THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Monday that it had released 83.2% of the 2024 national budget by the end of March.
In a Status of Allotment Releases report, the DBM said releases amounted to P4.8 trillion out of the P5.768-trillion budget.
Around P968.79 billion remains undistributed as of the end of March, the DBM said.
The release rate is ahead of the pace compared with the 81.9% rate at the end of March 2023.
Of the amount released, P3.36 trillion or 95.9% went to government agencies and departments.
Special Purpose funds releases amounted to P227.42 billion.
Automatic Appropriation releases stood at P1.17 trillion.
These include retirement and insurance life premiums for government employees as well as interest payments.
The government’s 2024 spending plan is 9.5% higher than the previous year’s, and is equivalent to 21.7% of gross domestic product. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz