JV Ejercito flags right-of-way gaps in major transport projects, zero allocation for EDSA Busway in DOTr budget
September 19, 2026
Senate Finance Committee Chairperson JV Ejercito flagged continuing right-of-way (ROW) funding gaps that could delay major transportation projects as the committee approved the proposed P300.96-billion budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its attached agencies for 2027.
The proposed allocation is P163.114-billion, or 118.33% higher than the P137.846-billion in the General Appropriations Act for 2026. The proposed DOTr budget will proceed to plenary deliberations for further scrutiny.
During the budget hearing on Friday, Sept. 18, Ejercito said the government must ensure that ROW acquisition and compensation are adequately funded alongside construction to prevent major projects from being stalled.
“We have major projects like the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) that are already moving, but their timelines can still be affected if we cannot secure the ROW and compensation requirements,” Ejercito said.
“We can fund the construction, but if we don't have the right-of-way, the project can still be delayed. Kailangan din i-secure muna natin ang ROW requirements para kahit sino ang nakaupo na opisyal ng ahensya o administrasyon, maipagpapatuloy natin ang mga proyekto ng gobyerno,” Ejercito said.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said substantial ROW funding is still needed for various transport projects, including those in Davao and Cebu. For some airport projects, for instance, land acquisition alone could already cost hundreds of millions of pesos.
For the Metro Manila Subway, the DOTr requested around P40 billion for compensation to affected landowners, noting that the lack of funding could affect tunneling and other construction activities. Around 7.5 kilometers of the 33-kilometer subway alignment has already been completed, with full operations targeted for 2031.
For the NSCR, overall ROW acquisition is at around 78%, the agency added. The N1 segment is about 99% complete in terms of ROW, while the N2 segment toward Clark is at around 86% and still needs approximately P2 billion.
The DOTr also noted that the South Manila-Calamba segment is only around 64% acquired. The agency said more than P20 billion may be needed for additional ROW acquisition, warning that the lack of workable sites could affect the project’s implementation.
“Ang tinitingnan natin dito is not just how much we allocate, but whether the allocation is enough to make the projects operational. We don't want to fund a project on paper but leave it stalled because of lack of right-of-way, compensation or other critical requirements,” Ejercito said.
The lawmaker from San Juan emphasized that the government must pursue long-term investments that make transportation more reliable while creating new growth centers and economic opportunities across the country.
“I have always advocated transport modernization and infrastructure development because this will really stimulate economic growth and spread out the development in the countryside, creating jobs and opportunities,” Ejercito said.
EDSA Busway
Ejercito, a longtime advocate of transportation modernization, also raised concerns over funding for programs that directly benefit daily commuters, particularly the EDSA Busway.
The DOTr proposed P1.76-billion for the EDSA Busway, but the program received zero allocation in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Ejercito believes that the EDSA Busway should continue to receive adequate funding as it has demonstrated its value to commuters.
“Yung EDSA Busway, nakita naman natin na malaking tulong ito sa ating mga commuters. Mas mabilis ang biyahe, mas maayos ang daloy ng mga pasahero at naging efficient na public transport option ito para sa maraming gumagamit ng EDSA,” he said.
“Sayang naman kung hindi natin mabibigyan ng sapat na pondo.
Sa huli, simple lang naman ang gusto ng ating mga kababayan: mas maikling biyahe, mas ligtas at maayos na public transportation, mas magandang connectivity, at mas maraming oras para sa kanilang pamilya at kabuhayan.”
