Gov't steps up spending in April

The government increased its releases of cash allocations and state agencies were able to improve their spending rate as of April, latest data from the Department of Budget and Management DBM) showed.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

Notices of cash allocation (NCAs) increased by seven percent to P1.4 trillion as of end-April from P1.3 trillion a year ago.

Even with the increase, government agencies recorded a higher utilization rate of 93 percent from the 90 percent recorded in the four-month period in 2023.

This means that of the total releases, only P95.59 billion was unused as of end-April.

NCAs are disbursement orders by the DBM to government banks servicing the release of funds to agencies. State agencies are expected to use the NCAs to pay for the cash requirements of their programs and projects.

A higher utilization ratio indicates greater capacity of agencies to implement their programs and projects.