DOTr gets biggest hike in proposed 2026 budget

MANILA, Philippines — The budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) recorded the largest percentage jump in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said

She said the DOTr’s budget for next year will be more than double its allocation this year.

Based on the emerging 2026 NEP obtained by The STAR, the transportation department is poised to receive a budget of P196.62 billion.

This represents an addition of nearly P110 billion from this year’s over P87 billion budget allocation in the General Appropriations Act.

The document indicated that the biggest chunk of the increase, when compared to the 2025 GAA, is due to the additional funding for DOTr’s foreign-assisted projects.

This includes the North-South Commuter Railway system, Metro Manila Subway Project Phase I, New Cebu International Container Port Project and New Dumaguete Airport Development Project.

Funding for new airports in Antique, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Kalibo, and New Naga, as well as increased funding for Bukidnon Airport, is also included.

An official of the Department of Budget and Management said Congress last year reduced the proposed allocation by transferring some projects to unprogrammed funds, prompting the agency to double its proposal this year.

“The DOTr really had a big budget there last time,” the official told The STAR.

In the 2025 NEP, the President’s budget indicated that the DOTr was proposed to receive around P180 billion, but it was adjusted during the Congressional budget hearings.

“But when it reaches Congress, they put them in unprogrammed funds because they have the power to do that. We can only propose, right? But they reduced it. So now, we doubled it,” the official added.

During the inspection of the bike lane and sidewalk improvement in Elliptical Road in Quezon City, the DBM earlier said they are reviewing the possibility of free bus rides along the EDSA Carousel through state subsidy.

“It was free during the pandemic, we know the reason and why. But now it’s not there yet. We will study it together with Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and economic managers if possible,” Pangandaman said.

Pangandaman said the Love Bus project is not part of the upcoming NEP, but assured that the DOTr has sufficient funds to launch it later this year.