Gov’t raises 2015 transport infra budget

The national government is planning to boost its spending for transport infrastructure projects next year amid the Aquino administration’s plan to entice more tourists into the countryside and alleviate public transport problems.

Based on the 2015 proposed budget submitted to Congress, the national government has earmarked P35.28 billion for transport infrastructure program, higher by 29 percent compared with P27.28 billion programmed for this year.

Of the amount, rail transport will get the biggest budget share for next year with P16.85 billion, an increase of 12 percent against the P15 billion programmed for this year.

The projects under the rail transport will be implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

Based on the proposed budget, 

• the LRT Line 1 South (Cavite) extension will get P4.77 billion, while subsidy for 
• Metro Manila’s metro rail transit (MRT-3) will be receiving P4.65 billion and 
• LRT Line 2 East extension (to Masinag) will get P265 million.

The rehabilitation of LRT 1 and 2, meanwhile, will also get P2.82 billion, while MRT-3 infrastructure outlay will receive P804 million and LRT Line 2 West extension project gets the remaining P200 million.

The second biggest recipient of budget under the transport infrastructure fund in 2015 is air transport, which will be implement by the DOTC, receiving P13.28 billion, higher by 46 percent compared with P9.11 billion this year.

Of the air transport budget, Bicol International and Puerto Princesa airports will get P1.55 billion each, Clark Airport (P1.2 billion), Busuanga Airport (P1.02 billion), General Santos Airport (P959 million), Kalibo Airport (P950 million) and Iloilo International Airport (P791 million).

Other recipients include Ozamis Airport (P695 million), Camarines Sur or Naga Airport (P670 million) and Ninoy Aquino International Airport capacity expansion and maximization (P592 million).

Meanwhile, the national government identified several maritime transport projects which is also under DOTC and would cost P5.14 billion, higher by 62 percent compared with P3.17 billion budget for this year.

The government has listed a P1.94 billion budget for the Philippine Ports and Coast Guard, and another P1.6 billion for the capacity development project and maritime safety capacity improvement.

Earlier, the Aquino administration submitted to Congress its proposed P2.6-trillion national budget for 2015. Of the amount, funding for development expenditures was set at P974 billion, which is higher by 37 percent year-on-year.

Under the development expenditures, economic services gets P490.4 billion, social services with P328.6 billion, general public services with P114.2 billion and defines with P41.3 billion.