MANILA -- The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has tagged a record-high of Php453.11 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation in the FY 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP). The amount is 56.4 percent higher than this year’s  Php 289.73 billion.

The results of the Climate Change Expenditure Tagging show that Water Sufficiency projects have been prioritized with Php 264.89 billion. Meanwhile, funding for Sustainable Energy and Food Security remains substantial at Php 131.51 billion and Php 40.78  billion, respectively.

Climate change expenditures shall continuously prioritize funding for major programs such as the Flood Management Program of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with a budget allocation of Php168.9 billion. This will cover the construction and rehabilitation of flood-mitigation structures and drainage systems nationwide.

Moreover, Php 2.49 billion is allocated for the National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). This is intended for the planting of 6.18 million seedlings in 11,631 hectares of land resources. Tagged as well are the Protected Areas Development and Management Program, and Management of Coastal and Marine Areas.

“We have documented an average of 21.3 percent increase in climate-related expenditures from 2015 to 2023. With the continuous help of implementing agencies and of every Filipino, we can work towards climate resiliency to safeguard a sustainable future for our country,” DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman stated.

The directive for Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) is based on the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) 2015-01 of the DBM and the Climate Change Commission. The memorandum is aimed to track, monitor, and report programs that help address and alleviate problems posed by climate change. (DBM)