THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said 95.5% of the budget had been released at the end of August.
In its Status of Allotment Releases report, the DBM said P6.041 trillion of the P6.326-trillion budget has been disbursed, with P285.27 billion remaining undistributed.
The releases are behind the 96.9% pace posted at the end of August 2024.
Among government agencies, 95.9% or P3.53 trillion has been released, with a remaining balance of P152.56 billion.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) had received P1.13 trillion by the end of August or 97.7% of its allotted funds.
The new Public Works Secretary, Vivencio B. Dizon, and Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman have been given a two-week deadline to review the DPWH’s share of the proposed P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program after irregularities surfaced in various government flood-control programs.
Special Purpose Funds releases totaled P394.86 billion, or 74.6%, with P134.73 billion remaining undisbursed.
Automatic Appropriation releases stood at P1.90 trillion, for a 90% release rate.
These included a P1.03-trillion National Tax Allotment for local governments, P636.02 billion in interest payments, and P83.42 billion for the Block Grant.
Additionally, P134.61 billion in unprogrammed appropriations were released, with P99.98 billion directed toward foreign-assisted projects.
Despite concerns surrounding the DPWH budget, the DBM expressed confidence that the overhaul of the 2026 NEP will not derail the budget process or result in a reenacted budget. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante