DOTr Part 2

Department of Transportation (DOTr): FY2027 NEP: about PHP 300 billion. The full original submission to DBM was not stated in Part 2.

Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP): Full FY2027 NEP and original-request totals were not stated. Specific airport and corporate funding follows below.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA): The FY2027 NEP did not fully cover MARINA's additional requirements; the full request and NEP amounts were not stated.

Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA): FY2026 annualized revenue projection: PHP 21.07 billion from the PPP and PHP 41 million from the non-project area. These are revenues; full FY2027 NEP/request totals were not stated.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB): Full FY2027 NEP and original-request totals were not stated. Office, staffing and computerization funding needs follow below.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG): Full FY2027 NEP and original-request totals were not stated. Patrol-boat and equipment funding needs follow below.

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA): Full FY2027 NEP and original-request totals were not stated. Port-project funding and procurement details follow below.

DOTr aggregate NEP increase: Rep. Ramon Rodrigo "Rodge" L. Gutierrez said the FY2027 DOTr NEP was about PHP 300 billion, a 52% increase from the FY2026 NEP. He praised the increase while saying some transport programs still had little or no proposed funding. The full original DOTr submission to DBM was not stated in Part 2.

FY2027 DOTr public-transport budget requests and NEP allocations: For the FY2027 budget, Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi cited the DOTr's P2.17 billion request for the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) against about P177 million in the NEP, a 91% decrease. He also cited the EDSA Busway project's P1.79 billion proposed budget against a zero NEP allocation. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez confirmed that DOTr's NEP proposal had been reduced and asked Congress for a larger budget for both programs, pointing to continued EDSA Busway rehabilitation and station construction and the need for PTMP modernization. Legazpi expressed support for increasing the Department's budget and asked Congress to support an increase. These were requests and expressions of support; no formal appropriation motion or vote appears in this exchange.

FY2027 Busuanga Airport landside development allocation: DOTr Director Eduardo J. Mangalili said the 2027 budget included P950 million for developing Busuanga Airport's new landside area, including a new apron and taxiway, with pavement work to follow.

PTMP funding, amortization assistance, and accountability report: Rep. Renee Louise M. Co cited DOTr road-sector data showing nearly ₱9 billion in PTMP funding since 2018 and examples of ₱200 million or around ₱1 billion in GAA funds that she said remained unobligated, without assigning those examples to particular years. She singled out FY2022: ₱1.6 billion, or 93% of the GAA amount for PTMP, was shown as unobligated, and asked for an explanation. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said current data he had seen might be from May or June 2026. He said the Department had arranged to download ₱1.5 billion to LTFRB for equity-subsidy and amortization assistance for modernization enrollees unable to pay because of the oil crisis. Including the 2025 continuing budget, he said more than ₱400 million might remain for this assistance, then called that the actual figure; DOTr and DBM were working on the SARO and still needed to provide documents for its release. Lopez could not explain the 2022 figure and asked to submit a written explanation, noting that his team had assumed office the previous year and was working to improve PTMP implementation. Co requested a report covering PTMP GAA allotments and expenditure from 2018 through 2025, including unobligated and undisbursed funds. Rep. Edwin Ongchuan asked when the set documents would be submitted, and Lopez said within the next week; Ongchuan asked the Secretariat to note it. In her closing manifestation, Co linked her concern to drivers’ and operators’ livelihoods, debt burdens she associated with modernization, and public accounting of PTMP funds; she said she was not confident endorsing PTMP without answers to her questions.

Active transportation funding and support: Co said the DOTr active-transportation budget was ₱33.9 million for FY2027, compared with ₱105.3 million in the prior year, which she described as roughly a two-thirds reduction. She called adequate, consistent funding necessary to maintain and expand the network and integrate it with transport hubs and stations for commuters, pedestrians, persons with disabilities, and older people. She said the outstanding PTMP answers left her unconfident about endorsing that program, while active-transportation funding was directly necessary. No motion or decision on an increase was recorded before she closed her turn.

FY2027 Naga Airport funding and runway scope: For FY2027, the DOTr NEP provides ₱900 million for the Naga Airport project. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez confirmed the NEP amount and said it would be used for the remaining project; Rep. Nelson S. Legacion specifically asked whether it covered both phases and Lopez answered yes. Lopez described a 2,100-meter runway intended for jet operations, while the currently allocated runway scope reached 1,700 meters. DOTr Director Eduardo J. Mangalili said the FY2027 funding would complete the 2,100-meter embankment and allow runway pavement or initial concreting to begin. Lopez also said procurement rules allow a variation order within statutory limits if price escalation makes the contract insufficient.

North-South Commuter Railway relocation sites and family support: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago asked about the relocation site for 637 North-South Commuter Railway families in Calumpit, Bulacan. DOTr Assistant Secretary Irish Calaguas said construction was ongoing, with the access road and posts completed, but no families had moved; the site was scheduled for completion in April 2027, and the local interagency committee had spoken with families. Calaguas said the department provides education, livelihood and utility support and, with the qualification "if I am not mistaken," between PHP 10,000 and PHP 15,000 per family. For 38 affected families in San Pedro, Laguna, she said ten South Commuter relocation sites were being built with Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) and Social Housing Finance Corporation (SHFC), including two on-site locations in San Pedro and an off-site option in Naic, subject to land availability. Elago requested data on demolitions, affected families, site construction and units turned over, and urged on-site relocation where possible to reduce disruption to schooling and livelihoods.

EDSA Busway FY2027 request and service impacts: For FY2027, DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven C. Pastor said the department requested PHP 1.7 billion to develop 12 additional EDSA Busway stations; Rep. Claudine Diana D. Bautista-Lim appealed to Congress to provide the requested amount for operations and maintenance. Bautista-Lim said the FY2027 NEP had no EDSA Busway line item. Pastor said the loss of funding would disrupt cleaning and maintenance, elevators and manlifts serving passengers with disabilities, security services and wages, and ongoing station rehabilitation. He cited Kamuning as a station where rehabilitation increased monthly ridership from 90,000 to 190,000; four stations were being rehabilitated and three new stations were needed.

Fuel subsidy utilization and FY2027 request: Bautista-Lim said the FY2025 fuel-subsidy allocation was PHP 2.5 billion, with no new FY2026 amount because it was continuing funding, and asked how much remained after the oil crisis. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the PHP 2.5 billion had been downloaded to LTFRB and, according to LTFRB, was fully disbursed less an estimated administrative share (he tentatively put that share at 5%). Lopez said DOTr had no remaining allotment, while service contracting and coordination with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and DBM could provide a way to add or provide fuel-subsidy funding in a future crisis. Asked about FY2027, Lopez said DOTr requested PHP 5 billion; Bautista-Lim appealed to Congress for that amount to help operators and drivers if another oil crisis occurred.

Active transport and bike-lane coverage: Bautista-Lim asked about the reduction in active-transport funding. Pastor gave the comparison as PHP 105 million in the prior year and PHP 33.4 million in the FY2027 NEP. He said the lower NEP would reduce coverage for vulnerable people, cyclists and pedestrians; PHP 33 million would fund only six kilometers of bike lanes across the country, so DOTr needed a larger budget.

PTMP FY2027 NEP and affected activities: For the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), Bautista-Lim described a PHP 1.35 billion reduction in the proposed budget and asked what activities would be affected. After Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez deferred to Assistant Secretary Dioscoro T. Reyes, Reyes said the FY2027 NEP was PHP 176.83 million, enough only for limited program operations and field calibration. He listed PHP 60 million for facilitating financing and intervention for defaulted or distressed units, PHP 20 million for route rationalization, PHP 10 million for LPTRP, PHP 20 million for industry consolidation and development, PHP 10 million for stakeholder support, and PHP 56.3 million for communications, monitoring, evaluation, and technical and administrative personnel. Reyes said PTMP had a funding shortfall of more than PHP 1 billion and that the department would have difficulty proceeding. Bautista-Lim appealed for Congress to fund the program, noting affected drivers; no funding disposition is recorded in this exchange.

Davao high-priority bus-system counterpart: Bautista-Lim thanked DOTr for a significant increase in the government counterpart for the Davao high-priority bus-system budget allocation, saying she had repeatedly sought an increase and viewed the department as strongly committed to advancing the system. She later expressed support for increasing and approving the DOTr budget in due time; this was support, not a recorded motion or appropriation outcome.

FY2027 Calbayog road transfer and DOTr right-of-way funding: For FY2027, Rep. Stephen James T. Tan said the NEP included P117 million for Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to transfer the road serving the Calbayog Airport project. He identified a separate P100 million need from DOTr for airport road right-of-way and asked that it be included in the current or next budget. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr had, he thought, P2.7 billion in general right-of-way funding in its NEP, which he acknowledged was insufficient overall; he would see whether funds could be used for Calbayog. This was a possible source, not confirmation that the Calbayog P100 million had been assigned from the general pool.

Conditional support for DOTr increase and facilities: Rep. Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria said she supported increasing the DOTr budget on condition that MARINA and LTFRB were established in the NIR. She also thanked DOTr for the current-year allocation for the new Dumaguete Airport. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez asked the committee for help to build separate offices for MARINA and LTFRB, conditional on the agencies receiving the required organization and staffing approvals (NOSCA and plantilla positions). Sagarbarria offered to coordinate with the governor and mayor, and suggested that the agencies begin by renting space rather than waiting for a building budget. Pua said LTFRB was already coordinating with Land Transportation Office (LTO) on shared space and was receiving help from other agencies. Her support was conditional; the exchange records no budget increase decision.

DOTr right-of-way funds for the runway-adjacent property: Rep. Joseph "Jojo" L. Lara raised a property near the Tuguegarao runway that he said may have encroached on the airport area and sought funding to acquire it for the government for safety. Lopez said he did not know whether the property was covered by CAAP's multi-year airport allocation and asked Lara to help seek an addition to DOTr's right-of-way fund. No amount was specified or committed in this exchange.

DOTr funding increase and railway right-of-way coverage: Rep. Franz S. Pumaren cited a 52% increase for DOTr in the current NEP and supported additional funding. He said only PHP 2.7 billion had been approved for North-South Commuter Railway right-of-way and asked whether the shortage would affect railway utilization. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez acknowledged that the general funds were insufficient, explaining that they covered road, aviation and maritime needs and sometimes rail as well. He did not assure that the approved amount would cover railway right-of-way needs.

Support for the DOTr budget: Deputy Speaker Yevgeny Vincente B. Emano said he had consistently supported the DOTr budget.

DOTr rail project funding, NEP gaps, and utilization: For FY2027, Rep. Jesus "Bong" C. Suntay cited a P123.843 billion NSCR project allocation; he said NSCR and the Metro Manila Subway together accounted for about P191.3 billion, or roughly 76% of the DOTr OSEC expenditure program. He also cited P232.231 billion for Foreign Assisted Projects (FAP), or 92.2% of the OSEC program, then separately asked about FY2026 FAP allocation and utilization. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez gave a ballpark 82% obligation rate as of July 2026, saying most was for FAP; he said P33 billion had been disbursed in June and July for FAP covering NSCR and Subway. The exchange did not provide a separate FY2026 FAP allocation total.

On NSCR FY2026 funding, Suntay's initial figure was disfluent; DOTr Undersecretary Timothy John Batan gave P67 billion across FY2026, FY2026 continuing, and FY2025 continuing appropriations, with 89.89% obligated and 47.9% disbursed as of June 2026. The response did not split those amounts by fiscal or continuing year.

Batan said the original FY2027 NSCR budget proposal was P313 billion and that the NEP provided "P100" (unit not repeated in that turn). He separately identified P265 billion in loan proceeds, of which P97 billion was in the NEP, and a P47 billion GOP counterpart, of which P26 billion was in the NEP. Suntay later referred to P312 billion; the exchange does not reconcile that figure, the P100 statement, or the separate component lines.

He warned that interest accrues on foreign loans even when construction stalls and asked Congress not to repeat the transfer of project funds. Lopez said loan and GOP counterpart funds should remain in program line items; if moved to unprogrammed funds, they are outside DOTr control and, based on experience, may arrive only in the third quarter, leaving works likely suspended during the first two quarters. Suntay also raised unresolved right-of-way needs; Lopez said N1 and Subway acquisitions were each around 90% but the full NSCR still needed funds, which must also cover VAT and financing charges.

Flooded-area public transport and future feasibility work: Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc, M.D. said flooding had persisted for weeks or months, the Army's 6x6 truck had broken down, and residents and commuters could not rely indefinitely on free rides. Lopez said current feasibility studies covered major rail projects, including the North-South Commuter Railway in Pampanga, and that he could ask DOTr's planning office to begin studies of flood-prone low-lying areas for transport infrastructure, including rail, if funding became available. Bondoc also warned that the proposed Calamba-to-Clark railway's right-of-way from Malolos toward San Fernando was flooded; Lopez said access to rail systems and coordination with DPWH needed to be addressed. No immediate multimodal service plan was announced.

FY2027 public-transport funding reductions and restoration request: Representative Jan Franz Norbert Joselito A. Chan cited a published analysis of the FY2027 NEP that reported the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) falling from PHP 2.5 billion to PHP 176.8 million, service contracting from PHP 1 billion to zero, fuel subsidies from PHP 2.5 billion to zero, and the EDSA Busway line from PHP 88.7 million to zero. Chan also asked whether the current budget reflected DOTr's July 23 request to Land Bank and DBP for a moratorium on cooperative modernization loans, citing reports of foreclosure letters and an amortization-assistance allocation for the sector. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr would ask Congress to restore program funding; this was a pledge to seek restoration, not an appropriation decision. On amortization assistance, he cited PHP 1.5 billion in support and said an NCA for PHP 1 billion had been provided and would be released to LTFRB. He said additional FY2027 funding was still needed for PTMP, service contracting, the busway and fuel subsidies. No separate resolution of the loan-moratorium request was recorded.

DOTr Ozamiz Airport request and NEP allocation: Rep. Henry "Indy" F. Oaminal Jr. cited the Northern Mindanao plan and the President's stated priority to complete Ozamiz City Airport modernization by 2028, then asked about DOTr funding. DOTr Director Eduardo J. Mangalili said the Department had no allocation for the project from 2023 onward, which Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez confirmed; Lopez also said DOTr sought funding for the airport in its FY2027 budget proposal but received none in the NEP. Asked what DOTr had requested from DBM, Lopez estimated around PHP 300 million, expressly subject to checking the actual figure. He cited limited fiscal space and departments' obligation or utilization rates as possible reasons projects can lack funding, without asserting that the previous DOTr had low utilization. Oaminal said he would work with DOTr and joined the earlier proposal for a roughly PHP 30 billion DOTr budget increase, asking for sufficient funding for Ozamiz; he made no separate motion or new amount here.

Active transport, bike-share and safe-pathways NEP: Gutierrez compared a proposed PHP 1.1 billion for active transport, bike-share and safe pathways with a PHP 34 million NEP amount, describing it as a 97% reduction. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr had sought additions in earlier budgets and asked the committee to provide the same budget again; he attributed the gap to limited fiscal space. Lopez said the Greenways project was defunct and no longer a priority, while active-transport funding was needed. No appropriation increase was adopted in this exchange.

PTMP jeepney subsidy proposal: Gutierrez described the Public Transport Modernization Program as a subsidy for jeepney riders and proposed PHP 2 billion to ease their financial difficulties. He asked for this support; the exchange did not adopt the proposal.

Fuel-subsidy and service-contracting restoration appeals: Gutierrez said the current proposal showed zero for fuel subsidy and service contracting. He said DOTr had used remaining funds from the FY2025 fuel-subsidy budget during the current oil crisis, while the absence of FY2026 funding meant transport groups had to rely on DSWD assistance. He called fuel subsidy a priority for funding and said he would later manifest support for fully funding it; he also supported restoring both programs. Lopez said DOTr had previously sought additions that the committee provided and again asked the committee to fund the same budget, citing limited fiscal space. These were funding requests and expressions of support, not an adopted appropriation.

Active-transport projects and LGU implementation: Rep. Atty. Miro S. Quimbo asked whether DOTr was shifting active-transport construction to local governments, noting that the Local Government Code does not devolve the function and suggesting that Congress could allot such funding directly to LGUs if DOTr intended to delegate implementation. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said this was not DOTr policy: some LGUs request to implement active-transport projects, and the department sometimes downloads Congress-funded projects to LGUs to speed implementation and disbursement amid its project workload. He said DOTr would adjust its approach if its implementation rationale was mistaken, while emphasizing that the projects were funded through district representatives.

District oversight, project events, and reporting: Quimbo said he had repeatedly raised a request about district participation, then learned that the same request was approved and implemented without his being invited to project groundbreakings or blessings. He said members needed active participation to oversee proper use of funds, not merely invitations or photographs. Lopez accepted responsibility, apologized, and said he would personally check invitations and had instructed staff to invite local leaders. Lopez agreed with the oversight concern and asked Congress for broader authority in the GAA special provision to download projects to the appropriate barangay and report back to the representatives who funded them. Quimbo asked that implementation and use be monitored across agencies and LGUs; the request was not adopted as a legislative amendment in this exchange.

FY2027 PTMP request, NEP allocation and restoration appeal: Rep. Felimon M. Espares asked how the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) was progressing. DOTr Assistant Secretary Dioscoro T. Reyes said the FY2027 Tier 1 request was PHP 1.76 billion, while the NEP contained PHP 176.3 million. Reyes said that allocation would maintain program operations and ground preparation for recalibration, including review of route plans and route economics with the transport sector and commuters. He asked Congress to help restore the requested PTMP funding. These were agency requests and an appeal for support, not an adopted restoration. Espares also contrasted the FY2027 zero equity-subsidy, fuel-subsidy and service-contracting lines with prior amounts of PHP 1.5 billion, PHP 2.5 billion and PHP 1 billion respectively, pressing DOTr on how modernization could continue. Lopez and Reyes said PTMP would continue with improved implementation and recalibration.

2026 equity-subsidy NCA, utilization and separate continuing budget lines: Espares asked how much of the FY2026 PTMP equity-subsidy budget had been used. Reyes said a PHP 1.5 billion equity subsidy was being downloaded to help distressed transport groups. LTFRB Board Member Atty. Greg G. Pua Jr. clarified that the notice of cash allotment had reached LTFRB only that week; no equity-subsidy amount had yet been utilized, although administrative costs had been incurred. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the PHP 1.5 billion would be transferred to LTFRB for participants who joined the modernization program and expected it to be used over the coming months.

Lopez separately recalled a PHP 400 million equity-subsidy line in the 2026 project budget. He also described a prior-year PTMP NEP of about PHP 1.2 billion, a PHP 300 million increase still subject to SARO, and said the amount allotted was approximately PHP 1.2 billion or PHP 1 billion. Those prior-year release figures were approximate and were not reconciled with the FY2026 NCA.

LRT2 funding and train availability: Rep. Renee Louise M. Co cited LRT2's 250,578 passengers on August 25, a nine-year high, and the FY2027 proposed PHP 197 billion rail-transport-program NEP, noting that no LRT2 improvement was allocated and asking why. Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Atty. Hernando T. Cabrera said LRT2 receives a direct National Government subsidy set through DBM, while some capital investment also comes from LRTA's corporate operating budget, funded by fare earnings it retains outside the National Treasury and uses for spare parts and rehabilitation; he gave no subsidy or corporate-budget amount.

Cabrera said the line began with 18 trainsets, of which 10 now operate; six were running when the current administration took over and four more were rehabilitated, while eight are beyond repair or not financially viable to restore. He identified train shortages as the main capacity constraint. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr's FY2027 proposal for new LRT2 trainsets was PHP 12 billion, including a request for at least two sets if more could not be funded, but the proposal received no funding. DOTr was focusing on its existing fleet while still needing new cars.

Philippine National Railways (PNR) rehabilitation request, loan question and ridership outlook: Rep. Franz S. Pumaren asked whether the Bicol Express could proceed as the China loan approached expiry, citing an approximately 6 billion loan (currency was not specified) and asking if the investment was worthwhile. PNR General Manager Deovanni S. Miranda said rehabilitation continued on the Lucena-Calamba and Lupi-Naga routes, with Naga-Legazpi restoration funded from the 2026 budget. PNR sought additional capital-outlay support to rehabilitate the 422-kilometer line from Lucena to Lupi; no amount was stated. Miranda reported current ridership of about 1,600 daily, projected 5,000-6,000 after Manila trains were added, and an initial South Long Haul study estimate of 20,000-25,000 daily riders served. Pumaren requested the supporting ridership data and investment justification in writing before the matter reached plenary, and Miranda agreed to submit them in coordination with the secretary. Miranda did not address whether the cited loan was expiring.

DOTr active-transport request, NEP allocation and prior appropriations: For FY2027, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr requested PHP 1.1 billion for the Active Transport Bike Share System and Safe Pathways Program, while the NEP provided PHP 33 million; he said that amount would fund five additional kilometers of Class 1 bike lane. Lopez asked the Committee on Appropriations to restore the department's proposal, and later confirmed that the same PHP 1.1 billion submission was the amount DOTr planned to seek through an institutional amendment.

Rep. Antonio L. Tinio recited prior program amounts: PHP 2 billion in 2022, PHP 1 billion in 2024, PHP 60 million in 2025, and PHP 104 million in 2026. The FY2026 figure Tinio cited differs from the DBM's later total-appropriation figure and is retained as stated rather than reconciled. No restoration or amendment was adopted in this exchange.

Utilization, release status and implementation timing: Asked why the NEP amount was far below the request, DBM Director Maria Cecilia Socorro M. Abogado cited absorption capacity and limited fiscal space. She identified FY2025 active-transport utilization as 2.60 percent and said the FY2026 appropriation totaled PHP 105.376 million, of which PHP 69.376 million had been comprehensively released; she said the PHP 36 million Congress-introduced change had not yet been released. DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven C. Pastor separately said about PHP 34 million remained with DBM and that DOTr would use it with Paranaque City, while citing more than PHP 60 million for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-EDSA sidewalk expansion and a commitment to complete procurement within two months, followed by civil works. These statements are retained as distinct release and utilization accounts.

Pastor attributed low utilization in part to LGU partnerships and tranche-based downloads that took time to liquidate and disburse. On the accounting period, Abogado said the NEP intends same-fiscal-year implementation, while the GAA extends maintenance and capital outlay appropriations through the end of the next fiscal year. Secretary Lopez said delays in LGU agreements and liquidation affected obligations, and also cited FISARO restrictions on some funds.

Tinio described the 2022-2026 appropriations as more than PHP 3.8 billion and sought a report on cumulative utilization and concrete achievements. Lopez undertook to provide a progress report covering 2022 to the present and said the department planned to seek its submitted proposal; the institutional-amendment release treatment would depend on the President's veto message and DBM's release guidelines, Abogado said.

FY2027 PTMP proposal and subsidy release: Rep. Edwin Ongchuan read Safe Travel PH's question whether low utilization was a reason for reduced public-transport-program funding in FY2027. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez identified utilization as one reason the PTMP FY2027 proposal was reduced. He said the policy had shifted and that issuance of a PHP 1 billion NCA would enable DOTr to obligate the funds and download them to LTFRB as subsidies for modern-transport operators and drivers. Lopez described obligation and transfer as next steps, not completed payments.

Closing direction for agency wish lists: Rep. Edwin Ongchuan said Committee Chairperson Mikaela Angela B. Suansing was absent and relayed her direction that attached agencies and DOTr bureaus send any additional wish lists or requests to the Office of the Secretary for collation and prioritization. He said requests should be prioritized by that office and would not be entertained without Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez's signature. The deadline was the following week; Ongchuan said he would text Lopez for the exact date and asked agencies to submit as soon as possible.

CAAP corporate operating budget for Busuanga Airport: CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela said CAAP allocated P573 million from its corporate operating budget for Busuanga development. He described a modular terminal expansion in anticipation of Airbus operations and a modular control tower positioned to see both the new and existing runways. Part 2 did not state CAAP's full FY2027 NEP allocation or original agency request; these figures concern its corporate airport funding.

General Santos airport earthquake repairs and boarding bridges: DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the General Santos (Gensan) airport had been damaged in the recent earthquake and that CAAP had set aside about P250 million. He cited replacing the glass wall with tempered glass for safety and planning a passenger boarding bridge. CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela reported emergency repair and rehabilitation of the second floor, with completion targeted by the end of November 2026 or, at the latest, the first week of December 2026; two existing boarding bridges had not been damaged and were expected to be usable. CAAP also planned an additional boarding bridge, with spacing studied for Airbus A330 international operations. Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand L. Hernandez pressed for the repair to finish sooner and recalled that Lopez had told him in an earlier discussion that the repair budget was P200 million. Hernandez said the repair should not consume the full P200 million and asked that another boarding tube be incorporated because the airport was congested and could expect more flights once fully operational. Lopez thanked him and agreed that the passenger boarding bridge would be designed; Hernandez treated the additional tube as part of the repair redesign and welcomed the airport expansion. The P250 million set-aside and the P200 million figure Hernandez recalled are distinct statements in this exchange and are not reconciled.

CAAP-funded Calbayog airport work and runway completion need: For 2026, Tan said DOTr and CAAP had funded P62 million for Calbayog strip-grade correction, fencing, and asphalt overlay over 100 meters, and said work had started. Tan separately cited a July 13, 2026 evaluation identifying P350 million through CAAP to complete the runway, and asked whether it could be committed for 2027. CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela said asphalt overlay, perimeter fencing, and strip-grade correction were in procurement and awaiting contract award, with completion targeted for 2027. Dionela also said runway-side strip-grade corrections were needed for Airbus operations, including a 75-meter separation on each side, and that he would raise further support needs with CAAP top management. CAAP did not confirm a P350 million commitment; the procurement and completion timing remained prospective.

Bagabag Airport fire-station allocation and procurement: Representative Timothy Joseph E. Cayton asked when the funded Bagabag Airport fire station would proceed, noting that program-of-work and detailed engineering design were still underway. CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela said CAAP had allocated about PHP 15 million for the fire station and expected to procure it in October 2026.

Bagabag Airport tower clearance, relocation and feasibility study: Dionela raised an operational safety problem: a tower in the runway approach had been built without the required height clearance, and he sought the Secretary's permission and assistance to remove it for continued general-aviation operations. Cayton said provincial and municipal officials had discussed removing and relocating the tower. He also said the last funded feasibility study was in 2014 and asked that a study for improvements to the whole airport be funded so it could become operational soon. The study request included no amount, and no funding commitment was recorded in this exchange.

Tuguegarao Airport CAAP budget and restoration assurance: Rep. Joseph "Jojo" L. Lara said P150 million had been provided in the FY2024 GAA for Tuguegarao Airport but was not implemented; he thought it may have been restored later. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez described the P150 million as a 2025 airport amount that had been reverted, then said he asked CAAP to restore and increase funding through its corporate operating budget. Lopez put the current CAAP corporate operating budget at P477 million under a multi-year budget allocation (MYBA), said it was allocated to Tuguegarao Airport, and assured Lara it would be funded. He also said it still had to pass approval with him and the CAAP board. Lara and Lopez gave different fiscal-year/status descriptions of the P150 million, which the exchange does not reconcile. The P477 million is a multi-year corporate operating budget figure.

Tuguegarao tower equipment and future night operations: Lara said the new airport tower was built but still needed equipment, and reiterated a request for all-weather capability and a night rating so airlines could consider scheduled night flights. Lopez said the night-rating work was included in CAAP's program. The implementation date remained unspecified.

CAAP corporate funding, terminal allocations and conditional night rating: Oaminal asked how much more was needed to finish the modernization. He cited about PHP 2.1 billion remaining; CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela confirmed this as a ballpark figure planned within CAAP's Corporate Operating Budget, subject to higher-authority approval. DOTr said CAAP could not fund the whole amount as a one-time budget and that annual corporate-budget funding made progress slower; Lopez said additional DOTr support through the GAA would help. CAAP Assistant Director General Atty. Roberto Martin S. Buenaventura cited PHP 169 million for site acquisition and PHP 300 million for Phase 1 passenger-terminal-building construction; Oaminal clarified he was asking about later funding. Buenaventura then cited PHP 891 million allocated through 2028. When Oaminal asked whether that was on top of 2026, Buenaventura clarified that it included allocations already made for 2026, including the terminal and part of the asphalt overlay. For further work, CAAP said it would cover a DPWH-certified terminal cost increase from PHP 300 million to PHP 450 million from its corporate budget, while tower and lighting costs needed for night rating were still being studied against that budget. Lopez said Ozamiz could catch up to the 2028 goal if adequate funding were provided, but deferred a specific FY2027 CAAP amount pending board consultation and approval. The board-dependent tower and lighting items were not approved in this exchange.

MARINA maritime education requirements in the NEP: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago asked whether the NEP provision for MARINA was sufficient to meet maritime education and training standards, including equipment and facilities. MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan said that after Republic Act 12021 transferred maritime education functions to MARINA, the agency submitted additional budgetary requirements, but the NEP included less than the full request and left insufficient funding for needed system changes. The FY2027 original-request and NEP amounts were not supplied.

MARINA seafarer training access: Elago asked whether MARINA could make its management-level, basic, safety and other seafarer courses free or more affordable. Malaluan said MARINA did not currently provide free courses in those areas except updates to basic training; the National Maritime Polytechnic provides free seafarer training. Elago urged MARINA to propose recurring support, including possible TESDA or CHED partnerships. Malaluan said MARINA planned to provide active seafarers with free generic courses on automation and decarbonization in 2027, ahead of expected International Maritime Organization requirements.

MARINA Negros Island Region office staffing and authority: Representative Ma. Isabel L. Sagarbarria asked why the Negros Island Region (NIR) offices had not been fully established and requested a definite implementation timeline. She noted that the Dumaguete and Bacolod extension offices still reported to Regions 7 and 6, respectively, and lacked delegated approval authority. MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan said the agency was awaiting approval of additional plantilla positions; its existing staff were insufficient to establish a regional office. In the meantime, MARINA would retain the Dumaguete and Bacolod extensions. Malaluan appealed for additional manpower, citing the distance and scheduling burden on stakeholders and the extensions' lack of approving authority. No staffing approval or opening date was confirmed in this response.

MARINA information-system technology refresh and recovery funding: Pumaren asked about a cyberattack on MARINA's information system; Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan corrected the incident date from August 14 to August 13, and Pumaren accepted the correction. Malaluan said the system was seven years old and that MARINA's Tier 2 proposed budget requirement included a technology refresh for software and hardware and a recovery system. She said restoration takes longer because MARINA had no disaster-recovery system. During the interruption, a temporary system allowed issuance of seafarer identity documents and seafarer record books.

MIAA remittance timing and public revenue figures: Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago cited the Commission on Audit (COA)'s 2024 annual audit report, which flagged PHP 1.23 billion in NAIA PPP collections from September through December 2024 as unremitted. MIAA Assistant General Manager Arlene B. Britanico explained that the flagged amount reflected a third-quarter remittance paid with the fourth-quarter remittance due January 15; because MIAA's year-end was December, the booking crossed December and January. Asked to separate MIAA and NNIC revenue, Britanico described a FY2026 proposed annualized figure of about PHP 21 billion, then specified PHP 21.07 billion in PPP revenue and PHP 41 million from the non-project area. She confirmed that terminal fees were excluded and Elago requested the revenue components for submission to the committee. NNIC's private-income figures remained a separate request. These are revenue and remittance figures, distinct from an appropriation; Part 2 did not state MIAA's full FY2027 NEP allocation or original budget request.

MIAA budget revenue: NNIC government remittance: Co asked how much NNIC had collected from passengers at NAIA. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez clarified whether she meant the passenger service charge or NNIC remittances to government, then said NNIC had remitted around PHP 78 billion to government. This is a government remittance figure in the MIAA revenue discussion, not an appropriation or a fiscal-year total.

LTFRB Dumaguete office staffing, budget and shared space: Sagarbarria also asked about the LTFRB regional office. LTFRB Board Member Atty. Greg G. Pua Jr. said the agency targeted establishing its Dumaguete office by the end of September 2026, but the DBM had provided no additional personnel services or maintenance and other operating expenses for it. LTFRB was coordinating with the LTO to use part of its space. Pua said LTFRB was working on the specifications and had identified personnel from Regions 6 and 7 and the central office who were willing to serve in the NIR. Part 2 did not state LTFRB's full FY2027 NEP allocation or original agency request.

LTFRB computerization and permit delays: Pumaren said DBM had agreed at an earlier hearing to include computerization funding for LTFRB, but he believed it was not included in the current budget. He connected the need to slow provisional-permit and franchise processing, citing reports that applications could take three to six months because the office lacked data, and asked for the computerization proposal to be included. LTFRB Board Member Atty. Greg G. Pua Jr. said he remembered the earlier discussion; no current allocation amount or confirmation that the funding was included was given in this exchange.

LTFRB monitoring and staffing capacity: Ongchuan asked what share of modern PUVs transmit valid GPS data to government systems each day. Lopez said government did not have its own fleet-management system; GPS was handled by a private company. He said LTFRB should receive proper funding to improve its regulatory fleet-management function. Ongchuan then asked how many personnel handle public-transport modernization, route planning, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation, and how many are permanent versus contract-of-service, job-order or consultant staff. Lopez said he did not have exact headcounts, described plantilla and contract-of-service staff in road non-infrastructure as few, and said DOTr had sought help through LTFRB to add manpower.

Bagamanoc Coast Guard station equipment request and DOTr support: Rep. Eulogio "Leo" R. Rodriguez said the Coast Guard station at LORAN in Bagamanoc was complete and that funds had been provided for it, but patrol boats and other Coast Guard equipment were needed to enable patrols in the area, particularly in the Pacific. He said he had submitted the concern to the DOTr Secretary and conveyed it to the Coast Guard. He gave no amount, and no agency response is recorded in this exchange. Rodriguez then pledged full support for the DOTr budget, including attached agencies; this was support, not a formal appropriation action. Part 2 did not state the PCG's full FY2027 NEP allocation or original agency request.

PCG vessels and outboard-motor needs: Pumaren supported strengthening the PCG and requested additional vessels, referring to an earlier commitment to provide them incrementally. Lopez confirmed Pumaren had pushed for the PCG need and said there was a commitment to address it by year. Pumaren also relayed a request for replacement outboard motors, which he described as obsolete, and said he would pass the proposal to the appropriations committee. These were qualitative requests; no amount or adoption decision was stated.

PCG equipment needs and budget support: Rep. Anna York P. Bondoc, M.D. requested full support for PCG equipment needs during recurring floods, citing Coast Guard rescues and saying she had personally supplied a speedboat because the unit lacked equipment. She commended its assistance to her district and expressed full support for Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez's DOTr budget. This was a qualitative funding request and support, with no amount or appropriation decision stated.

Mercedes-Camarines Norte offshore-wind terminal and Jose Panganiban request: Chan asked what PPA would do at the Jose Panganiban and Mercedes ports so they could support offshore-wind equipment and be ready ahead of the green-energy auction. Secretary Lopez said DOTr had discussed offshore-wind support with PPA and deferred details to PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago. Santiago identified Mercedes-Camarines Norte as the Department of Energy (DOE)'s priority. He said the offshore-wind terminal contract had been bid and awarded on a turnkey basis, with no mobilization, down payment or advance payment; government payment would follow turnover within three years. He expected groundbreaking by October 2026 and said the terminal was expected to be usable by service contractors in the first half of 2028, supporting the DOE's target for first power that year. Santiago did not address a project or timeline for Jose Panganiban, so the two ports are not treated as one awarded project. Part 2 did not state PPA's full FY2027 NEP allocation or original agency request.

Matnog Port expansion and passenger-terminal queue: Chan asked about Matnog Port's 2027 plans for the Ro-Ro lifeline. Santiago said PPA planned to bid the second expansion phase before the end of 2026 and begin construction. Phase two includes further port expansion and a new passenger terminal. He said PPA would program phase three for 2027 and hoped to begin it that year after phase two progressed. The final expansion would extend the terminal toward the coastal road so passengers and vehicles could queue inside the port instead of along Maharlika Highway. These were PPA's planned procurement and programming steps, not a reported phase-three award.

Palawan ports: turnover, expansion and planned facilities: Rep. Karl Fernandez Legazpi asked about the San Fernando RoRo Port in El Nido, which he understood to be finished but still needing infrastructure development. PPA General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said Palawan province had requested to take over operations of San Fernando and Borac Port in Coron; PPA was preparing the turnover documents and would schedule no further development while turnover was pending. The province would handle development, including a passenger terminal building at San Fernando. On Buliluyan Port in Bataraza, Santiago reported ongoing expansion coordinated with the provincial government and PCG because it is a staging area for Coast Guard operations in the West Philippine Sea, and committed to continue the work. He also reported a completed RoRo pier at Balabac, another facility to be programmed for Manga Island, a project programmed for Cagayancillo next year, and ongoing and next-year work at Cuyo Island. Legazpi expressed support for PPA's continuing projects.

Sandoval feasibility study and airport delivery timelines: Legazpi asked whether CAAP or another agency could help fast-track the provincially initiated Sandoval Airport in Taytay, and whether it was in the next annual budget. Secretary Lopez said some airports were not included in the NEP and that CAAP could use its corporate operating budget; he referred the Sandoval question to Dionela. Dionela said the position was to conduct a feasibility study in collaboration with DOTr. DOTr Director Eduardo J. Mangalili said procurement for the study would begin that month, with award hoped for by November, together with Cagayancillo. He said Busuanga's runway was to be completed by year-end for jet operations; the old landside area and terminal would remain in use in the meantime. The study cost was not given in this exchange.

Public-transport fleet figures and passenger capacity: Co framed her questions with her commuter experience and cited the 2024 Urban Mobility Readiness Index report, in which she said the Philippines ranked 63rd of 70 countries on its public-transit sub-index. She presented figures DOTr had shared at the prior year’s budget hearing: 128,000 PUJs, nearly 12,000 modern jeepneys, a total of 140,818 PUJs, and about 160,000 mass-transport units including buses, as of 2025. After Secretary Lopez deferred to LTFRB, Board Member Atty. Greg G. Pua Jr. described LTFRB’s latest subsidy records as of June [unclear], 2026: 137,218 traditional PUJs, around 7,600 PhilCab units, 23,000–24,000 provincial and city buses, and 13,516 modern PUJs. He said the UV Express count was unchanged, some minibuses had become full buses, and he had no current record for modern buses. Co asked that updated numbers be sent to the committee, and Pua agreed. Co then compared CIDS/UPCIDS data of 300,000 operating PUJs before modernization with a DOTr figure of more than 128,000 as of August 2025. She estimated a difference of about 171,000 units, which she characterized as units lost due to modernization. Using assumed capacities and daily trips, she estimated 34 million passenger places per day removed, compared with about 3 million daily capacity contributed by nearly 12,000 modern units. She asked whether PTMP had replaced that capacity. DOTr Assistant Secretary Dioscoro T. Reyes first discussed congestion and pressure from private-vehicle growth; Co clarified that her question was daily passenger capacity. Lopez said PTMP sought to improve older vehicles’ roadworthiness, acknowledged that route rationalization remained a problem, and said DOTr was trying to fill per-route gaps with local-government coordination. He explained the lower count as reflecting several factors: some vehicles had modernized, some routes had been rationalized to authorized unit counts, and unroadworthy older vehicles had been removed. He gave no replacement-capacity total.

LRT1 public loan, private investment, and LRMC revenue uses: Co asked about LRT1 capacity after 120 new Gen 4 cars entered service; Undersecretary Timothy John Batan said the line had an approximately 80% load factor and the additional cars helped. Batan identified the cars as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) official-development-assistance loan-financed. Co cited a PHP 17 billion loan and questioned LRMC collecting revenue from assets she described as publicly financed, saying LRMC had not spent on those cars. Batan explained that the 2014 LRT1 PPP has both private LRMC investment and government-funded components, including the 120 cars.

Batan said LRMC had collected PHP 31 billion in LRT1 revenues since 2015. He described PHP 14 billion for rehabilitation of the existing Baclaran-FPJ system, PHP 21 billion for the Cavite Extension, and PHP 26 billion in line operating expenses since 2015. In response to Co asking for a further breakdown, Batan restated PHP 31 billion in total collections, comprising PHP 29 billion in farebox revenue and PHP 1.4 billion in non-rail revenue. He said LRMC's 2020-2025 net result was negative except for 2023-2025, because rehabilitation, extension and operating costs exceeded revenue collected to date. Co requested the revenue-use breakdown and a copy of income and expenditure information; Batan agreed to provide it. The hearing did not reconcile the stated totals and components, so they are retained as stated.

LRT1 maintenance accountability and concession penalties: Co asked who was responsible for maintaining basic station facilities and raised reports of water inside new, taxpayer-funded Gen 4 cars. Batan said LRMC is responsible under the concession agreement and that LRTA's concession-management team imposes KPI penalties for missed requirements. Cabrera attributed the latest water incident to a clogged or failed train-air-conditioning drain, said maintenance was needed, and reported that LRTA had formally admonished LRMC on earlier incidents and sent three letters. He said LRTA cites station violations daily and that the concession penalty outstanding against LRMC had reached PHP 121 million. Collection was pending while the government and LRMC discussed amounts each owed; Cabrera said DOTr would eventually collect or offset it against LRMC claims. Co asked for a written update on enforcement, and Cabrera agreed to provide the records.

NNIC passenger and airport income disclosure request: Co clarified that she sought NNIC's broader income since taking over NAIA, including passenger charges, airport businesses, private operators and airlines, not just remittances. Lopez agreed to submit the information. Co said the committee would send a formal letter to request the data, noting that the passenger service charge had increased and that members needed to compare remittances with NNIC's income during the agreement. No total for NNIC's broader passenger and private-operator income was stated.

Naga Airport construction delays and catch-up commitments: Legacion asked how CAAP and DOTr would accelerate the Naga Airport works, citing the service gap since March 29 and the project's long delay. He said Phase 1 earthworks began February 19, 2026, were targeted for January 2027, and had reached 6.21% as of July 31, after six months; he attributed the slowdown to changed fill prices and haulers avoiding the Phase 1 contract. He said Phase 2 was supposed to start in June, possibly July, with a May 2027 target. CAAP Assistant Director General Valentino A. Dionela acknowledged Phase 1 was delayed and said the agency would find a way to accelerate it so it could keep pace with Phase 2 and prepare for concreting the 2,100-meter runway. Mangalili separately said Phase 2 was committed for completion in Q1 2027 and Phase 1 was expected by January, then described the embankment and pavement sequence. Lopez directed the implementing unit to examine the work program and early procurement and promised to visit and seek a contractor catch-up plan if needed. The two Phase 2 targets were not reconciled.

NAIA passenger charges and NNIC reporting requests: Elago asked whether CAAP's passenger-service-charge reduction applied to NAIA and raised affordability concerns, noting that 80 percent of passengers use the airport and that fees had risen. Britanico said MIAA had a pending proposal with the Department of Finance to support airlines. CAAP Assistant Director General Attorney Roberto Martin S. Buenaventura clarified that CAAP's fee reductions and waivers applied to CAAP-operated airports, not PPP airports; NAIA was governed by its concession agreement. Elago said this limited public leverage over charges at a privatized essential service. She placed requests on record for detailed revenue figures, NNIC investment and renovation spending, NNIC audited financial statements, and a report on implementation of CAAP's fee directive; the requested reports remained pending.

Calbayog air service and fare concern: Tan said Calbayog no longer had direct flights to Manila and that passengers had to connect through Cebu. He estimated the trip cost at about P12,000 and asked DOTr and CAAP to advance the airport upgrade. He said the upgrade could support direct Manila service and lower fares.

Paragliding pilot licensing and aviation-sports regulation: Cayton asked whether CAAP licensed and accredited paragliding pilots, saying he understood that airspace clearance did not provide a pilot-competency system. CAAP Assistant Director General Atty. Roberto Martin S. Buenaventura confirmed CAAP's jurisdiction but said no specific regulations were yet in place. He said CAAP had been instructed to follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and develop aviation-sports regulations as soon as possible. Cayton cited growing paragliding activity in Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya and raised tourism and passenger-safety concerns. Buenaventura said a pending bill included relevant provisions.

CAAP casual and job-order staff; Lara's support for DOTr: Lara asked that long-serving CAAP casual and job-order employees be considered for regular positions. Lopez said they would be prioritized in a CAAP reorganization if they were qualified. Lara closed by expressing support for DOTr and Lopez's leadership, without stating an amount or making a formal appropriation motion in this round.

Cabanatuan ring road, CLLEX connection and Pampanga River bridges: Representative Julius Cesar "Jay" V. Vergara described Cabanatuan's 45-kilometer ring road as locally funded. He said the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) exit feeds a local highway rather than joining Maharlika Highway directly. He also described two bridges over the Pampanga River, about one and one-and-a-half kilometers long, as helping divert traffic through the area when NLEX is flooded. Vergara reported that a Korean group had completed a memorandum of agreement the previous December for agricultural-equipment work in selected regions, and that 15 companies were preparing for the initiative.

Request to restore rail along the old corridor: Vergara asked that rail service be restored along the old railway corridor, which he said was now largely occupied by housing, and expressed support to the Secretary. The rail-restoration request received no substantive agency answer in this exchange.

MARINA cyber incident, system restoration and investigation: Asked who was accountable for the incident, Malaluan said the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) was assisting and investigating what happened. She said attempts to access the database and other processes were blocked from causing data loss, although the system was hit and processing stopped. MARINA resumed issuance in a controlled temporary environment that was not yet reconnected to the network; Malaluan confirmed the seafarer system was working again.

Seafarer document-extension fees and alleged expedited charges: Pumaren asked about reports of PHP 10,000-20,000 charges for extending seafarer documents. Malaluan said the extensions issued while the system could not produce cards were free, with certificates and stamps, and that people with delayed appointments could be accommodated without an additional charge. She said the regular costs were PHP 1,000 for a seafarer identity document and PHP 1,000 for a seafarer record book. Pumaren then said constituents had reported being charged PHP 10,000-20,000 to fast-track service. Malaluan said applications and appointments went through eGov without middlemen, committed to investigate the reports, and Pumaren requested a report. The exchange records allegations and an investigation commitment, not a finding of misconduct.

Orient Register status and classification-society oversight: Pumaren asked whether Orient Register Classification had been blacklisted and challenged MARINA's handling of the matter, attributing prior failures and deaths to the society. MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan said it remained under preventive suspension, was not yet blacklisted, and the appeal was before the Office of the President; she said MARINA's process was ongoing. She reported three local classification societies, including Orient, and seven international IACS members, and said MARINA continued a moratorium issued around 2020. Pumaren questioned whether the available societies could adequately classify the fleet and left the matter to the secretary. The exchange did not record a blacklist decision.

Passenger coverage and proposed insurance increase: Pumaren urged stronger insurance protection for passengers and asked about recommendations from his committee report on the MV Trisha Kerstin. Malaluan said MARINA had drafted an increase in passenger coverage for submission to its board, while the Insurance Commission had not yet provided the master policy. LTFRB Board Member Atty. Greg G. Pua Jr. separately described an existing personal passenger accident insurance program: each public-transport passenger was insured for PHP 400,000 in case of death, with other amounts for hospitalization or injury. The proposed MARINA increase remained subject to board consideration and the master policy.

Laguindingan Airport identification and host-city recognition: Emano asked whether the airport identification could be changed from Cagayan de Oro to Laguindingan, to recognize the airport's host province, Misamis Oriental. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said he would discuss the airport naming and code rules with the CAAP. Emano suggested welcome signage describing Laguindingan Airport as the gateway to Cagayan de Oro or Northern Mindanao. Lopez said that could be done and said he would ask CAAP and the concessionaire to ensure due recognition for Cagayan de Oro. The code change was not decided in this exchange.

International-flight service and concessionaire timeline: Emano asked when Laguindingan Airport could begin international service under the Aboitiz concession. CAAP Assistant Director General Atty. Roberto Martin S. Buenaventura said the airport infrastructure and runway could accommodate international flights, but the concessionaire had to pitch airlines and was doing so. Lopez said the Aboitiz group was responsible for attracting airlines, while government would assist; he promised to speak with the group after the hearing and seek a timeline. Emano hoped to receive a concrete answer before returning to his district the next day. The flight-start date remained pending.

NSCR and Metro Manila Subway delivery targets: Lopez said N1, the Valenzuela-to-Malolos segment, was targeted for partial operations in December 2027 if funding held, with a possible slide to the first quarter of 2028 for safety issues. N2 to Clark was targeted for a June 2028 demonstration run, which Lopez clarified would not be revenue operations; testing and commissioning would follow, with revenue operations estimated around the last quarter of 2028. He put Subway operations around 2031. Lopez also reported that tunnels on the East Valenzuela-to-Quirino and North Avenue-to-Tandang Sora segments were complete, while the Camp Aguinaldo segment was around 90%; these segment updates do not mean the Subway project as a whole is complete. Suntay asked about schedule and progress after noting that the railway was not yet in service; Lopez attributed delays in part to funding gaps.

MRT-7 University Station access and design: Suntay asked why the MRT-7 University Station plan placed access on only the University of the Philippines (UP) side of Commonwealth Avenue and whether it could serve both sides; he also raised UP's concern about an elevated station. DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DOTr had met with UP President Angelo A. Jimenez and agreed to access on both sides, near TechnoHub and University Mall. He said the station would remain elevated, with DOTr to follow UP's preferred design; underground construction would require disruptive cut-and-cover work on congested Commonwealth Avenue and could jeopardize the 2027 target. Suntay said the two-sided access agreement addressed his concern. These were design and development plans, not a report that the station was complete.

San Simon flooding, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) response and infrastructure plans: Bondoc described northbound and southbound NLEX traffic near the San Simon-Tulaok exit extending 10 kilometers, with delays of 10 to 12 hours, and asked for the TRB's response. Secretary Lopez said the TRB issued NLEX a notice to explain and separately asked it to study possible reimbursement for stranded motorists, especially those who turned back; no reimbursement decision or liability finding was reported. He outlined DPWH and NLEX plans discussed through the TRB: raising Tulaok pavement by 0.6 meters northbound and 0.5 meters southbound, a perimeter floodwall, dredging, floodgates and sheet piles, pumps, dike repairs, detention basins and a floodway. These were proposed short-, medium- and long-term plans, without funding amounts or implementation dates stated.

NLEX toll-free service and advance flood warnings: Lopez said DOTr asked NLEX to provide toll-free service as part of corporate social responsibility, and NLEX agreed. DOTr also directed NLEX to text motorists, especially RFID users, when areas would be impassable; the requested notice was about three hours in advance, and NLEX committed to comply. Lopez said DOTr was not declaring NLEX responsible for the flooding.

Alternative NLEX viaduct and unfinished Pampanga River bridges: Bondoc said Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. had raised an alternative expressway or new NLEX, which she envisioned as a viaduct amid flooding and food- and national-security concerns. Lopez said he needed to confer with Teodoro and that DOTr would support the concept if it resolved flooding; he made no construction commitment. Bondoc also said five bridges across the Pampanga River were unfinished and could provide alternatives to NLEX, and asked that DPWH Secretary Vivencio B. Dizon be engaged; no completion commitment for those bridges was recorded.

New Manila International Airport and Pampanga flood causation: Asked about the Bulacan airport, Lopez identified the New Manila International Airport as a DOTr-monitored public-private partnership project that began as an unsolicited proposal. On claims that it caused Pampanga flooding, he said he could not identify a single cause and that the relationship needed study. He added that a Pampanga-wide flood-mitigation master plan had reportedly existed for years but had not been implemented.

Manila Bay cleanup and Coast Guard rescues: Bondoc thanked the PCG, Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, local governments, other government teams and Estero Rangers for the Manila Bay cleanup. She said that in June they cleared 15,000 sacks of garbage and commended the Coast Guard's cooperation and rescues during the disaster.

PPA cruise-port vision for Misamis Occidental: Oaminal commended the PPA for identifying a possible cruise port in Misamis Occidental that could connect the province with Siquijor and Camiguin. He said he looked forward to working with DOTr and PPA to develop the idea. This was a prospective tourism concept, not a funded or approved port project in this exchange.

Motorcycle-taxi work continuity and agency enforcement: Gutierrez praised LTFRB's support for motorcycle-taxi riders, saying work had continued under MC-26-48 and was no longer only a pilot study. He said LTFRB used existing media resources at no cost to government and was working on linking motorcycle-taxi databases through an API. Separately, he praised LTO enforcement activity and said, with uncertainty about the term, that some cases might be technical smuggling; he also asked whether LTO had intelligence funds.

Road-safety maintenance and DOTr-DPWH coordination: Gutierrez raised road cracks and potholes after rain as a safety hazard for motorcycle riders and asked whether DOTr could coordinate with DPWH on maintenance, including on roads used by private cars. Lopez said an existing DOTr-DPWH convergence program covered airport access roads and EDSA rehabilitation, with agencies discussing improved connectivity and mobility. Gutierrez supported restoring the programs and exploring broader maintenance, but no new or expanded maintenance program was adopted.

Consolidation measures, franchise status and PTMP implementation: Espares cited a 2024 figure of 165,334 consolidated franchises out of 191,730, or 86.23%. Reyes said LTFRB later corrected the 2024 figure after finding transport groups counted more than once, revising it to about 83%; Espares later cited 83.64%, which the exchange did not reconcile with Reyes's rounded figure. Reyes separately reported entity counts: for 2024, 1,757 cooperatives and 1,183 corporations, with a stated total of 2,946; then 2,956 in 2025 and 3,090 in 2026. These counts describe consolidated entities, not modernized vehicles or individual franchises. Espares estimated that roughly 13,000-plus vehicles had modernized out of around 160,000 consolidated, but Reyes did not confirm that estimate. He said the consolidation data mixed CPC holders and provisional authorities and promised updated individual-franchise and authority counts the following week.

He also cited a Batangas transport group that received a route and had been joined by more than 200 Manibela members. Espares questioned repeated extensions for operators that did not consolidate while participating cooperatives faced foreclosures, and asked whether DOTr would continue PTMP. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the program would continue but admitted implementation needed improvement; Reyes described route and economic recalibration. Espares said he would support the program if it continued and sought restoration of its budget, but no appropriation decision was made in this exchange.

Bataan rail and bridge feasibility study: Rep. Antonino B. Roman III asked whether the Subic-Clark rail project could be extended to Bataan, citing the proposed Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said DPWH and the ADB had discussed Bataan infrastructure planning, including a feasibility study that would consider rail alongside roads and bridges. The DOTr planning office had written to ADB asking it to include rail in its study. Lopez clarified that the Bataan feasibility study was separate from the Subic-Clark study.

Comprehensive master plan procurement and separate Subic-Clark study: Roman separately asked about a comprehensive master plan he understood to be nearing procurement, mentioning an October timetable and asking whether it could include rail. Undersecretary Teodorico Jose R. Delfin confirmed that the plan was up for procurement, with a latest target within the third quarter, and said it could potentially include rail. Delfin then distinguished this from another study already underway with a consultant, identified as Subic-Clark; DOTr would check whether rail could be included in that study. The exchange did not confirm that rail had been added to either plan.

Abucay tourism-port documents and follow-up: Roman said surveyors had identified a potential tourism-port site in Bataan and that he was waiting for documents from the Municipality of Abucay, but had not received the document list. DOTr Assistant Secretary Atty. Villamor Ventura S. Plan said the department had drafted requests for the documents for transmission to Roman's office. Roman agreed they could expedite the process, then thanked DOTr for planning and following the proper process for a plan serving Bataan and the country.

Route demand, modernization debt, and operator economics: Safe Travel PH asked whether DOTr checks passenger demand before cooperatives take on debt for modern vehicles and required fleets. Lopez said demand should be part of the program and described route rationalization as a way for government to assign routes with more passengers. He cautioned that buying a modern vehicle does not guarantee that its operator will earn a profit; appropriate routes are intended to help operators and drivers.

Modernization outcomes and reporting baselines: Ongchuan asked what measurable improvement commuters should experience from public-transport modernization and requested the denominator and baseline behind reported modernization and ridership increases. Lopez described successful modernization as saving time and expense for passengers and drivers and allowing operators and drivers to earn, but gave no measured results or baseline. After Ongchuan repeated the denominator question, Lopez said consolidation is only one aspect of modernization: a high consolidation rate does not mean that more PUJs have been modernized. The exchange did not establish a vehicle-count measure or reconcile consolidation with fleet modernization.

Passenger facilities and shared infrastructure responsibilities: Ongchuan asked what DOTr was doing to modernize the passenger side of trips, including stops, terminals, sidewalks, crossings, lighting, information and interchanges. Lopez said modern terminals were part of DOTr's mandate, with private-sector examples including PITX and a Taguig project he said the department would implement. Asked who is accountable for passenger infrastructure on national roads, Lopez said agencies share responsibility: DPWH handles bridges, roads and national roads, while DOTr handles ports, airports and rail.

Pasig River Ferry and MAPALLA operating responsibilities: Co-Chair Reynante U. Arrogancia relayed the People's Budget Coalition's request for clarity on the Pasig River Ferry's operating model and MAPALLA's implementation and financial status. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said the ferry was under Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) jurisdiction, while DOTr contributed through the PCG, whose personnel operated it. DOTr was coordinating with MMDA about whether the service could return to or come under DOTr; the PPA was willing to assist with infrastructure for the ferry and MAPALLA. No transfer decision was announced.

Move As One fuel resilience proposals: Arrogancia presented the Move As One Coalition's two-part response to rising fuel costs: reduce commuters' exposure through efficient, high-capacity public transport and walking and cycling options, including the EDSA Busway and active-transport infrastructure; and support transport workers through service contracting and fuel subsidies so services could continue. Lopez agreed with the coalition's approach, without announcing a new funding commitment or specific action in this exchange.

Co-chair closing remarks and support for the proposed DOTr budget: Rep. Reynante U. Arrogancia said the discussion answered questions about DOTr budgets, projects and outcomes, and commended the department for a transparent presentation that explained how funds would be spent. He expressed the House members' full support for the proposed FY2027 DOTr budget. This was an expression of support, not a recorded appropriation approval. Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez thanked the Committee on Appropriations, the Speaker and the 20th Congress on behalf of DOTr and its attached agencies.

Motion to terminate the FY2027 DOTr budget hearing: Rep. Jurdin Jesus "JJ" M. Romualdo first began a motion to suspend, then corrected it to move that the Committee terminate its hearing on the proposed FY2027 budget of the DOTr, including its attached agencies and corporations, under House Bill No. 10858. Rep. Julienne "Jam" L. Baronda seconded. Rep. Edwin Ongchuan declared the motion to terminate approved. This terminated the hearing; it did not approve an appropriation.

Separate motion to suspend the Committee hearing until September 7: After the termination motion, Rep. Julienne "Jam" L. Baronda separately moved to suspend the Committee hearing on House Bill No. 10858 until Monday, September 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Rep. Edwin Ongchuan asked for objections, heard none, and declared the hearing suspended until that date and time. This was a separate scheduling motion, not an appropriation approval.