DBM releases 90% of 2026 national budget

MANILA, Philippines — The government has released 89.9 percent of the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget as of end-June, though the pace remains slower than last year, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said.

Latest data from the DBM showed that about P6.11 trillion has already been released in the first half, leaving P684.64 billion still to be disbursed.

The releases are behind the 92.1-percent allotment release rate by end-June under the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Of the total, P3.34 trillion went to government agencies, with a disbursement rate of 90.9 percent.

Several government agencies have received their full appropriations for 2026, including the Office of the President, Office of the Vice President, Department of Energy, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Migrant Workers and Office of the Ombudsman.

After months of slower disbursements amid stricter validation of projects and billing requirements, the Department of Public Works and Highways has received P527.67 billion or 99.5 percent of its P530.12 billion adjusted allocations.

Among those with the slowest release rate was the Department of Agriculture, at 63.7 percent, as it had received only P107.7 billion of its allocation as of end-June.

In terms of special-purpose funds, the government has already released P477.03 billion, which is 66.3 percent of the adjusted budget.

The government has released P2.15 trillion or 89.8 percent of the adjusted P2.4-trillion budget under automatic appropriations.

Under this, the DBM has fully released budgets for the national tax allotment, block grant, special account in the general fund, pension of former presidents, former presidential widows and tax expenditures fund.

On the other hand, only 75 percent of the allocations for net lending and interest payments have been released so far, leaving P7.18 billion and P237.5 billion left, respectively.

For unprogrammed appropriations, the DBM released P85.65 billion intended to support foreign-assisted projects.