The government has allocated P543.4 billion under the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to address the adverse effects of climate change, including severe weather events like typhoons and floods that have been impacting the Philippines.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said this allocation constitutes 9.4 percent of the total proposed budget, surpassing the eight percent target specified in the Philippine Development Plan.
The DBM said that the government prioritizes adaptation measures, in line with the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP), recognizing the Philippines’ susceptibility to climate change impacts.
The NCCAP’s strategic priority areas will receive portions of the P543.4 billion climate change expenditures in the 2024 NEP, focusing on water sufficiency, sustainable energy, food security, knowledge and capacity development, climate smart industries and services, ecosystem and environmental stability, human security, and cross-cutting initiatives.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, which will receive the highest climate change expenditure budget at P308.08 billion, will also get P215.643 billion for flood management, which includes the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of various flood mitigation and control structures, as well as for water supply/septage and rainwater collection infrastructure, the DBM said.
Meanwhile, a P7.425 billion allocation for the Quick Response Fund (QRF) is designated for “first-responder agencies” during calamities.
