Sister transport agencies Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) have been given lower budgets for 2020 compared to 2019, while the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) gets a higher allocation from last year’s.
According to the 2020 General Appropriations Act (GAA) signed on January 6, CAB’s budget for this year is set at P141.123 million, 7% lower than the P152.226-million allocation in 2019. And MARINA’s 2020 budget was slashed 17% to P771.317 million from P930.043 million last year.
PCG’s budget for this year, on the other hand, has been increased 27% to P15.221 billion from P11.925 billion in 2019.
For CAB, the bulk of its budget, or P100.995 million out of the total, will be used for its programs on air transport development and regulation, as well as on air passenger bill of rights.
MARINA’s appropriations are also mainly for operations, which will have a P568.374-million allotment.
In addition to MARINA’s 2020 budget, a special provision of P24.987 million will be used for the promotion and development of the domestic shipping industry, enhancement of maritime safety, and promotion of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. This provision will be sourced from the annual tonnage fees collected from ship owners or operators.
PCG’s budget, meanwhile, will be used for operations and projects, including a hospital, a K-9 Force Development Center, maritime security systems, marine environmental protection laboratory system and facilities, and enforcement of flag and port state control inspections.
For 2020, CAB’s performance targets include a 7% increase in seat capacity and 10% growth in the number of operated routes. Seven air agreements/negotiations should also be initiated or acted upon within the year.
MARINA’s performance targets include a 10% increase in the number of operating merchant ships and 10% growth in the number of Filipino seafarers.
For PCG, it must maintain a 99% successful search and rescue response, 2% decline in marine pollution accidents, 1% decrease in the number of maritime pollution accidents pertaining to maritime safety, and 1% decrease in reported maritime safety accidents, among others.
Other sister agencies Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and Philippine Ports Authority are government-owned and controlled companies with fiscal autonomy.
Mother agency Department of Transportation, meanwhile, has been granted a budget of P83.065 billion for 2020, up 53% from its P54.240-billion budget in 2019.