P545B earmarked for climate change in 2024 budget

EV ESPIRITU / INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

MANILA, Philippines — The proposed national budget for 2024 has allocated a total of P543.4 billion for climate change programs, representing a growth of nearly P100 billion compared to the P453.11 billion in the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary (DENR) Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said that the budget will be distributed among various government agencies to support the implementation of climate change programs.

“That involves the work of many different departments and their contributions to either adaptation or mitigation ‘no,” Loyzaga said during a press briefing in Malacañang.

She highlighted the involvement of different departments in either adaptation or mitigation efforts.

For instance, she said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) may invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) could focus on climate-friendly transportation design, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) may prepare for the impacts of typhoons.

The DENR itself will also receive a portion of this budget if it passes through Congress as is. Loyzaga expressed her hope that the budget would support the National Adaptation Plan, which outlines the country’s direction for climate change adaptation.

“The National Adaptation Plan has really evolved over the number of years, it never has been finalized but we are happy to say that this is now in the process of being completed. And that National Adaptation Plan will mention the different ways by which the investments in the NEP actually will realize positive values for us in terms of adaptation to climate change,” she said.

Apart from the adaptation plan, Loyzaga mentioned that the budget could also contribute to the energy roadmap with the Department of Energy (DOE), which aims to facilitate the country’s transition to renewable energy use.

“We have worked very closely with the DOE to update the guidelines for offshore wind and for a floating solar and those investments would be components of the next year’s NEP,” said Loyzaga.

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