DENR seeks P28-B budget for 2027, eyes expanded water, forest programs

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is seeking a P28.04-billion budget for 2027, with programs focused on expanding access to clean water, rehabilitating waterways, restoring forests, and improving land titling.

Among the notable programs for next year is the provision of financial assistance to local water districts to expand access to water resources.

“For 2027, we are providing P124 million in direct financial assistance to local water districts to expand services to isolated and unserved barangays,” DENR Acting Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said during a budget briefing at the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

Cuna said the department will also continue the rehabilitation of major urban waterways, including Manila Bay, the Pasig River System, and Laguna Lake.

“We shall aggressively continue our revitalization of major urban waterways, particularly Manila Bay, Pasig River System, and Laguna Lake,” he said.

The DENR also plans to restore several forest landscapes, including the Sierra Madre.

“We are transforming the National Greening Program into a forest landscape restoration approach, focusing on priority landscapes such as the Sierra Madre Protected Landscape,” Cuna said.

The DENR chief noted that the agency is mandated to protect 15.8 million hectares of classified forestlands and 36,289 kilometers of coastline.

“We are strengthening the active management of over 121 legislated protected areas and marine protected area networks,” Cuna said.

The department is also targeting the issuance of up to 43,000 land patents in 2027 as part of its land titling program.

“We are aggressively scaling up our land titling program. Our goal is to issue up to 43,000 land patents in 2027, providing absolute tenure security,” Cuna said.

Through its Mining and Geosciences Bureau, the DENR also plans to support efforts to further develop the country’s mining industry. —VBL, GMA News