Budget utilization rate hits 94.5% in November

THE cash utilization rate of government agencies hit 94.5% at the end of November, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

In a report released Dec. 19, the DBM said the National Government, local governments, and government-owned and -controlled corporations used P4.32 trillion worth of notices of cash allocation (NCAs) issued during the period.

Unused NCAs amounted to P249.78 billion, as of the end of November.

The cash utilization rate compares with the year-earlier pace of 94%.

NCAs are quarterly disbursement authorities issued by the DBM to agencies, allowing them to withdraw funds from the Bureau of the Treasury for their spending needs.

During the 11 months, line departments used P3.15 trillion, or 92.9% of their allotments, while P241.90 billion remained unused.

The Department of Migrant Workers posted the highest utilization rate of 99.4% at the end of November.

This was followed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (97.5%), the Office of the Vice-President (95.8%), the Commission on Human Rights (95.6%), and the Department of Education (95%).

The Department of Energy and the Commission on Elections posted the lowest usage rates of 62.5% and 67.7%, respectively.

Budgetary support to state-run firms was 98.6% utilized, while allocations to local government units amounted to 99.4%. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante