DOTr pivots to foreign, private aid

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will allocate a smaller budget for its infrastructure outlay this year as it turns to overseas funding and private-sector partners to expedite the administration's big-ticket projects.

- BY DEXTER BARRO II

Based on the DOTr's presentation during the government's economic briefing last week, the agency has earmarked P74.5 billion for its infrastructure projects this year, nearly 28 percent lower than last year's P103.05 billion.

This is expected to have no impact on ongoing projects, since around 80 percent of the DOTr's infrastructure projects are funded by official development assistance (ODA), or foreign aid.

Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the DOTr can obligate around P60 billion or roughly 80 percent of the year's infrastructure outlay within the first quarter to fast-track construction of major projects.

"The budget for DOTr for the entire year right now is around P103 billion, and the DOTr central alone is P75 billion. But we have unprogrammed appropriations so far as the loan proceeds are concerned," he said.