The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is looking to disburse around PHP60 billion in the first quarter this year out of the PHP103 billion budget for the year to improve the country’s transport systems and enhance the Philippines long-term competitiveness.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez at the Economic Team press briefing on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, vowed to speed up the construction of big ticket transport projects and resolve issues to improve the country’s transport systems and enhance the Philippines long-term competitiveness.
Lopez emphasize the contribution that good transportation can bring to the economy. “It’s crucial for economic development, since it’s a backbone of moving people, moving goods, moving information. So, if we have a good, robust transportation system, if we can improve accessibility, reduce travel time and travel costs, at the same time, improve what we call the supply chain efficiency, then I think transportation can really contribute to the growth of the country and to the GDP,” said Secretary Lopez.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the DOTr to expedite the completion of these projects.
Secretary Lopez explained that expediting the construction of transport projects means having to “ramp up infrastructure spending to ensure that these projects will truly benefit the Filipino people.”
“Lahat po ng pondong inilaan para sa mga imprastraktura, diretsong mapakikinabangan ng mga Pilipino,” Secretary Lopez said during the Big Bold Reforms Economic Forum organized by the Department of Finance (DOF) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
According to the transport chief, the DOTr in 2025 has an allotted budget of PHP103.05 billion for its infrastructure projects for railways, aviation, maritime and road sectors. Of the allotted budget, PHP93.33 billion or 90.57 percent has already been obligated, while PHP59.63 billion or 63.89 percent has already been disbursed.
For 2026, the DOTr has alloted PHP74.5 billion budget for infrastructure flagship projects, said Secretary Lopez.
“With this, we are very much committed to continuing our efforts to expedite the completion of all existing projects and deliver them within the timeline,” Secretary Lopez noted.
“We want to ensure the public and our investors that the budget will be spent efficiently to make sure that our projects truly address the needs of our commuters,” he added.
Among the priority projects that DOTr is focused on completing are the 147-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR), Metro Manila Subway Project, MRT-7 and the rehabilitation of the MRT-3.
In the road sector, the DOTr has started modernizing the EDSA Busway, while also fast-tracking the construction of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (Cebu-BRT) and the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP).
The transport agency is likewise modernizing the country’s airports with the soon-to-be inaugurated Antique and Laoag airports, and the continued expansion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
The Philippines is likewise positioning its seaports—whether publicly or privately developed – as competitive, predictable, and investment-ready platforms that support trade expansion, logistics efficiency, tourism growth, and the clean energy transition, according to Secretary Lopez.
Siargao will also get a boost in its tourism sector as the new passenger terminal building of Siargao Airport is also seen to be completed in April this year, expanding its passenger capacity from 200 to 750.
Also to be inaugurated is the Port of Jubang in Dapa, Surigao Del Norte in the first quarter of 2026. The port will serve as a dedicated cruise facility designed to boost tourism by accommodating international cruise ships.
The DOTr is also targeting to finish new road sections in SLEX, CALAX, Cavite-CALAX Link Expressway or CCLink, C-5 and Skyway Stage 3 this year, making land travel faster and more convenient for motorists.
