GOVERNMENT DEBT in the first half hit P6.417 trillion, growing 7.9% from a year earlier the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.
The end-June level meanwhile was up 1.2% from the end-May total.
Some 35% or P2.231 trillion came from domestic sources.
Domestic debt grew 9.3% from a year earlier, due to the issuance of government bonds.
“The increase in domestic debt was primarily due to the net issuance of government securities amounting to P48.72 billion and peso depreciation that increased the value of onshore dollar bonds by P0.34 billion,” the BTr said.
“Overall, domestic debt has risen by P252.26 billion or 6.4% from its end-December 2016 level,” it added.
Debt from external sources meanwhile grew 5.2%, due to the peso depreciation.
“For the month, the increment was largely due to the impact of peso depreciation against the US dollar amounting to P30.53 billion which more than offset the upward revaluation of 3rd currency-denominated debt amounting to P5.13 billion and net repayments worth P2.49 billion. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
