The Department of Budget and Management reported that 87.9% of the 2026 national budget had been released as of the end of June.
Total releases reached P5.97 trillion out of an original appropriation of P6.79 trillion, leaving P819.49 billion undistributed.
The release rate trailed the 90% recorded in the same period a year earlier.
Releases to government agencies and departments amounted to P3.34 trillion, or 90.9% of their allocations, compared with 94% in the prior year.
Special-purpose funds stood at P477 billion in releases, representing 66.3% of their total allotment.
Automatic appropriations reached P2.15 trillion, or 89.8% of the total, covering the National Tax Allotment, interest payments, the Block Grant, retirement and insurance premiums, and a special general fund account.
Other releases totaled P134.84 billion, composed of continuing appropriations, unprogrammed appropriations, and other automatic appropriations.
Including those items, the overall budget allotment rate reached 89.9%, or P6.11 trillion, with P684.64 billion remaining unreleased.
An economist noted that the June allotment rate still reflects government underspending, particularly on infrastructure.
The cautious pace was attributed to scrutiny of flood control projects and efforts to prevent corruption through more prudent spending.
The economist projected that disbursement rates would accelerate in the coming months as infrastructure outlays increase.
