THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said that it had released 91.7% of the 2026 budget, as originally passed, by the end of September.
According to the DBM Status of Allotment Releases report, the releases amounted to P6.231 trillion out of the original 2026 budget of P6.793 trillion, leaving P561.733 billion unreleased.
The release rate by the end of last month was running behind the year-earlier pace of 93.15%.
Releases to government agencies and departments amounted to P3.501 trillion by the end of September, equivalent to 95.3% of their allocations, compared to 96.3% a year earlier.
Special purpose funds released by the end of the month stood at P571.225 billion, equivalent to 79.4% of the adjusted budget total, against 83.7% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, automatic appropriation releases hit 89.9%, or P2.159 trillion, compared to 90% a year earlier.
These include the National Tax Allotment of P1.191 trillion, P712.5 billion in interest payments, P93.982 billion for the block grant, P83.954 billion for retirement and life insurance premiums, and P42.23 billion for a special account in the general fund, among others.
The report also outlined other releases amounting to P301.522 billion, which included continuing appropriations from last year worth P109.545 billion, P129.058 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, and other automatic appropriations worth P62.919 billion.
Including the other releases, total allotment releases hit P6.533 trillion, equivalent to 96.2% of the original budget.
Government Watch Convenor-Director Joy G. Aceron said that the over 90% release rate “does not mean the said budget releases have been utilized and certainly, it does not mean the funds have been used properly and have achieved their intended outcomes.”
“Budget release is only an intermediary goal that may not even mean anything, but instead, in the context of flood control plunder, could mean money lost to corruption and inefficiencies,” she said via Facebook Messenger.
Ms. Aceron said it is more important to look at whether the budget is being spent where needed, or is being spent efficiently.
“If the utilization rate is seen separate from other budget performance indicators, there is a danger of bad governance being perpetuated with the budget as a tool,” she added. — Justine Irish D. Tabile