SENATOR Grace Poe proposed a budget of P120 billion for the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that is lower than the amount proposed under the General Appropriations Bill and the National Expenditure Program, with the expectation that the agency will be able to disburse the forthcoming 2022 budget faster.

The department budget defended by Poe will be used to fund six rail projects, 18 airports, 46 ports, eight road projects, and also includes salary adjustments for the agency’s employees to comply with the salary standardization program as well as the hiring of more coast guards.

“The agency’s low disbursement rate has always been a point of contention, but we cannot disregard the services that our countrymen need now more than ever as we recover together from the pandemic,” said Poe.

The proposed budget is P1.5 billion lower than the amount proposed under the General Appropriations Bill and around P33 billion lower than the National Expenditure Program.

According to Poe, one of the key amendments to the budget is the inclusion of P10.83 billion to fund ongoing road projects such as service contracting for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, active transport, PUV modernization, EDSA busway and terminal rehabilitation.

“The challenge lies in the DOTr to disburse the budget faster and make sure that it reaches those it intends to help,” added Poe.

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