Budget gap widens to P84.8 B in August

The national government had a wider budget deficit of nearly P85 billion in August as revenues dipped, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed.

- By MARCO LUIS BEECH

Data on the cash operation report for August showed that the Marcos administration recorded a budget shortfall of P84.77 billion, which is 56.4 percent higher than the P54.2-billion deficit in the same month last year.

Notably, the latest figure was more than four times the P18.92 billion deficit recorded in July.

A budget deficit arises when government spending surpasses revenue collections.

In August, slower revenue growth persisted even as national government expenditures declined, reflecting continued fiscal pressures and challenges in balancing resources effectively.