The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) more than doubled in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), receiving the biggest jump in allocation, according to Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman
DOTr will get a budget of P196.62 billion for next year, which is P110 billion more than this year’s budget of P87 billion, based on the 2026 NEP that was recently presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. by Sec. Pangandaman.
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 upgrade and expansion of airports in Antique, Ormoc, Catbalogan, Kalibo, and New Naga, as well as increased funding for Bukidnon Airport, is also included.
Last year, Congress reduced DOTr’s budget by transferring some projects to unprogrammed funds, prompting the agency to double its proposal for 2026.
In the 2025 NEP, the President’s budget indicated that 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. But they reduced it. So now, we doubled it,” a DBM official said.
During the inspection of the bike lane and sidewalk improvement in Elliptical Road in Quezon City, DBM 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 Transport Secretary Vince Dizon and economic managers, if possible,” Pangandaman said.
Pangandaman said the Love Bus project is not part of the 2026 NEP, but assured that DOTr has sufficient funds to launch it later this year.