Some P1 billion will be allocated to local government units (LGUs) for their Green, Green, Green Program, which aims to build green open spaces such as parks and plazas in their areas.
Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said that the budget will benefit around 80 LGUs across the country.
These are 38 cities and municipalities in Luzon, 17 of which are in Metro Manila, 21 in Visayas, and 21 in Mindanao.
Apart from plazas, the fund may also support the construction of mobility projects, such as bicycle lanes, elevated or at-grade pedestrian footpaths, walkways, sports facilities, and recreational trails, as well as nature and family recreational parks, arboretum and botanical gardens.
“Hindi lang po natin mapapaganda ang kapaligiran at imprastruktura, kung hindi ay magagawa din nating ibsan ang masamang epekto ng climate change, tulad ng malubhang init, polusyon, at pagbaha,” Pangandaman said during the launching of the project.
[Not only can we improve the environment and infrastructure, but we can also alleviate the adverse effects of climate change, such as severe heat, pollution, and flooding.]
“Malaki po ang maitutulong nito sa ating mga komunidad lalo na sa pagpapabuti ng kalusugan at kalidad ng pamumuhay ng ating mga kababayan,” she added.
[This will greatly help our communities, especially in improving the health and quality of life of our countrymen.]
Projects under the program must conform to certain design schemes to make them resilient and human-friendly, which includes ensuring inclusive mobility such as ramps for persons with disability.
The beneficiary LGUs are also encouraged to prioritize the use of domestically produced materials and goods when implementing their projects to support the local economy and industries.
The Green Green Green Program was initially called the Local Government Support Fund launched by the DBM in 2017 to enhance public open spaces and aid LGUs in making their communities more sustainable through green infrastructure.
From 2018 to 2021, 391 projects were funded and implemented by the LGUs under the said program.
For next year, Pangandaman said that the budget for the Green Green Green will remain P1 billion.