4-MONTH BORROWINGS OF N.G. DOWN TO P1.109T

By Jasper Emmanuel Y. Arcalas @jearcalas

THE national government’s total gross borrowings from January to April declined by slightly over 6 percent yearon-year due to lower domestic borrowing despite the uptick in its external financing.

L atest Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) data showed that the national government’s total borrowings during the four-month period reached P1.109 trillion, about P74 billion lower than the P1.183 trillion outstanding borrowing recorded in the same period last year.

T he Treasury data showed that the latest total borrowings already represent half of the P2.207-trillion borrowing plan of the national government this year.

T he decline in gross borrowings was due to double-digit contraction in domestic borrowings, outpacing the 22-percent hike in external gross borrowings, based on Treasury data.

Treasury data showed domestic gross borrowings accounted for 70 percent of the total borrowings while the remaining 30 percent came from external sources.

T he national government’s domestic gross borrowings during the four-month period fell by 14.71 percent to P780.785 billion from P915.944 billion recorded last year.

T he lion’s share of gross domestic borrowings during the reference period came from Fixed Rate Treasury Bonds at P461.15 billion, followed by Retail Treasury Bonds at P283.763 billion.

See “Borrowings,” A2