Manila, Philippines – No less than P100 billion in the 2012 National Expenditure Program (NEP) is potentially climate change-related and could be used to fortify the country’s capacity to adapt to climate change.
Jonathan Ronquillo, environment campaigner of the La Liga Policy Institute (La Liga), said the amount was found in budget line items across 14 different departments, agencies, and bureaus with climate change mandates.
The group believes that such budget should be released in time and used to strengthen the country’s adaptive and coping capacity to the worst type of natural and man-made disasters.
“Tagging the climate change-related fund in the annual appropriation gives citizen’s organizations and national line agencies a guide and handle as to how much funds can be tapped or be made available in the NEP for allocation that will finance the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan,” Ronquillo explained.
The group issued the statement as typhoon “Pedring” wreakled havoc last week.
According to Ronquillo, the budget tagged by the group provides an important indicator for local government units (LGUs) to understand how much funds for climate change initiatives and programs are allocated in the 2012 NEP that they can maximize as possible sources to co-finance LGU-initiated local environment projects. (Marvyn N. Benaning)
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