BY JENNIE L. ILUSTRE

WASHINGTON — Proposed US aid to the Philippines will decrease from $116.6 million in FY 2008 to $99.2 million in FY 2009, according to the recently released State Department budget on Asia to the 110th Congress.

Fiscal Year 2009 starts in October this year.

Although the proposed aid "represents an overall decrease from the FY 2008 level," the State Department 2009 Congressional Budget Justification Report said funding "will increase to promote democracy and human rights through improved governance, judicial reform, and greater efficiency in election administration."

The report noted the "Philippines is on the frontlines in the war on terror," adding the government "is currently engaged in its most sustained and successful operation against the Al Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf Group, while keeping Jemaah Islamiah terrorists on the run."

But it cut to half the proposed Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for the Philippines – from $30 million in FY 2008 to $15 million in FY 2009. FMF contributes to the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Defense Reform Initiative.

The State Department explained the reduction by saying the US can best help the Philippines in peace and security efforts by supporting the institutional, long-term Philippine Defense Reform program, and sustaining counter-terrorism capability and key support and logistics functions.

Aid to International Military Education and Training (IMET) of AFP officers in the US will increase from $1.47 million to $1.7 million in FY 2009.

The International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement (INCLE) assistance program to the Philippine National Police will be raised slightly, from $4.5 million to $4.6 million.

The US development assistance will go up, at $56.7 million in FY 2009, compared to $27.3 in FY 2008. Economic Support Fund, at $27.7 million in FY 2008, remains steady in FY 2009. Child survival and health aid will be slashed to $20 million, from $24.9 million.