House approves Php 151.34-billion DOTr budget for 2022

The Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) proposed Php 151.34 billion budget for 2022 has passed scrutiny in the House of Representatives Plenary deliberations. This follows the approval it previously earned from the House Committee on Appropriations two weeks prior. 

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade led agency officials during the House deliberations

Of the total funds earmarked for use by the agency, the largest chunk will go to the Railway Sector at 98 percent. Infrastructure projects in general will be granted 88 percent of the total capital outlays budget. Congress has already authorized appropriations amounting to Php 579.8 million for the agency, while the remaining Php 150.763 billion will have to be included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 

House Committee on Transportation Vice-Chairperson Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III sponsored and defended the DOTr’s budget for next year during the deliberations, which were attended by Transport Secretary Art Tugade and other agency officials. 
“The allocation of the agency is broken down as follows: 16.7 billion for personnel services, 16.8 billion for maintenance and other operating expenditures, 7.8 billion for financial expenses, and 117.1 billion for capital outlay,” Rep. Garcia stated. 

The bulk of the approved budget will go to railway infrastructure

During the debate and interpellation, some lawmakers expressed reservations over several DOTr initiatives, including the Service Contracting Program (SCP) that provides free rides for medical frontliners and essential workers. The DOTr previously requested Php 10 billion from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fund the program, but it failed to be included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2022. 

Some lawmakers expressed support for the agency's Service Contracting Program (SCP)

Moving to approve the DOTr’s budget after more than three hours of discussions, Magsasaka Partylist Representative Argel Joseph Cabatbat expressed support for the SCP. “I commend the project and in due time, I will support giving funds to the program because it gave us a glimpse of a nationalized transport service to the people,” he said. “I want this project to continue and I hope our colleagues will think that way also and will also support funding that program.”   

You won’t have to deliberate whether or not to read our mobility stories at Philkotse.com.