The Philippines is set to lose significant funding for several education projects after the US government announced plans to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The dismantling of USAID will affect five USAID-Department of Education (DepEd) development projects worth approximately P4 billion, including one that aims to improve the reading abilities of K-3 learners, according to DepEd Assistant Secretary Roger Masapol.
The $94.02 million basic education projects funded by USAID include the ABC+ or Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines project.
The ABC+ project provides decodable and leveled reader materials in the mother tongues of Regions V (Bicol), VI (Western Visayas), and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) for Grades 1 to 3.
The project was initially completed in 2024 but was granted an extension from 2025-2026, Masapol said in an interview with ABS-CBN Teleradyo Serbisyo on Wednesday.
Another program affected by the USAID closure is Opportunity 2.0, which supports alternative learning systems in the Philippines to provide second-chance education to 180,000 out-of-school youth across 15 cities. The project received $37.5 million in USAID support.
Other projects that will be impacted by the USAID closure include Gabay, a program for learners with disabilities, which received $2.77 million in funding; ILO PH, which provides policy support to the DepEd, with $5 million in funding; and Urban Connect, which focuses on economic development and governance, with $1.25 million in funding.
Masapol noted that two of the projects are on the policy level, while the rest focus on specific projects in specific locations. He expressed concern that the loss of foreign assistance from USAID would affect the timelines of the projects.
However, the Department of Education will continue to seek funding for the projects to ensure their completion.
The closure of USAID was announced by Elon Musk, who has been a close advisor to President Donald Trump. Musk has been criticized for his radical approach to shrinking the US government, and his decision to shut down USAID has been met with opposition from many quarters.
USAID, an independent agency established by an act of Congress, manages a budget of $42.8 billion meant for humanitarian relief and development assistance around the world. The agency’s closure will likely have significant implications for countries that rely on its funding, including the Philippines. With AFP
