DESPITE the increase in cash releases, state agencies utilized P3.619 trillion, recording a utilization rate of 97.3 percent.
The utilization rate was also lower compared to the 99 percent posted during the same period a year ago.
A higher NCA utilization rate indicates stronger fund absorption and timely program implementation among agencies.
Of the total NCAs released, line departments obtained 73.88 percent or equivalent to P2.748 trillion.
These agencies disbursed P2.654 trillion or 96.6 percent, posting a 96.6-percent utilization rate, slower than last year’s 98 percent.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) remained the top recipients of NCAs, with P684.86 billion and P542.24 billion, respectively.
Both, however, reported slightly lower utilization rates-95.6 percent for DPWH and 97.7 percent for DepEd-compared with 100 percent and 98 percent a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President, the Judiciary and the Office of the Ombudsman recorded a 100-percent NCA utilization rate among line departments.
At the other end, the Department of Energy posted the lowest utilization rate at 68.3 percent, followed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology at 71.6 percent.
Furthermore, the government-owned and -controlled corporations received P92.504 billion in budgetary support, of which 99 percent or P91.587 billion was utilized.
Local government units (LGUs) were also allocated P878.790 billion, spending P874.179 billion or 99.5 percent of the amount.
As of end-September, government agencies and LGUs still have a total of P99.433 billion in unused NCAs.
DBM data showed the government released P6.120 trillion of the record P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025 as of end-September.
For 2026, the proposed national budget stands at P6.793 trillion, 7.4 percent higher than this year’s level.