Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. 

Assalamu alaikum wa Raḥmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

The Department of Budget and Management is committed to ensuring that our National Budget not only propels growth but also addresses climate change. Hence, we have been applying Climate Change Expenditures Tagging since 2015.  

And aligned with the strategic priorities set by the National Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2028, climate-responsive expenditures have been progressively increasing for the past 10 years by an average of 32.5 percent. In fact, for next year's National Expenditure Program, this is increasing by 123 percent to a remarkable USD 17.9 billion.  

Among the programs, we have Risk Resiliency Program and the Green Green Green Program to encourage greener cities across the nation. We have also integrated strong climate dimensions and environmental standards as non-negotiable pre-conditions for public investment projects, including those funded by public-private partnerships or the PPP, to attract green investments and create green jobs.  

Finally, we now have the green public procurement strategy through our New Government Procurement Act (NGPA).  

As you can see, sustainability is key in our Agenda for Prosperity. This is our commitment to the Filipino people, including and especially the future generations.   

Thank you very much.