QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) conducted the Annual Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) and Risk Resiliency Program (RRP) Orientation for National Government Agencies (NGAs) to further intensify climate change and disaster risk reduction budget programming by agencies.

CCC Commissioner Albert Dela Cruz and Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera highlighted the importance of further strengthening climate actions by NGAs, in view of the country’s increasing climate vulnerability.

“The CCC and DBM are working together to build the capacity of government institutions in mainstreaming climate change, through public resources,” said Commissioner Dela Cruz.

“Strengthening climate actions through enabling policies, programs and implementing projects is crucial to combat the climate crisis,” Commissioner Herrera added.

The Annual CCET-RRP Orientation was held to provide up-to-date information on NGAs’ climate investments and budget tagging.

Earlier this year, the DBM issued National Budget Memorandum No. 145 and No. 146 to guide agencies in coordinating their resources toward achieving banner government programs such as climate change and risk resiliency.

“Let us intensify climate change planning and programming and increase the convergence and implementation of the climate change and disaster risk reduction programs, activities, and projects through the NCCAP [National Climate Change Action Plan] and Risk Resiliency Program,” said DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

For 2023, the government allocated PHP 464.50 billion for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Sixty-seven percent (i.e., PHP 311.11 billion) are RRP convergence projects.

To ensure that the Risk Resiliency Program is aligned with the NCCAP, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) set up a Technical Review Committee that includes the CCC.

The CCET tracks and monitors climate-tagged budgets in annual appropriations. For FY 2023, total appropriations for climate change accounts for PHP 464.49 billion, 60.32 percent higher than FY 2022.

The event was participated in by 99 NGAs with mandates on climate change and disaster risk management.

It was organized by the CCC and DBM, with Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Governance Commission for GOCCs, and DENR, to raise the national government instrumentalities’ (NGIs) capacity to tag, identify, and advance public resources for climate action. These NGIs include GOCCs, NGAs, and SUCs.

For more information about the CCET, visit https://climate.gov.ph/ and https://niccdies.climate.gov.ph/climate-finance/ccet.