(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs has clarified the United Kingdom has “no new offer of direct monetary assistance to the Philippines.”
The DFA made the clarification after President Rodrigo Duterte said he had directed Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez not to accept the “$18 million to 20 million” from the European country.
Nonetheless, the DFA said the Philippines and the UK “have enjoyed 71 years of friendly, productive and dynamic relations.”
“During this time, the UK has remained one of the most active bilateral partners of the Philippines in the political, security, economic, cultural and people-to-people spheres,” the DFA said.
The DFA also noted the “UK’s support in the development efforts of the Philippine government, particularly in Mindanao.”
“The Philippine government is committed to continued engagement with the UK in furthering our longstanding and mutually beneficial partnership,” the agency said.