-
The Department of Transportation was allocated a budget of P87.245 billion in 2025
-
This is up 19% from P73.331 billion in 2024 but 51.8% less than its requested P180.89 billion
-
The Philippine Coast Guard received the highest budget allocation (P33.252 billion) among DOTr-attached agencies
-
Included in unprogrammed appropriations are various foreign-assisted transport infrastructure projects, including the New Cebu International Container Port, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, Davao City Bypass Construction Project (South and Center Sections), and Samal Island Davao City Connector Project
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) was allocated a budget of P87.245 billion under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2025, up 19% from P73.331 billion in 2024 but 51.8% less than its requested P180.89 billion.
The Office of the Secretary received the highest allocation of P50.661 billion, 23% higher than last year’s P41.212 billion.
A budget of P37.841 billion has been set for projects, of which P17.178 billion are for locally-funded ones and P20.663 billion for foreign-assisted.
Among the attached agencies, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has the biggest budget allocation of P33.252 billion, 13% higher than last year’s P29.421 billion. Of the total, P593.709 million are for projects while P32.658 billion are for regular programs, which include maritime search and rescue, maritime security and law enforcement, maritime environmental protection, and maritime safety.
The Office for Transportation Security had the next highest allocation among attached agencies with P1.669 billion, a 46% increase from last year’s P1.142 billion.
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) received a 9% increase this year to P1.313 billion from P1.206 billion last year. A budget of P23.993 million will be used for the promotion and development of the domestic shipping industry, enhancement of maritime safety, and promotion of the ship building and ship repair industry in the country sourced from the annual tonnage fees collected from ship owners or operators in accordance with Republic Act No. 9295, or the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004.
The Civil Aeronautics Board has been allocated P249.804 million, an 11% hike from P224.679 million last year.
The Toll Regulatory Board, on the other hand, saw its 2025 budget cut by 15.3% to P62.406 million from P73.680 million last year.
The allocation for the Office of Transportation Cooperatives also dropped 28.5% to P37.219 million from P52.081 million.
The 2025 GAA provides for budgetary support for government corporations, including DOTr-attached agencies Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), Philippine National Railways (PNR), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), to cover operational expenses, or to support implementation of national government programs.
For LRTA, a subsidy of P890.326 million has been allocated to be used for its operating requirements and systems and facilities improvement, rehabilitation and modernization program.
PNR received a P341.380 million subsidy for operating requirements and railway system maintenance.
PPA was granted a P1.350 billion special provision to be used for locally-funded projects, particularly the development of the Legazpi City Cruise Terminal with expansion of lightcraft facilities project, and construction of breakwater in the Port of Lucena.
Further, various foreign-assisted transport infrastructure projects are included in unprogrammed appropriations (UA) under the 2025 GAA. UA are those which provide standby authority to incur additional agency obligations for priority programs or projects when revenue collection exceed targets, and when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.
Projects under UA include the New Cebu International Container Port, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project, Davao City Bypass Construction Project (South and Center Sections), Samal Island Davao City Connector Project, Metro Manila Subway Project Phase I, New Dumaguete Airport Development Project, North-South Commuter Railway System, Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project, MRT Line 4 Project, and Cebu-Mactan Bridge and Coastal Road Construction Project. – Roumina Pablo
