The United States Congress has approved $2.5 billion (approximately P146 billion) in new security assistance for the Philippines as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a $900 billion annual Pentagon policy bill passed by the Senate on December 17, 2025, which now awaits President Donald Trump's signature.
Under the Philippines Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), introduced by Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, the U.S. will allocate up to $500 million annually in Foreign Military Financing grants to the Philippines from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, marking Washington's most intensive defense investment in the Philippines since the Cold War.
The legislation aims to "deepen U.S.–Philippines defense cooperation and strengthen the defense capabilities and interoperability of the U.S.–Philippines Alliance to meet growing threats in the Indo-Pacific," with Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro and Armed Forces Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner seeking American-made systems including Mid-Range Capability missile systems and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to deter Chinese forces.
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez described this as "unprecedented" and the biggest defense assistance package by the US to Manila, practically doubling the earlier $500 million "once-in-a-generation investment" announced in 2024 that covered 2024–2025.
Under PERA, the Secretary of State must submit annual reports to Congress detailing progress on enhancing the U.S.–Philippines defense relationship, including capabilities needed for coastal defense, long-range fires, integrated air defenses, maritime security, unmanned aerial systems, mechanized ground mobility vehicles, intelligence and surveillance, and defensive cybersecurity.
