THE government is proposing to nearly triple funding for the Expanded National Greening Program to P1.62 billion in 2027 to rehabilitate forests and strengthen protection against climate-related risks.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday that the proposed allocation under the 2027 National Expenditure Program is 186.32 percent higher than the P565 million provided in the 2026 national budget.
The funding would support planting, maintenance and protection activities covering 18,645 hectares of forests and other suitable lands nationwide.
The DBM explained that forests help prevent soil erosion and flooding, preserve biodiversity, absorb carbon emissions and sustain communities that depend on forest resources.
The program also seeks to provide livelihood opportunities for upland and lowland communities, including Indigenous peoples, while involving them in forest protection and sustainable management.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) leads the program in coordination with the Departments of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, local communities, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
The allocation forms part of the DENR’s proposed P29.47-billion budget for 2027, up 4.24 percent from P28.27 billion this year.
The agency’s proposed budget would also fund biodiversity conservation, pollution reduction, ecosystem rehabilitation and natural resource management.
