Climate finance is not just about quantity; it is also about the quality. In the case of the domestic public finance for 2026, it is lacking both.
As the Philippines faces the looming threat of the peak of Super El Niño and super-typhoons towards the end of the year, and a year after the exposure of massive corruption on flood control projects, it is vital to scrutinize both the national climate budget and the way it is determined.
This paper examines the alignment of the 2026 national climate budget in the Philippines with intended objectives under the NCCAP. This is in the context of enhancing transparency and accountability within national climate governance and showcasing a more accurate landscape of domestic public climate finance in the country. It specifically aims to achieve the following:
- Assess the alignment between the 2026 GAA or national climate expenditures and priority areas under the NCCAP and the proposed NDC;
- Explore similarities and differences in trends between the 2026 climate-tagged GAA and recorded annual climate change expenses in recent years; and
- Develop recommendations for enhancing the implementation of the CCET and increasing transparency and authenticity of climate PAPs in the Philippines, including for the 2027 national budget and addressing climate extremes such as the Super El Niño.