Government cash utilization improves to 86% in August

CASH utilization by government agencies improved to 86% in August from 78% in July, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Cash use by national government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and stateowned corporations declined from 91% a year earlier.

Utilization is measured via the Notice of Cash Allocation, a disbursement authority issued by the DBM, allowing agencies to withdraw funds from the Bureau of the Treasury to pay for contracted projects.

The NCA balances are usable until the end of each quarter, when they lapse.

The government spent P1.81 trillion of the P2.12 trillion budget in the eight months to August, leaving a balance of P304.83 billion.

In August, about P217.71 billion was disbursed, in part tapping the previous month’s balances. Only P82.85 billion was released in July.

National government departments had an average NCA usage ratio of 84% in August.

Other executive offices such as the AntiMoney Laundering Council, Commission on Higher Education, and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, among others, had the lowest utilization rates, averaging 43%.

This was followed by the National Economic and Development Agency and the Department of Energy with 54% and 69% NCA usage rates, respectively.

Budgetary support funds for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations had an 89% usage rate, while local government units used 91% of the NCA releases. —