Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the recently delivered $80 million worth of United States defense assistance has already been earmarked for specific requirements.

Teodoro, who graced the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on Saturday, July 18, bared that the assistance forms part of the latest US military support to the Philippines which was turned over by the US Embassy in Manila to the national government in Clark last July 14.

“The $80 million donation has already been delivered,” he said, expressing gratitude to the US.

US Ambassador Lee Lipton, who recently assumed his post in Manila, said the delivery reflected Washington's commitment to strengthening Manila’s defense capabilities and reaffirming the US-Philippine alliance.

Meanwhile, Teodoro said the country is also looking forward to additional assistance from Washington under the Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act (PERA), a measure approved by the US Senate in December 2025 as part of its Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

“More funding is coming under the Philippine Enhanced Resilience Act every year for five years. We have already submitted what they require so we will see,” he said.

PERA seeks to provide up to $2.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing grants to the Philippines from 2026 to 2030, or as much as $500 million annually.

The proposed funding aims to boost the country's defense capabilities and expand military cooperation between the treaty allies amid security challenges in the WPS and the wider Indo-Pacific.

The measure also requires annual assessments of the Philippines’ modernization requirements, including coastal defense, air defense, maritime security, drones, intelligence and surveillance, cybersecurity, and other military capabilities.

Teodoro credited US Ambassador Lee Lipton for helping advance the initiative. “Ambassador Lee Lipton has been a great help because he is actively supporting our efforts to strengthen resilience,” he said.

The defense chief also acknowledged other countries that have been assisting the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), such as Canada, Australia, Japan and others.

During the Ilocano Dialogue on the West Philippine Sea, Teodoro told the attendees, among them were youth, that national resilience goes beyond military modernization and requires public awareness, national resolve, and credible deterrence.

“After awareness, you have to build resolve, which is a different level of commitment. Lastly, we have to build deterrence, which is the most painful task because it needs a lot of resources. If we are not able to build these converging efforts, our society will not be resilient and will be vulnerable to bullying and appeasement,” he said.

Teodoro also urged young Filipinos to help promote informed discussions on national security and defend the country's maritime rights.

“We will rely on you to be the future of our organization, the future of the national economy, and the future public leaders,” he said.