said.

In 2024, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) obligated $9.27 million in various aid packages for the Philippines for disaster relief items, the management of displacement and emergency shelters, among others.

The amount is around $1 million higher than its 2023 allocation for the Philippines, according to data from the USAID.

The aid freeze is not expected to affect US military operations in the Philippines, particularly those involving Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, De Vega said.

"It's not part of the aid package. Hindi tatanggalin yun, tuloy yun. They will not suddenly abandon the EDCA sites," he said.

"They know the importance of EDCA for the interest of the US and of the Philippines," he said, noting that Rubio "is one of those important statesmen in the US who is very concerned about China."

"We're confident that in all aspects, our relationships will continue to be solid."

The DFA "is closely monitoring reports on the possible freeze of US foreign assistance," Malacañang said in a statement.

The agency "will work with partners in the US Department of State and the US government to determine how this will affect the Philippines," the statement read.