The National Government fiscal deficit for August widened by to P161.3 billion from P84.8 billion a year ago, driven by a 16 percent spike in expenditures and lower non-tax revenues.
The National Treasury said the August numbers brought the eight-month budget gap to P1.05 trillion, up 21 percent year-on-year but still tracking within the full-year program.
August revenue collections dipped 1.9 percent to P346.0 billion, weighed down by a 36 percent drop in non-tax collections, though year-to-date revenues still rose 4.27 percent to P3.22 trillion. The Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P248.4 billion, while the Bureau of Customs grew 4.2 percent to P80.7 billion.
Amid the broader deficit, the primary surplus—where total revenue exceeds spending excluding debt interest payments—climbed to P95.6 billion for August, reversing last year’s primary deficit of P21.7 billion.
Total August expenditures climbed 16 percent to P507.3 billion, largely due to PhilHealth arrears settlement and higher National Tax Allotment shares for local governments. Year-to-date spending reached P4.27 trillion, while interest payments rose to P686.5 billion.
