The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) increased the funds for the government’s climate change programs and activities next year in line with President Marcos’ directive.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sep. 7, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the government’s climate change expenditures rose to P453.1 billion next year from P289.7 billion in 2022.
“Climate change, as they say, is already here with us to stay. The Philippines in fact is the third most vulnerable country to the impact of climate change, according to the 2017 World Risk Report,” Pangandaman said..
President Marcos earlier vowed to increase the funds for climate change-related expenditures by an average of at least 15 percent yearly.
Under the 2023 proposed nation budget, climate change expenditures include avoidance of deforestation, monitoring of national and local climate change mitigation actions, conservation and protection of existing watershed and protected areas.
It also included are support to research on climate change adaptation, conduct of trainings on community-based climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, among others.
“This is in line with the budget message of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fund climate change expenditures focused on food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem and environmental stability, human security, climate smart industries and services, knowledge and capacity development, and sustainable energy,” she said.
There are eight strategic priorities of the 2023 national expenditures for climate change.
These are food security, water security, ecosystem and environmental stability, human security, climate smart industries and services, sustainable energy, knowledge and capacity development, and cross-cutting.
Implementing units are the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, state universities and colleges, Department of Energy, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and Department of Foreign Affairs.
Other implementing agencies are Department of Health, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Labor and Employment, and Department of National Defense.
Also included are Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, and National Economic and Development Authority.
Lastly, Office of the Press Secretary, other executive offices, Civil Service Commission, and Commission on Human Rights. local government units and government corporations.