The proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2023 will include PHP453 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation programs and projects.
In a press statement, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the climate-related expenditure for next year is 56.4 percent higher than the PHP289.73 billion this year.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said her office documented an average of 21.3 percent increase in climate-related expenditures from 2015 to 2023.
“With the continuous help of implementing agencies and of every Filipino, we can work towards climate resiliency to safeguard a sustainable future for our country,” Pangandaman stated.
The DBM, along with the Climate Change Commission, institutionalized the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) process through Joint Memorandum Circular 2015-01.
The joint memorandum aims to track, monitor, and report programs that help address and alleviate problems posed by climate change.
The CCET process measures the progress in the implementation of climate change initiatives.
Citing CCET results, the DBM said P264.89 billion will be earmarked for Water Sufficiency projects which will be given priority by the current administration; PHP131.51 billion for Sustainable Energy; and PHP40.78 billion for Food Security.
The Department of Public Works and Highways will also receive a budget allocation of PHP168.9 billion for its Flood Management Program.
“This will cover the construction and rehabilitation of flood-mitigation structures and drainage systems nationwide,” the Budget department added.
The National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will get PHP2.49 billion for the planting of 6.18 million seedlings in 11,631 hectares of land resources, Protected Areas Development and Management Program, and Management of Coastal and Marine Areas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is focused on addressing climate change as he acknowledged that the Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impact of extreme climate disasters. (PNA)