The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has vowed support to environmental protection to achieve the country’s economic sustainability.
During the opening ceremony of the National Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2022 on Wednesday, Oct. 26, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman highlighted the importance of environmental protection.
In light with this, Pangandaman said the Marcos administration earmarked P453.1 billion for climate change expenditures under the 2023 proposed national budget.
MARPOLEX is a multilateral maritime pollution exercise hosted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which aims to showcase the latter's capability in oil spill response, firefighting, search and rescue, and response to various incidents occurring in the country’s maritime jurisdiction.
The activity will likewise test, evaluate, and enhance the effectiveness of the working relationship of the PCG with other government agencies and maritime stakeholders.
“We, at the Department of Budget and Management would like to express our full support to the Philippine Coast Guard and the main objective of today’s event— environmental preservation,” Pangandaman said.
“We believe that your work in marine environmental protection has valuable contributions to the achievement of a sustainable economy,” she added.
The budget chief, meanwhile, encouraged the PCG and other concerned agencies to proactively engage in expenditure tracking to conduct a proper reflection of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in the government.
For 2023, the DBM allotted a total of P21.26 billion to the PCG – higher than this year’s budget of P19.31 billion – to further strengthen the agency’s capability in ensuring the country’s safety and security.
Coast Guard Admiral Artemio M. Abu, Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, expressed gratitude to Pangandaman for gracing the event.
“We are honored to have Secretary Pangandaman with us today. We know and feel I our hearts that she is indeed an advocate of environmental protection,” Abu said.