The Marcos administration will spend P2.48 billion to develop several airports nationwide to support the government’s goal of improving transportation infrastructure in the country, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.
In a statement on Thursday, Sep. 8, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the government will implement the budget for aviation infrastructure projects next year.
Pangandaman said 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, Pangandaman said.
Funds are likewise allotted for the rehabilitation and improvement of other transport infrastructure projects in the Department of Transportation's aviation sector, she added.
“We fully support the directive of the President to give high priority to infrastructure development in our drive for growth and employment. This includes airports in the country,” Pangandaman said.
“With pouring much-needed budget to improve and modernize our airports, we help fulfill President Marcos’ directive to Build, Better, More,” she added.
Under in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for next year, the DBM has increased the budget of the DOTr by 120 percent from P75.8 billion in 2022 to P167.1 billion.
Big-ticket railway and road transport projects are set to get the allocations, according to the DBM.
In the President’s Budget Message, President Marcos emphasized the importance of infrastructure development as a necessary element in economic transformation, especially to propel growth of the agriculture, trade, and tourism sectors.