Politics · Philippines Bureau
Lawmaker urges P30B boost for transport budget to accelerate Mindanao Railway
A Cagayan de Oro congressman is pushing for substantially higher funding for the Department of Transportation's 2027 budget, citing the need to expedite key infrastructure projects in Mindanao.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez has called for an additional P30 billion allocation to the Department of Transportation's proposed 2027 budget during House committee deliberations on appropriations.
Rodriguez emphasized the necessity of the funding increase to bolster the agency's capability to implement critical projects, with particular focus on the Mindanao Railway development initiative, which remains a flagship infrastructure program for the southern region.
The lawmaker raised his concerns during the House committee on appropriations' review of the transportation department's budget proposal, seeking to ensure adequate resources are dedicated to advancing the railway project and related connectivity initiatives in Mindanao.
The call reflects ongoing legislative efforts to prioritize infrastructure development in the southern Philippines, where transportation projects are viewed as essential to economic growth and regional integration. The Mindanao Railway project has been identified as a key component of the government's broader infrastructure agenda to improve inter-island connectivity and logistics networks.