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The Lower House Committee on Appropriations approved the proposed P214.296-billion budget of the Department of Transportation and its attached agencies for 2024
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The budget is 102.25% higher than the 2023 appropriation of P108.341 billion
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Capital outlay, mainly for big ticket projects, accounts for the lion’s share of the budget, 79.5%, or P170 billion
The Lower House Committee on Appropriations approved the proposed P214.296-billion budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies for 2024.
Next year’s budget is 102.25% higher than the 2023 appropriation of P108.341 billion.
After almost 14 hours of deliberation on September 4, Cagayan de Oro City 2nd district representative Rufus Rodriguez moved to approve DOTr’s 2024 budget, seconded by Iloilo 1st district representative Janette Garin and Appropriations Committee vice chair and Valenzuela City 2nd district representative Eric Martinez, who was also lead sponsor of the proposed budget.
Capital outlay, mainly for big ticket projects, accounts for the lion’s share of the budget, 79.5% or P170 billion; followed by personnel services with 10.9% or P23.243 billion; maintenance and other operating expenses with 9.6% or P20.5 billion; and financial expenses with P7.888 million.
Majority (87.4%) or P187.2 billion of the budget will be for the Office of the Secretary (OSEC), while its attached agencies will have the following allocation: Philippine Coast Guard, P24 billion; Office for Transportation Security, P1.542 billion; Maritime Industry Authority, P1.171 billion; Civil Aeronautics Board, P231.157 million; Toll Regulatory Board, P75.347 million; and Office of Transportation Cooperatives, P46.577 million.
Under the OSEC budget, the Land Transportation Office will get P4.799 billion, Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3), P1.7 billion; and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, P500 million.
Other attached agencies, such as the Philippine Ports Authority and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, have fiscal autonomy.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista identified the agency’s priority projects for 2024: the North-South Commuter Railway, Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1, subsidy for mass transport (MRT-3), Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project, Philippine National Railway South Long Haul Project, and fuel subsidy for road transport sector.
DOTr will also prioritize modernization of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Communications and Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management Systems Development Project, arrears payment to Stradcom Corp., MRT-4 Project, and the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project.
Also part of the transport agency’s projects for next year are the EDSA Busway, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit, Maritime Safety Enhancement Project, Kalibo International Airport, Laoag International Airport Development Project, Tacloban Airport Development Project, and the New Dumaguete Airport Development Protection Project.
In addition, DOTr will focus on the Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program in Metropolitan Areas, Busuanga Airport, New Zamboanga International Airport, EDSA Greenways Project, New Manila International Airport, Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project, Phase 1, and the Bukidnon Airport Development Project.
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