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5 billion has been allocated under the national budget to develop various airports in the country
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The budget will fund the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of designated airports
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The Department of Budget and Management has increased the Department of Transportation’s budget by 120.4%, from P75.8 billion in 2022 to P167.1 billion in 2023
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Infrastructure spending will receive P1.2 trillion, or 5% of GDP, under the 2023 proposed budget
A P2.5-billion budget has been earmarked to develop various Philippine airports nationwide in support of the government’s goal of improving transportation infrastructure in the country.
As provided in the proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) jacked up the budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) by 120.4%, from P75.8 billion in 2022 to P167.1 billion in 2023.
Apart from big-ticket railway and road transport projects, which are set to get the largest budget allocations, aviation projects will receive a significant amount of budget for their modernization, DBM said in a statement.
A total of P2.48 billion has been allotted for the implementation of the Aviation Infrastructure Program. The budget will be used for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of various airports across the country.
These locally funded airport projects include the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Laoag International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Antique Airport, and Bukidnon Airport. Funds are likewise allotted for the rehabilitation and improvement of other transport infrastructure projects in the DOTr Aviation sector.
“We fully support the directive of the President to give high priority to infrastructure development in our drive for growth and employment,” Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said. Kasama po dito ang airports o mga paliparan sa bansa.” (These include airports across the country.)
“Pouring much-needed budget to improve and modernize our airports, we help fulfill President Marcos’ directive to Build, Better, More,” Pangandaman added.
The budget chief in a separate statement said the government aims to maintain high investments in infrastructure at 5% to 6% of the gross domestic products annually.
“We will slowly increase our spending on infrastructure from 5.5% this year to 6.2% in 2028,” Pangandaman said.
The infrastructure spending target will be achieved through the implementation of the Build, Better, More Program, which will receive a total of P1.2 trillion, or 5% of GDP, under the 2023 proposed budget.
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