DOTr seeks PHP 300.96B for 2027; Bike Lanes cut 97%, PRSAP gets zero
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is proposing a PHP 300.96 billion budget for 2027, 52.5% higher than its PHP 197.33 billion proposal for fiscal year 2026.
Much of the proposed increase is earmarked for rail infrastructure, while funding for bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways has been reduced by 97%. The Philippine Road Safety Action Plan (PRSAP) 2023–2028, meanwhile, received zero allocation under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
The DOTr presented its proposed budget to the House Committee on Appropriations, with PHP 243.93 billion, or about 81% of the total, classified as Capital Outlay. This covers major infrastructure projects and long-term assets such as railways, stations, transportation facilities, and major equipment.
Bike lane funding cut by 97%
The Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways program, which covers bicycle lanes and pedestrian pathways, has been allocated just PHP 34 million under the proposed 2027 budget.
That means a 97% reduction from the DOTr’s original agency proposal of PHP 1.13 billion.
Bike lanes, pedestrian facilities, and road design affect how motorcycles, cars, bicycles, and pedestrians share increasingly crowded roads.
Road Safety Action Plan gets PHP 0
The PRSAP 2023–2028 received zero allocation under the FY 2027 NEP, despite the DOTr’s initial proposal of PHP 111 million. The PRSAP is the country’s framework for reducing road crashes, deaths, and serious injuries.
The zero allocation comes as road safety remains a concern for motorists and other road users, including the country’s large motorcycle-riding population.
Railways get PHP 194.99 billion
The railways sector, meanwhile, is set to receive PHP 194.99 billion for six foreign-assisted infrastructure projects.
The North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System gets the largest individual allocation at PHP 123.84 billion, followed by Phase I of the Metro Manila Subway Project with PHP 40.73 billion.
The proposed budget continues to prioritize railway projects as the government works to expand the country’s mass transit network.
LTO seeks PHP 17 billion
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is seeking a PHP 17 billion allocation for FY 2027. The LTO does not appear as a separate line item in the NEP, with its funding included under the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) baseline budget.
LTO leadership said a major portion of the proposed allocation will go toward modernizing the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS), including hardware upgrades, maintenance, support services, and a dedicated disaster recovery center.
The budget will also cover personnel salaries and administrative expenses.
The additional funding could also provide more resources for LTO law enforcement operations, including recruitment of more personnel and acquisition of modern equipment. However, the agency has yet to provide a specific breakdown of how much of the proposed budget would be dedicated to law enforcement.
