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 appropriations of the FY 2021 GAA for line departments and releases from SPFs.
P154.13-billion has likewise been released from Unprogrammed Appropriations, which are standby appropriations authorizing additional agency expenditures for priority programs and projects when revenue collections exceed the resource targets or when additional grants or foreign funds are generated.
The DBM has yet to release P176.30-billion from the FY 2020 Program for the remainder of the year. This will continue to support the operations of the National Government including for the roll out of projects and programs that will address the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DBM likewise assures that it will release the necessary budgetary requirements to implement the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act once it is signed into law.
