The government is planning to set aside P543.4 billion under the proposed 2024 National Expenditure Program to address the impact of climate change.
The allocation for climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies constitutes 9.4 percent of the total proposed budget, Amenah Pangandaman, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) secretary, said in a statement.
This figure surpasses the anticipated eight percent contribution stipulated in the Philippine Development Plan.
“Recognizing its fundamental importance, the bulk of climate change expenditures will be allocated for water sufficiency projects with P294.46 billion to benefit communities all over the country,” Pangandaman said.
The National Climate Change Action Plan’s list of strategic priority areas, which will receive allocations from the P543.4 billion climate change expenditures, includes water sufficiency, P294.46 billion; sustainable energy, P180.72 billion; food security, P40.18 billion; knowledge and capacity development, 12.97 billion; climate smart industries and services, P6.02 billion; ecosystem and environmental stability, P5.95 billion; and human security, P2.58 billion.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 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.
“Under the DPWH project, there’s a flagship project called Flood Management Program. This year, we have a budget of P185 billion, and for 2024, we proposed P215.643 billion,” Pangandaman said, adding that two other projects will be supported by a loan from Korea Eximbank, the credit agency of South Korea.
Other proposed allocations include P1.397 billion for the Pampanga Integrated Disaster and Risk Resiliency Project, P7.4 billion for the Bulacan Angat Water Transmission Project, and over P1 billion for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s flood control initiatives.
The DBM also highlighted that a separate P7.425 billion allocation for the Quick Response Fund (QRF) will go to “first-responder agencies” during calamities and disasters such as typhoons, earthquakes and fires.
Under the law, once their QRF dips to 50 percent or less, these agencies may request the DBM, subject to the President’s approval, for a replenishment via the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, which has an allotment of P31 billion.
