Strengthening institutional capacities and promoting fiscal transparency. The Climate Change Commission (CCC) conducted its Annual Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) Orientation for the Fiscal Year 2027 National Budget Preparations, bringing together key stakeholders from national government agencies, state universities and colleges, and government-owned or -controlled corporations.

The Climate Change Commission (CCC) convened key government institutions for its annual Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) orientation in support of the Fiscal Year 2027 national budget preparations, reinforcing efforts to integrate climate action into public planning and budgeting.

The CCET is a key policy tool that enables government agencies to track, monitor, and report climate-related expenditures, ensuring that public investments contribute to climate resilience and low-carbon development. It also promotes transparency and accountability in the use of public funds for climate action.

In his opening remarks, CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E. A. Borje underscored the importance of CCET as a mechanism that strengthens transparency and accountability in the use of public funds for climate action.

“This [CCET] is not merely a compliance requirement; these are public funds, and we have a responsibility to ensure they are managed with the highest level of integrity,” Borje said.

“Now, this leads to a crucial point: the effectiveness of CCET depends entirely on the active participation of all agencies. It is a whole-of-government effort,” he added.

Echoing this, CCC Commissioner Rachel Anne Herrera highlighted the value of accurate climate expenditure tagging in guiding better policy and investment decisions.

“When climate expenditures are tagged properly, we get a clear picture of where the support from taxpayers’ money is going, where the gaps remain, and where public resources may not yet be aligned with climate risk. We are in a better position to make decisions, to design programs, and improve on them, so that we can better explain our choices to the public who we serve,” Herrera said.

On behalf of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Rolando U. Toledo, DBM Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran emphasized the role of CCET in ensuring coherence and effectiveness in climate-related spending.

“CCET is what allows us to see clearly: where our climate funds are going, how effective they are, and whether they are truly addressing the risks faced by our communities. Without it, climate spending becomes fragmented. With it, we gain direction, discipline, and accountability,” Libiran said.

The two-day activity, held in collaboration with the DBM, aimed to build the capacity of participating institutions to undertake climate change expenditure tagging and align their programs, activities, and projects with national climate priorities.

Conducted in a hybrid format, the orientation gathered 1,381 participants across platforms, from different national government agencies (NGAs), state universities and colleges (SUCs), and government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs).

During the orientation, participants were provided with updates on climate change policies, planning frameworks, and budgeting processes. The session also offered technical guidance on the application of CCET methodologies, equipping agencies with the knowledge needed to effectively align their proposed programs with the country’s climate agenda.

This activity also included focus group discussions (FGD) on its second day, conducted in partnership with the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance - Governance Reform, Integrity, and Transformation Research Collaboratory (UP NCPAG GRIT Labs) as part of the National CCET Impact Assessment. The FGDs generated valuable qualitative inputs on implementation realities, including institutional constraints, capacity gaps, and emerging practices that contribute to more effective climate expenditure tagging.

The CCC emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacity and fostering a whole-of-government approach to climate action, particularly in ensuring that climate considerations are systematically embedded in the national budget.

Through initiatives such as the CCET Orientation, the Commission continues to advance climate governance by enabling agencies to make informed, strategic, and accountable investments that support the country’s long-term resilience and sustainable development goals.