BEYOND BUDGET
Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In his 2023 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) defined his dream for communities, saying, “The building blocks of progressive, livable, and sustainable communities will never be complete without appropriate and responsible action to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.”
Hence, for us in the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and our partner agencies, last July 11, 2024, was a triple victory for our push toward PBBM’s sustainability directive, as we marked three significant milestones: the launching of the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF)-Green Green Green Program; the inauguration of the Roxas Blvd. Promenade Project Areas 1 and 2; and the groundbreaking ceremony of Roxas Blvd. Promenade Project Areas 3 and 4.
A revamp of LGSF-Assistance to Cities launched by the DBM in 2017, the Green Green Green Program is designed to support beneficiary provinces, cities, and municipalities in developing greener, more vibrant, and well-connected public open spaces that foster an active lifestyle and enhance communities’ overall wellness. It involves constructing, rehabilitating, repairing, or improving green open spaces such as public parks and plazas. It also aims to construct infrastructure projects for active mobility, including bicycle lanes, elevated or at-grade pedestrian footpaths, walkways, sports facilities, and recreational trails, to provide a comfortable and livable environment for our kababayans, aligned with PBBM’s Build Better More Program, and in adherence to the priorities of the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.
As no one is exempt from the ill effects of climate change, I believe we all have a responsibility to mainstream green and sustainable programs to respond to these and to promote social and economic advancement. On our part, the Green Green Green Program not only represents a significant advancement in the use of green infrastructure to raise community connection, sustainability, and livability but also one of our efforts to alleviate the many adverse impacts of changing weather patterns, such as extreme heat and flooding, as well as pollution. And, by strongly encouraging the recipient local government units (LGUs) to use domestic materials and locally produced goods in implementing their projects, we also support local industries. Thus, the program will greatly help our communities by improving health and boosting economic activity.
During the launch, I was especially glad to see my former boss, the stunning Senator Loren Legarda, support the initiative. Sen. Loren is my role model, a staunch advocate of climate change adaptation and justice, disaster risk reduction and management, and sustainability. She continues to inspire how I implement climate change policies, especially in government spending. As she emphasized in her speech, “The Green Green Green program underscores that economic progress should not come at the expense of environmental degradation. Instead, we strive for a balanced approach where development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Under the Special Provision of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Budget, a total of ₱1.055 billion has been allocated for the Green Green Green Program. This will benefit 80 recipient LGUs nationwide, composed of 38 cities and municipalities in Luzon, 17 of which are in the National Capital Region; 21 in Visayas; and 21 in Mindanao and BARMM. With this, the DBM vows to ensure that all projects under the program will strictly conform to acceptable design concepts, environmental principles, and safety requirements.
In the same event, we inaugurated the Roxas Blvd. Promenade, part of the Adopt-a-Park initiative for Pasay City. I laud this project as a model of inter-agency collaboration between the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Pasay City, and Federal Land Inc. The park is divided into four sections: Areas 1 and 2, the light park, and field offices, which are now open to the public. The Light Park features various lighting attractions and installations, creating a lively atmosphere for children and families. With the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the MMDA and Federal Land, Inc. last week, the construction of the Active Park Zone/Linear Park and Parking and Play Area equipped with a pet park and a jogging and bike oval that promotes physical activities will commence. I am positive that families and their pets will enjoy these parks.
It is such a wonderful feeling that, through collaboration and partnerships and employing a whole-of-nation approach, we can implement programs that promote environmental sustainability and resilience and improve the quality of life of our people. Indeed, when we come together, incredible things can happen.
Beyond budget, with the launch of the Green Green Green Program and inauguration of Roxas Blvd. Promenade Project, we are unlocking the potential of each municipality and city for development and progress. I believe we have taken a huge step toward fulfilling the President’s goal of a Bagong Pilipinas, where every Filipino is committed to improving lives in the community, involved in contributing to the maintenance of a healthy ecology, and devoted to providing secure environments that will benefit future generations. Together, let us continue creating sustainable communities where everyone has an opportunity to thrive.
(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)