Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Last April 22, PAGASA officially raised the country’s status from El Niño Watch to El Niño Alert. But long before the announcement came out, many Filipinos were already feeling the changes themselves. The heat has become heavier these past months, the kind that drains your energy even before noon. In some areas, rain suddenly falls hard without warning, then disappears just as quickly, leaving behind humid air and uncertainty. Climate change is no longer a vague concept. We are now experiencing it first-hand as part of our ordinary life.

Coincidentally, April 22 was also Earth Day, celebrated globally with the theme “Our Power. Our Planet.” Every Earth Day serves as a reminder that protecting the environment is not only the responsibility of scientists, activists, or world leaders. Sometimes, the responsibility rests quietly in everyday decisions — including decisions made inside government offices where public funds are managed and spent.

When people hear the word procurement, it rarely sparks emotion. Most imagine documents, bidding processes, and technical discussions that only a few people understand. I used to hear procurement described as a purely administrative function, something mechanical and routine.

But I realized that procurement shows what the government prioritizes. This is because every item it procures impacts real people, from children learning to read and write, farmers tilling the soil, fisherfolk at sea, nurses and doctors caring for the sick, and even patients suffering from ordinary diseases. Yes, public procurement happens in government offices, yet its impact is felt beyond the walls.

This is why passing the New Government Procurement Act (NGPA) into law meant so much to me. It was never another law or another reform accomplishment. More than these, for me, it represented an opportunity to change the mindset behind government spending itself.

At the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), together with the Government Procurement Policy Board and the Procurement Service-DBM, we worked for years to modernize procurement systems so they would become more transparent, more accountable, and more responsive to present realities. But while discussions often focused on efficiency and digitalization, we also understood that sustainability could no longer remain a secondary concern.

For the longest time, environmental responsibility was treated as something separate from procurement discussions. But the truth is, government spending directly affects the environment. From the materials institutions purchase, the energy they consume in offices, the equipment they use, and even the waste they generate all leave an environmental footprint.

Under the New Government Procurement Act, sustainable procurement is now part of governance. And I am positive that incorporating sustainable procurement in government spending is a game-changer for our environment and economy. This means agencies are encouraged to think not only about the lowest price, but the long-term impact as well. It means giving importance to products that are energy-efficient, durable, reusable, or less harmful to the environment.

Some may think these are only small adjustments. But the government spends hundreds of billions of pesos to buy the goods and services it needs to carry out projects and deliver services to its citizens. When repeated consistently by the whole bureaucracy, these small decisions can create potent change. In fact, according to a World Bank study, green public procurement can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote responsible business practices, and drive innovation across industries. By evaluating the total cost of ownership and prioritizing energy-efficient, low-carbon products, we can achieve long-term savings and efficiencies.

I have always believed that public service must reflect foresight, responsibility, and care for the future. Every peso entrusted to the government carries weight because every decision tied to it affects communities, livelihoods, and generations yet to come. It is for this reason that I subscribe to the belief that green procurement is about stewardship. It is about recognizing that development should not come at the expense of the environment people depend on every day to survive and live with dignity.

Earth Day is a reminder that development is not only seen in the number of infrastructures built or how much has been spent. Rather, it must be measured by how safe communities have become, how healthier children are growing up, and how communities are adapting, recovering, and growing stronger in the face of adversity. A nation cannot truly move forward if future generations are left carrying the burden of environmental neglect.

Indeed, more work remains to be done, and more challenges lie ahead. But I remain hopeful because I continue to see Filipinos who genuinely care — public servants quietly doing reform work, communities protecting local environments, and ordinary citizens who continue demanding accountability from institutions meant to serve them.

Beyond budget, green procurement is not just a choice; it’s our responsibility. As we navigate the challenges of the present, we must also safeguard the future generation. By prioritizing sustainable practices in public procurement, we ensure that our actions today resonate positively for generations to come.

As Citizen Mina, I encourage everyone to use their power of choice. Let us be stewards of both progress and preservation, championing a greener, more resilient Philippines.