The House of Representatives this week finally approved a P167.12 billion 2023 budget for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies, 120.4 percent more versus this year's.
The biggest part of the DOTr’s budget will go to railways projects, with P75.1 billion allocated for the North-South Commuter Railway Metro.
The Manila Subway Project gets P26.5 billion, LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension has P2.7 billion and Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Long Hail Project, P1.1 billion.
On the other hand, the EDSA Greenways Project was allocated P0.77 billion, the Cebu Bus Transit Project, P0.7 billion and the EDSA Busway Project, P0.21 billion.
The Aviation Infrastructure Program was only earmarked P2.5 billion.
Farm-to-Market Roads Project was alotted P13.1 billion, the Philippine Rural Development Project, P4.2 billion, the Sugarcane Industry Development Program, P500 million and Fuel Subsidies, P2.5 billion.
Overall, the House’s approval of the DOTr’s 2023 budget "highlights the need to provide Filipinos with safe, accessible, comfortable, and affordable transportation, as well as transform the country’s transportation system into global standards", DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista noted in a statement issued Wednesday night, September 28.
Citing the DOTr as “a partner in nation building,” House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairman and budget co-sponsor Nueva Ecija 2nd District Representative Joseph Gilbert Violago said the agency is determined to fulfill its mandate of giving “a safe and effective transportation system” despite challenges facing the country.
For his part, lead budget sponsor and Valenzuela City 2nd District Rep. Eric Martinez assured his colleagues that the DOTr is preventing problems in fuel subsidy distribution through the issuance of a circular.
The DOTr is one with the sentiment of the House in supporting the “Libreng Sakay” Program, according to Rep. Martinez.
“Sans the pandemic but with the current world crisis we are having, it is really of relevant importance that this project should continue,” he remarked.
After over two hours of interpellations and with no objection, the Committee moved to approve the DOTr and its attached agencies’ proposed 2023 budget om Tuesday, September 27.