GOVPH

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P3.92-trillion, or 95.7 percent of the P4.10-trillion program of appropriations for the first eight (8) months of 2020. This is substantially higher when compared to the 91.4 percent of allotments released for the same period in 2019.   As of end-August 2020, 90.6 percent or P2.13-trillion from the total P2.35-trillion programmed appropriations for line agencies was released to fund various programs/activities/projects (PAPs). This leaves a balance of P221.38-billion for later release.   Out of the programmed P491.42-billion appropriations for Special Purpose Funds (SPFs), the DBM has released 60.5 percent amounting to P297.40-billion. SPFs are budgetary allocations in the GAA allocated for specific socio-economic purposes such as Budgetary Support to Government Corporations, Allocation to Local Government Units, Contingent Fund, Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, and Pension and Gratuity Fund.   Allotment releases for automatic appropriations surpassed the FY 2020 Program reaching P1.27-trillion. Further, the DBM has released P77.22-billion from the continuing...

The DBM has submitted to Congress - for its scrutiny, deliberation, and approval - the Fiscal Year 2021 National Expenditure Program (NEP) amounting to P4.506 Trillion. Higher than this year’s budget by 9.9 percent and equivalent to 21.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the theme of the proposed budget is “Reset, Rebound, and Recover: Investing for Resiliency and Sustainability”. Every peso of the P4.506 trillion FY 2021 NEP went through numerous budget hearings and consultations with the agencies. By Expense Class Personnel Services will corner the bulk of the FY 2021 NEP at 29.2 percent, reaching P1.32 trillion. This level considers the huge additional hiring of health workers under the Human Resource for Health Program of the Department of Health (DOH), the second tranche implementation of the Salary Standardization Law of 2019, and the increased pension requirements of military and uniformed personnel. Capital Outlays will come in second with P920.5 billion, accounting for 20.4 percent of the proposed budget and growing by 12.9 percent. The increase in Capital Outlays from this year’s budget is owed mainly to the increase in infrastructure programs of the Department of...

The Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) adopted, on 28 July 2020, the adjusted medium-term macroeconomic assumptions, fiscal programs, and growth targets for submission to Congress in August. The proposed P4.506 trillion FY 2021 Budget, which was approved by the President on 30 July 2020, was anchored on these assumptions. Real Growth Projections For 2020, the DBCC’s projection of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate has been adjusted from the previous estimate of -2.0 to -3.4 percent to -5.5 percent in view of updated indicators on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism, trade, and remittances throughout the year. Nonetheless, the DBCC is confident that the country is on track to economic recovery next year, with GDP growth expected to reach 6.5 to 7.5 percent by FY 2021 to 2022, as the National Government continues its pump-priming activities. The priority implementation of the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program and revitalization of the industry and services sectors are expected to lead the recovery. Macroeconomic Assumptions The DBCC also updated the following macroeconomic assumptions: The inflation rate assumption for 2020 was narrowed...

The President approved the proposed P4.506 trillion FY 2021 National Budget during a special meeting with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) held on July 30, 2020. Higher than this year’s budget by 9.9 percent and equivalent to 21.8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the proposed FY 2021 budget aims to sustain government efforts towards effectively responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing government spending on improving our healthcare systems, ensuring food security, increasing investments in public and digital infrastructure, and helping communities cope and prevail in these trying times, hence, the theme “Reset, Rebound and Recover: Investing for resiliency and sustainability”. The theme is consistent with the Administration’s goal of saving lives and protecting communities while making different sectors of the economy stronger and more agile. Every peso of the proposed PhP4.506 trillion FY 2021 Budget went through numerous budget hearings and consultations with the agencies, and levels of scrutiny and approval. In view of the President’s approval of the PhP4.506 trillion FY 2021 proposed budget, the DBM will be finalizing the FY 2021 National...

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P3.78-trillion, or 92.3 percent of the P4.10-trillion program of appropriations for 2020. This is a marked improvement when compared to the 85.5 percent  of allotments released from January to June 2019, indicating the government’s commitment to continuously fund various programs and projects despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.   As of June 30, 2020, 79.8 percent of allotment releases to line departments amounted to P2.08-trillion and include funds allocated for agencies in the Executive branch, Congress, the Judiciary, and other constitutional offices. This leaves a balance of P288.53-billion for later release.   Out of the programmed P467.9-billion appropriations for Special Purpose Funds (SPFs), the DBM has released half of the allotments amounting to P234.45-billion. SPFs are budgetary allocations in the GAA allocated for specific socio-economic purposes such as Budgetary Support to Government Corporations, Allocation to Local Government Units, Contingent Fund, Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund, and Pension and Gratuity Fund.   Allotment releases for automatic...

The Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) utilization rate of the national government was at 93 percent from January to June 2020, corresponding to P1.72-trillion out of P1.85-trillion in NCAs released for the period, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed. This a marginal slowdown from the 98 percent rate as of end-June last year. From January to June 2019, the DBM released P1.34-trillion in NCAs to national government agencies, of which P1.31-trillion was utilized.   Nonetheless, a 93 percent utilization rate by end-June is a good indicator that government agencies are still able to quickly disburse their allocated funds and to implement their programs and projects amid the COVID-19 pandemic.   As of June 30, 2020, line departments utilized P1.19-trillion of the P1.32-trillion in NCAs released to them, equivalent to a 90 percent year-to-date NCA utilization rate. Among the departments that were able to fully utilize the NCAs released to them include the Department of National Defense, The Judiciary, and the Commission on Audit.   Agencies with Social Amelioration Programs such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Labor and...

The Department of Budget Management (DBM) has instructed agencies to review and reprioritize its programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) under the proposed P4.335-trillion cash budget for FY 2021 toward containing the spread and mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic while marshalling an economic recovery under the “new normal”. This is contained in its National Budget Memorandum No. 136 issued on May 21, 2020.   Cash-Based Budget Ceiling and Fiscal Space for FY 2021 To accelerate growth and help the economy recover from the COVID-19 crisis, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) has pegged the FY 2021 cash appropriation at P4.335-trillion, equivalent to 20.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This is higher by 3.7 percent when compared to the level of P4.180-trillion approved last 12 May 2020.    The higher proposed cash-based budget for next year aims to support the Build, Build, Build Program to help stimulate economic growth. With higher infrastructure investments, the country’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic can be better assured by generating more jobs in 2021, thus contributing a projected 0.9 percentage point increase to GDP growth to reach the...