Government spending on environment protection dips by 4.5% last year

MANILA, Philippines — Government spending on efforts to protect the environment declined by 4.5 percent last year from a year ago, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Data from the statistics agency showed government environmental protection expenditures amounted to P25.43 billion last year, down from P26.64 billion in 2020.

Environmental protection activities cover those aimed at the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of degradation.

These include protection of ambient air and climate, wastewater management, waste management, protection and remediation of soil, groundwater and surface water, noise and vibration abatement, protection of biodiversity and landscapes, protection against radiation, as well as research and development (R&D).

Of the total expenditures on the environment, the bulk or 45 percent at P11.47 billion went to the protection of biodiversity and landscape.

This was followed by environmental protection not elsewhere classified with a 25 percent share amounting to P6.54 billion.

Waste management came in third with a 13 percent share at P3.3 billion.

Spending on pollution abatement last year reached P2.79 billion.

Meanwhile, P1.24 billion went to R&D efforts on environmental protection.

The government is spending on environmental protection efforts given the critical role of the environment and natural resources on the country’s development.

Under the Philippine Development Plan, the government has identified strategies to rehabilitate and restore degraded natural resources and protect fragile ecosystems, while improving the welfare of resource-dependent communities.