DBM: 84.3% of 2017 budget released in first half

The government released 84.3 percent of the 2017 national budget during the first half, a slower pace than a year ago, the latest Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data showed.

From January to June, P2.824 trillion of the P3.35-trillion budget was released, including continuing appropriations under the 2016 national budget and other automatic appropriations.

To compare, 87.2 percent or P2.618 trillion of the nonetheless smaller P3.002-trillion 2016 budget was released as of end-June last year.

For funds under the 2017 general appropriations act, allotment releases reached P1.905 trillion during the six-month period or 78.3 percent of the P2.432-trillion program.

Comprehensive releases to government departments as of June amounted P1.717 trillion or 87.2 percent of the programmed P1.969 trillion.

As for special purpose funds, P187.4 billion or 40.5 percent of the P463.2 billion allotted for 2017 have been released.

Automatic appropriations—programmed over a period prescribed by law through outstanding legislation requiring periodic action by Congress—worth P877.3 billion or 95.6 percent of the P918-billion program for this year were released during the first six months.

These automatic appropriations included retirement and life insurance premium, internal revenue allotment for local government units, pensions of former presidents as well as ex-presidents’ widows, special account in the general fund (including motor vehicle users charge fund), net lending, interest payments, and releases under the tax expenditures fund for customs duties and taxes to be paid for government importation.

Also released at end-June were P30.4 billion from continuing and automatic appropriations for departments, special purpose funds, grants and donations, as well as revalidation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.

A balance of P526.2 billion must still be released before yearend.

The budgets released will be obligated by agencies for specific projects. Upon award of the projects, the allotted amounts will be disbursed for payments to contractors and suppliers.