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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate finance sub-committee approves DOTR's 2022 P120-B budget

Senate finance sub-committee approves DOTR's 2022 P120-B budget

Published Nov 22, 2021 01:43 pm

The Senate Finance sub-committee on Monday, Nov. 22 approved on the Senate floor a P120-billion budget for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), or a reduction of P280-billion from the requested P400-billion budget for the DOTr and its attached agencies for 2022.

The approval followed questions raised by senators, mostly by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto, on various projects of DOTr and its agencies which spent P23 billion and obligated only P54.4 billion from its current 2021 P88 billion budget.

‘’It has not improved. Its absorptive capacity is dismal,’’ Recto, an economist, noted.

The sub-committee, however, approved the proposed DOTr’s 2022 budget of P120 billion after Senator Grace Poe, vice chairman of the Senate Finance committee, fended off or clarified questions or issues raised.

Poe said the Senate version of the agency’s budget is P1.5 billion lower than the House of Representatives’ general appropriations bill (GAB) and more than P33 billion lower than the proposal under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

The DOTr’s budget covers the following: Office of the Secretary, Civil Aeronautics Board, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Office of Transportation Cooperatives, P33.1 million; Office of Transportation Security, Philippine Coast Guard, Toll Regulatory Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Light Rail Transit Authority and Philippine National Railways.

Poe added that the budget would fund the various priority infrastructure projects such as six rail projects, 18 airports, 46 ports and eight road projects.

On proposals to extend the life of driving licenses to 10 years and for applicants to undergo a 15-hour training program, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto said only 15 minutes of driving would determine if the applicant could really drive.

As one who drives his own car in going to and from the Senate building in Pasay city, Sotto said he is certain that only 40 percent of those who would undergo driving tests supervised by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) would pass.

Recto, who has some 10,000 hours of driving, agreed with Sotto.

Based on the way motorists drive in the country, both Senate officials questioned the credibility of the 15-hour training program and tests.

In fairness to the LTO, Senator Francis Tolentino said driving program should be concentrated on public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

In a recent tests he had gone through, Tolentino said he committed only three mistakes.

Given the failure of the DOTr to spend its budget wisely, Recto stressed the need of government to source funds for the classroom program of the Department of Education (DepEd) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some P43-billion has been earmarked for DOTr’s railway program, or two thirds of DOTr's budget.

Related Tags

2022 national budget Senate Finance Committee Grace Poe DOTr
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