FILE PHOTO: The World Health Organization logo is pictured at the entrance of the WHO building, in Geneva, Switzerland, December 20, 2021. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� US President Donald Trump鈥檚 decision to withdraw his country from the World Health Organization (WHO) could be something to be bothered about as it would affect the Philippines, according to a former health secretary.
Janette Garin, currently the 1st District representative of Iloilo in Congress, said many programs of the WHO in the Philippines are being backed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the humanitarian arm of the US government. She lamented that the US pullout from the WHO would harm those programs.
鈥淣apakaimportante nito sa Pilipinas kasi maraming usaping kalusugan at maraming programa sa kalusugan na kumukuha tayo ng funding support sa WHO. And, of course, expected na 鈥榶ung USAID ay bababa ang mga tinutulong nito sa mga bansa sa movement na ito,鈥� Garin said.
(This issue is so important to the Philippines because many health issues and programs on health are getting funding support from the WHO. And, of course, it is expected that the USAID鈥檚 contributions to different countries will decrease because of this move.)
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Just a few hours after formally assuming the presidency on Monday, January 20, Trump signed an executive order directing the US to exit the WHO. He鈥檚 been arguing that the US has been giving far more to the United Nations agency than other countries like China.
The US is the largest donor to the WHO, making its financial support vital to the operation of the global health and safety body. Observers believe that Trump鈥檚 decision can lead to a restructuring of the WHO, which could disrupt global health initiatives.
Garin, however, also believed that Trump鈥檚 move may push other world superpowers to lead, which may give rise to potential security threat issues.
鈥淎ng kalusugan kapag may pandemya, threat 鈥榶an sa buong mundo, so sila ang mag initial access, that is what is going to happen,鈥� she said.
(Health data during a pandemic can become a source of threat to the entire world because they have the initial access to this information; that is what is going to happen.)
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Despite the repercussions, Garin said Trump鈥檚 decision is understandable, as the US might want to allocate funds for their domestic needs. The Filipino lawmaker said the WHO also has to reform its costs, as unnecessary expenses like frequent travel and wining and dining should be reduced.
鈥溾�榊ung sinasabing mishandling nung pandemic, walang perpektong response sa pandemic, kaya sa totoo lang ang pananaw ko dyan, naghahanap lang ng rason ang America. Ang katotohanan dyan, talagang nagtitipid sila because they want to spend more for their internal needs, which is understandable sa panahong ito,鈥� she said.
(What they are saying is mishandling of the pandemic; there is no perfect response to the pandemic. That鈥檚 why, honestly, my view of that is that America is just looking for a reason. The true rationale behind that is they are just trying to save funds because they want to spend more for their internal needs, which is understandable during these times.)
Trump鈥檚 second term as US president kicked off with a slew of executive orders addressing issues from to climate change, among others. Other directives he signed on his first day as US president again were the , , and , among others.
also started his 聽and even . He likewise instructed the Pentagon to provide support for border wall construction, detention space, and migrant transportation.