Budget reform advocates have called on President Aquino and Congress to restructure the 2011 budget and make it more climate-sensitive.

La Liga Policy Institute (La Liga) environmental campaigner Jonathan Ronquillo said his group welcomes the announcement by the Palace that it would rework the budget, noting that it opens a new window of opportunity for a budget that is attuned to the campaign against climate change.

“President Benigno Aquino III should be able to recognize climate change as a crucial national development issue that needs to be addressed,” Ronquillo noted.

“This is also an opportune moment for citizens’ groups to provide inputs as well to the crafting of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) under the new administration,” he added.

Malacañang earlier announced that a reworked budget would provide a premium for social and economic services. It means increasing funding allocations for education, health and the environment.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda also announced that the proposed P1.75-trillion national budget for 2011 may be reduced as the new administration plans to observe zero-based budgeting for the entire bureaucracy.