As of September 30, 2018, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PhP 3.528 trillion or 94% of the PhP 3.767 trillion obligation program for fiscal year 2018.
“The quick yet prudent release of funds will enable agencies to promptly implement their programs and projects,” said Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno.
“Take note also that as early as end-January 2018, we have released 79% of the budget in line with the General Appropriations Act-as-Allotment-Order Policy,” he added.
In further detail, PhP 2.177 trillion or 95% of funds allocated to the departments have already been released in the first nine months of the year. These include funds allocated for the agencies in the Executive department, as well as Congress, the Judiciary, and other constitutional offices.
Meanwhile, PhP 370.9 billion or 75% of the Special Purpose Funds amounting to PhP 494.4 billion have been released in the same period. These largely owe to releases from the Budgetary Support to Government Corporations (BSGC), Pension and Gratuity Fund (PGF), Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF), and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF).
With regards to Automatic Appropriations, PhP 964.5 billion or 98% has been released out of the PhP 980.8 billion program. These are largely for the Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), interest payments, and retirement and life insurance premiums.
Some of the major allotment releases in September 2018 include: PhP 1.1 billion for the subsidy to the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program; PhP 2.6 billion to the National Housing Authority (NHA) for housing projects for uniformed personnel; PhP 5.7 billion for the payment of pension differential arrearages of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and PhP 1.9 billion under the NDRRMF for repair and rehabilitation projects in various regions.
“It is our job to ensure that funds are available to government agencies,” the Budget Chief said. “We will continue to be efficient and transparent in our efforts to do so,” he concluded.
The full report may be accessed in the DBM webpage: https://www.dbm.gov.ph/index.
(30)
For inquiries, further questions and requests for interview, please contact Marianne Ongjuco:
Email:Mobile: +63918-944-8109
