DBM: 99% of 2019 budget released

MANILA, Philippines — The national government has released almost 99 percent of the P3.662 trillion 2019 budget as of end-November to support agencies’ programs and projects, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) reported yesterday.

According to the latest data from the DBM, releases in the first 11 months reached P3.622 trillion, leaving a balance of P39.46 billion from the national budget. 

The DBM said this translated to an allotment release rate of 98.9 percent, which is faster than the 96.5 percent rate recorded in the same period last year.

Allotment releases issued by the DBM enable agencies to incur obligations to finance the delivery of projects and services, such as education, healthcare, poverty alleviation and infrastructure development.

Based on DBM data, P2.056 trillion of the total releases as of end-November went to line agencies, including those in the executive branch, Congress, the Judiciary, and other constitutional offices.

Releases from Special Purpose Funds (SPFs) reached P369.04 billion during the period. SPFs refer to budgetary allocations intended for specific socio-economic purposes, such as support to state-owned firms, contingent fund, miscellaneous personnel benefits fund, national disaster risk reduction and management fund, and pension and gratuity fund.

The DBM said it has also released P1.076 trillion so far for automatic appropriations, which include funds for the Retirement and Life Insurance Program (RLIP), internal revenue allotment, net lending, and interest payments.

Further broken down, the agency said P51.59 billion of the amount was issued for RLIP payments, including additional requirements for newly created and filled positions in various offices.

Meanwhile, the DBM said P26.158 billion has already been released for continuing appropriations under the 2018 General Appropriations Act. These refer to appropriations available to support programs or projects that require the incurrence of obligations beyond one fiscal year.  

As of end-November, the national government has also given P64.812 billion for unprogrammed appropriations, which pertain to additional agency expenditures for priority programs and projects when revenue collections exceed target or when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.

“The immediate release of funds by the DBM will ensure that national government agencies are able to swiftly implement their programs and projects, such as the construction of new roads, schools, and hospitals, and the protection and promotion of the welfare of the poor and marginalized sectors, among others,” the DBM said.

According to the latest data from the Treasury, the national government’s expenditures rose by 1.37 percent to P310.8 billion in October from P306.6 billion in the same month last year.

This brought cumulative disbursements to P2.94 trillion as of end-October, 5.05 percent higher than P2.8 trillion last year.