The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday the release of P1.36 trillion or about 74.9 percent of the national budget as of June 30.
The DBM said the bulk of the release came from disbursements to the national government agencies which is at 94.1 percent already as of end-June.
DBM Secretary Butch Abad said the release was in line with the Aquino administration’s goal of rumping up budget to sustain the country’s economic growth, poverty reduction efforts and help ensure that  agencies will have  quicker response to peoples’ needs.
“We affirm the administration’s continuing commitment to expedite fund releases to government departments and agencies. Beyond driving our fiscal momentum forward, the releases also help ensure that agencies will have the sufficient means and capacity to roll out their programs and deliver quicker benefits to all Filipinos,” Abad said.
Releases for personal services (PS) reached  P425. 25 billion or 99.8 percent while that for maintenance and other operating expense (MOOE) reached P216.7 billion or 98.4 percent of the full-year program.
Capital outlays (CO) reached P162.3 billion by the end of the semester or about 78 percent of the full-year program.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received P78 billion primarily for the construction and rehabilitation of National Arterial and Secondary roads and bridges and together with the implementation of major flood control projects as well as the P16.72 billion for foreign-assisted roads and flood control projects.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development received P43.21 billion with an additional of P1.23 billion released to the agency to further support the social pension for needy senior citizens across the country.