THE government has released over P5 trillion or about 89 percent of the P5.768-trillion 2024 national budget, data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed.

The department has already disbursed P5.11 trillion as of May 31, accounting for 88.7 percent of the budget and slightly down from the 88.9 percent recorded a year earlier.

Under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the DBM disbursed P3.68 trillion, which constitutes 91.7 percent of overall financing amounting to P4.01 trillion.

The GAA is the most comprehensive source of appropriation cover for the budget of the government. It contains provisions for the agencies as well as for special purpose funds (SPFs) that are used for specific purposes.

The DBM reported that it disbursed 97.6 percent, equivalent to P3.42 trillion, of the allocated P3.50 trillion for government departments, which is also under the GAA.

On SPFs, disbursements were at 50.9 percent, totaling P258.43 billion out of the total allocation of P507.48 billion.

Meanwhile, releases for automatic appropriations were recorded at 75.4 percent, amounting to P1.33 trillion out of the total aggregate funding of P1.76 trillion.

There was also an increased allocation for interest payments in May, reaching 38.9 percent from last month's 28.8 percent, equivalent to P260.49 billion out of the designated P670.47 billion.

Additionally, funds for net lending remained at 25.0 percent to P7.18 billion out of the P28.7-billion fund allocated.