The government is allocating P132 billion next year to support climate change-related projects to address the impact of extreme weather, the Budget Department said over the weekend.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the amount would be used to build the resilience of vulnerable communities against the devastating impact of climate change.
“With the help of the World Bank, our ongoing audit of the P3.002-trillion budget for next year has tagged P132-billion worth of projects that represent climate expenditures,” he said.
Abad said the huge investment was a lesson learned from the catastrophic effects of typhoon Yolanda in November 2013.
“We have been working on increasing the budget to address climate change since 2011,” he said.
Abad said the priority on climate change reflected the government’s major support for enhancing disaster preparedness and resilience in vulnerable communities.
Data showed that of the total climate expenditure in the 2016 proposed budget, P72.2 billion were allotted to the Public Works Department for flood control protection projects.
The construction of flood control facilities covering 18 major river basins and principal rivers and watersheds is expected to cost P59.8 billion.
The Environment Department will get P10.2 billion for reforestation of 1.5 million hectares under the national greening program while the Agriculture Department will receive P12.9 billion for farm-to-market roads construction.
Meanwhile, the Philippines pledged its support for adoption of United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and pushed for urgent action to combat climate change and its impact.
“If we are to achieve our development goals, we need to take urgent action to combat climate change,” said Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan during the closing session of the 70th UN General Assembly on Sept. 27 at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Balisacan said as the lead country in the recently held “Vulnerable 20” forum in Lima, Peru, the Philippines would also work in the upcoming Paris Conference to ensure adoption of a new legally binding climate agreement.
Balisacan cited the need to put in place climate change adaptation and mitigation measures particularly in the local levels and increase investments towards a climate resilient economy.
“We have seen extreme weather disturbances occurring with greater frequency and intensity. These calamities can negate our gains in reducing poverty, and even push back development,” he said.