Hanggang Sa Muli: An Unforgettable Four Years By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim It is with a heavy but full heart that I bid farewell to the Philippines, my home for the last four years. As I think back to my November 2016 swearing in, I recall vividly the immense pride I felt …
Read More»
Manila, September 17, 2020 — U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim today visited the Delpan Quarantine Facility in Tondo, Manila, to hand over 5,000 hygiene kits and 16 handwashing stations to Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno in support of the city government’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “The U.S. government is a friend, partner, and ally of …
Read More»
Manila, August 28, 2020 — The United States donated 100 new, state-of-the-art ventilators and associated supplies to the Philippines to assist its fight against COVID-19. U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, and Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque led the handover of the ventilators at Malacañang Palace on Friday, August 28. The donation …
Read More»
Manila, August 26, 2020 — The U.S. government donated personal protective equipment (PPE) and hygiene kits to support Davao City’s efforts to address COVID-19. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim handed over the items to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio during a virtual event on Wednesday, August 26. USAID, together with U.S. company Procter …
Read More»
Manila, August 19, 2020 — The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a new project that will support the education, employment, and livelihood needs of at least 180,000 out-of-school youth across the Philippines. Through the five-year, Php1.9 billion ($37.5 million) Opportunity 2.0: Second-chance Opportunities for Out-of-school Youth project, the …
Read More»
Manila, August 7, 2020 — EducationUSA Philippines prepared 78 Filipino students to begin their studies at U.S. universities during its first-ever virtual pre-departure orientation (PDO) on Thursday, August 6. At the virtual event, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim welcomed students and thanked them for the contributions they will make to U.S. classrooms and campuses. “Each student …
Read More»
Manila, July 27, 2020 – U.S. Army and Marine Corps service members delivered an additional Php11.4 million ($230,600) in personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies to hospitals in 11 cities across the Philippines, working in partnership with the Philippine Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard. This new donation brings total U.S. government COVID-19 assistance …
Read More»
Manila, July 20, 2020 – The United States, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is distributing Php14.8 million ($300,000) worth of regionally-manufactured personal protective equipment (PPE) to the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and COVID-19 treatment centers across the Philippines. This latest donation brings …
Read More»
The Philippines’ Future Floats in the West Philippine Sea By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim The waters of the South China Sea are home to a dizzying array of marine resources, ranging from vast oil and gas reserves deep beneath the surface to the complex and beautiful ecosystems capable of supporting international seafood …
Read More»
U.S. Independence Day: Foundational Freedoms for the Future By U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim On this day, 244 years ago, America gained her independence after a hard-fought campaign to secure life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This year, instead of a typical July 4 celebration – enjoying a barbeque under a sky of blazing …
Read More»
Manila, June 26, 2020 – On June 23, the U.S. Embassy’s Department of Justice – Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (DOJ-OPDAT) and its Philippine Department of Justice partners hosted a virtual regional counterterrorism conference. More than 70 prosecutors, investigators, and judges from the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and …
Read More»
Manila, June 5, 2020 – The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced today that the U.S. government is providing an additional Php201 million ($4 million) to help support vulnerable populations in Mindanao in the fight against COVID-19, bringing the total amount of U.S. pandemic assistance to the Philippines to over Php978 million ($19.5 million) . On June 2, U.S. …
Read More»
Manila, June 1, 2020 — The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is supporting Philippine government efforts to help Filipino farmers transport their produce to key markets and address urgent food security issues. USAID worked closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the …
Read More»
Manila, May 25, 2020 – On Memorial Day, the United States and the Philippines are one in honoring the Filipinos and Americans who served valiantly during the liberation of the Philippines in World War II. In a video message, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana honored the men and …
Read More»
Manila, May 18, 2020 – The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), formally launched the “ReliefAgad” web application on May 14 to speed up the distribution of financial assistance to Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of …
Read More»
Manila, May 12, 2020 – The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has developed an online platform to enable Filipino fisherfolk to sell their produce to consumers amid the ongoing COVID-19 community quarantine. Created as part of USAID’s Fish Right project, Fish Tiangge is an online marketplace that can connect …
Read More»
Manila, May 7, 2020 – The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines announced today that the U.S. government is providing an additional Php298 million ($5.9 million) to help support the Philippines in the fight against COVID-19, bringing the total amount of U.S. pandemic assistance to the Philippines to more than Php768 million ($15.2 million). As part …
Read More»
Our Enduring Partnership: Working Together To Defeat COVID-19 by U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim Today’s global pandemic severely affects public health, economies and our daily lives. Yet even in these trying times, the resilience and courage of the Philippine people continue to inspire me. From the terrorist attack on Marawi, through devastating …
Read More»
Manila, April 10, 2020 — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced today the U.S. government’s donation of nearly 1,300 new cots to support the Philippine government’s response to COVID-19. Ambassador Kim stated, “I’m pleased to be able to hand over these new cots, on behalf of the U.S. government, to our Philippine partners. We stand together with …
Read More»
(L-R) U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim joins Chona Torre, Senior Vice President, Human Capital Group, McDonald’s Philippines; Kenneth Yang, President and CEO, McDonald’s Philippines; Dr. George Yang, Chairman and Founder, McDonald’s Philippines; Love Basillote, Executive Director, PBEd; USAID Philippines’ Education Specialist Mir Tillah; Ramon del Rosario, Chair, PBED; Department of Labor and Employment Director Dominique Rubia-Tutay …
Read More»
Manila, February 20, 2020 — On Wednesday, February 19, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines organized a special flag-raising event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of General Douglas MacArthur’s raising of the U.S. flag over Embassy grounds during the Battle of Manila in 1945. The event is part of an ongoing Embassy series commemorating the …
Read More»
Manila, February 3, 2020 — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim on Monday joined officials from the Philippine Department of Defense and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in a wreath laying ceremony honoring the American civilians interned at UST during World War II. UST played a critical role during WWII as the …
Read More»
Manila, January 31, 2020 — The U.S. government is supporting the Philippine government’s commitment to end modern day slavery with the launch of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s three-year, Php153 million ($3 million) Strengthening Local Systems and Partnerships for More Effective Counter-Trafficking in Persons in the Philippines project. USAID will partner with …
Read More»
Cebu City, January 30, 2020 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Department of Justice Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training hosted a three-day regional counterterrorism conference in Cebu City from January 28 to 30. The South East Asia Regional Experts Exchange (SEAREE) was attended by 34 prosecutors and investigators from the Philippines, Indonesia, …
Read More»
Nasugbu, Batangas, January 22, 2020 — During a visit to a school serving as an evacuation center in Nasugbu, Batangas on January 22, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim announced the provision of Php 5.1 million ($100,000) in U.S. government support to those affected by the January 12 Taal volcanic eruption. Ambassador Kim …
Read More»
Philippine-American Educational Foundation Honorary Board Chairperson and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim and Philippine Competition Commission Chairperson Arsenio M. Balisacan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a new staff development program on competition law and policy. Manila, December 20, 2019 — On December 20, Philippine-American Educational Foundation Honorary Board Chairperson …
Read More»
Youth Panel comprised of NYC Commissioner Paul Pangilinan, World Youth Alliance President Lord Pomperada, U.N. Nutrition Ambassador Cherrie Atilano, Asian Consulting Group President Mon Abrea, and Asian Consulting Group Vice President James Reid share their stories as youth leaders and how they sustain their advocacies. Manila, December 18, 2019 — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines …
Read More»
Manila, December 17, 2019 — Holy Name University in Bohol conferred an honorary degree on U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim on Monday, December 16. During the ceremony, Holy Name University President, Father Francisco Estepa awarded Ambassador Kim with the university’s honorary Doctorate of Management in Human Resources in recognition of his valuable contribution …
Read More»
In celebration of Thanksgiving, Ambassador Sung Kim shared a meal with the Tuloy Foundation culinary scholars at Enderun Colleges in Taguig City on Tuesday, November 26. The Tuloy Foundation is a non-profit organization for disadvantaged children and youth.
Read More»
Manila, October 31, 2019 –– In recognition of the extensive U. S. partnership with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim visited the Balagtas Training Center to observe the first technical course conducted there on outboard motor maintenance on Thursday, October 30. Commodore Joseph Badajos, Commander of PCG’s Surface Support Force, hosted the …
Read More»
Manila, October 11, 2019 — As part of our deepening bilateral counterterrorism partnership, today, Philippine Police Chief General Oscar Albayalde and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim broke ground on a new state-of-the-art Regional Counterterrorism Training Center in the Philippines. The U.S. and Philippine governments will construct and operate the center on the grounds …
Read More»
Manila, September 6, 2019 — Ambassador Kim joined 70 prosecutors from across the country, including 44 prosecutors from Mindanao, in opening the National Convention of Counterterrorism (CT) Prosecutors in Manila. The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, through the U.S. Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training (OPDAT), partnered with …
Read More»
Manila, August 19, 2019 — Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General David Goldfein, and Commander, Pacific Air Forces, General Charles Brown, visited Manila from August 15 to 18, 2019. During their time here, the generals met with key policymakers, including Undersecretary of National Defense Cardozo Luna, Chief of Staff of the Armed …
Read More»
Jalilah and her family are among more than 30,000 Marawi residents who have benefitted from temporary shelters provided by the U.S. government. An added Php234 million in U.S. government funding will provide shelter assistance to 2,600 additional individuals. (Photo credit: Tiffany Tsang, Catholic Relief Services) Manila, July 18, 2019 —The U.S. government is providing an …
Read More»
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim and Philippine Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña signed an agreement on scientific and technological cooperation at the close of the Bilateral Strategic Dialogue on July 16. Manila, July 17, 2019 — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim and Philippine Department …
Read More»
Manila, July 12, 2019 — The United States and the Republic of the Philippines will hold the eighth Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (BSD) July 15-16, 2019 in Manila. The BSD brings together senior leaders to discuss cooperation on defense, economics, rule of law, and regional diplomacy between the United States and the Philippines. U.S. Ambassador to …
Read More»
Davao City, June 21, 2019 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines partnered with the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and the International Justice Mission (IJM) to train 60 prosecutors and investigators in combatting online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) from June 17 to 20 in Davao City. The training was implemented through the U.S. …
Read More»
Manila, May 17, 2019 — The U.S. government and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) launched YouthWorks PH Recruitment Drive, part of a five-year, Php1.8 billion public-private partnership to provide life skills and employability workshops for at least 20,000 unemployed, out-of-school youth ages 18-24. YouthWorks PH will connect youth to work-based training opportunities. U.S. Ambassador to …
Read More»
(Left to right) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay, commanding general of the Southern Luzon Command and exercise co-director; Department of National Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna; Ambassador Kim; Gen. Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., Chief of Staff of the AFP; and U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding …
Read More»
Manila, March 8, 2019 — EducationUSA, the U.S. government’s official resource for students interested in pursuing higher education opportunities in the United States, welcomed 43 accredited university and college representatives from the United States to its annual university fairs in Cebu and Manila on February 28 and March 1. Nearly 800 students, parents, and educators …
Read More»
Manila, March 1, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo reaffirmed the strong ties and enduring alliance between the United States and the Philippines during his first visit to the Philippines as Secretary of State. Secretary Pompeo met with President Rodrigo Duterte on February 28 to discuss the importance of the bilateral relationship …
Read More»
Manila, February 21, 2019 — U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim congratulated Team iNON for beating out 1,395 teams from around the world to win the Best Galactic Impact category in the 2018 NASA Space Apps Challenge. Ambassador Kim awarded certificates of recognition to team members Revbrain Martin, Marie Jeddah Legaspi, Julius Czar Torreda, …
Read More»
Manila, February 7, 2019 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines awarded a Php 23.8 million grant to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to support implementation of the Philippines National Broadband Network Project. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo M. Rio, Jr. signed the grant during …
Read More»
Pampanga, January 30, 2019 — U.S. Ambassador Sung Y. Kim and Secretary of National Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana cut the ribbon on the first major project under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) at Cesar Basa Air Base, Pampanga, on January 29. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of construction on a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief warehouse, which will …
Read More»
Manila, December 12, 2018 — Admiral Philip Davidson, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Manila from December 10 to 11. While in Manila, Admiral Davidson attended the Balangiga Bells handover ceremony and the Armed Forces of the Philippines Change of Command. During his visit, Admiral Davidson met with President Rodrigo Duterte and Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana …
Read More»
Manila, December 11, 2018 — This morning at 10:30 a.m., the three Balangiga Bells arrived at Villamor Air Base in Manila. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim participated in a ceremony officially turning the bells over to the Philippine government. “The history of these bells spans the entire relationship between the United States and …
Read More»
READ: U.S. Secretary of Defense Announces Return of Balangiga Bells SEE PHOTOS: Balangiga Bells Departed Wyoming on November 15, 2018 SEE PHOTOS: All Three Balangiga Bells Reunited in Okinawa, Japan SEE PHOTOS: Balangiga Bells Depart Okinawa READ: U.S. Government Returns Balangiga Bells to the Philippines
Read More»
Return of Balangiga Bells U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim Manila December 11, 2018 As prepared Magandang hapon. Good afternoon. Thank you all for joining us today. It is a tremendous honor for me to be a part of this historic occasion. I’m proud and grateful to be joined by Executive Secretary Medialdea, …
Read More»
Manila, November 15, 2018 — Ambassador Sung Kim hosted a Thanksgiving celebration at the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines on November 13 to showcase U.S. food products available in the Philippines. At the celebration, visiting U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney thanked customers in the Philippines for supporting …
Read More»
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim and Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III are joined by (L-R) DOH Assistant Secretary Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH ARMM Secretary Kadil Sinolinding, U.S. Agency for International Development Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II and Commission on Population Executive Director JP Perez III to open an exhibit highlighting …
Read More»
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Y. Kim visited Marawi October 16, 2018. During the visit, he met with (left to right) Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra, Lanao del Sur Vice Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr., Governor Bedjoria Soraya Alonto Adiong, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong. (Photo credit: Lanao del Sur …
Read More»
Manila, October 15, 2018 — The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT), partnered with the Philippine Interagency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and International Justice Mission (IJM) to train more than 70 Philippine cybercrime investigators, prosecutors, and advocates on combatting online sexual exploitation …
Read More»