THE AQUINO administration recorded a budget surplus in April due to continued double-digit growth in revenue collections more than enough to support an accelerated spending, government data showed.

A surplus of P31.024 billion was posted last month, trimming down year-to-date deficit to P2.885 billion. Revenues surged by more than a tenth in April and by 11.4% for the first four months of the year, while disbursements recorded an uptick of 9.1% and 12.1%, respectively.

For April alone, revenues stood at P153.268 billion, while expenditures amounted to P122.244 billion. From January to April, meanwhile, the government already collected P514.242 billion in revenues to finance P517.127 billion in expenditures.

Netting out interest payments, the government still operates under a primary surplus amounting to P111.742 billion as of April.

Revenue growth sustained

BIR, Customs, other offices post double-digit expansion in April

The government’s premier revenue agencies led the collection growth last month, contributing to a four-month tally that was more than a tenth higher compared with last year, data showed.

As of April, the government already collected P514.242 billion, up 11.4% from P461.413 billion recorded a year ago. For last month alone, collections surged by 10.8% to P153.268 billion.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which accounts for about 70% of total tax revenues, led the pack with the deadline on the payment of income taxes resulting in a 12.2% growth in collections last month. BIR collected P116.021 billion in April against previous year’s P103.393 billion.

In the first four months of the year, BIR already collected P345.065 billion, an improvement of roughly 14% from P302.942 billion in 2011.

Meanwhile, Customs collections expanded by 13% last month, collecting P25.367 billion against last year’s P22.440 billion. Bulk of the collections was in cash.

Customs now collected P94.896 billion in the four months to April, 11.6% up year-on-year. Broken down, a total of P94.319 billion was collected in cash, while the remaining was in the form of tax expenditure fund.

Collections from other offices, such as fees of government agencies, also contributed to revenue growth in April. The indicator recorded a 24.6% uptick in April to P7.793 billion. From January to April, this figure further expanded by 11.7% to P32.434 billion.

Data showed BIR’s average growth rate from January to April hit 15%, while that of Customs was recorded at 11.6%.

“This proves that there remains to be space for tax collections to grow considerably through process re-engineering and efficient tax administration marked by a sustained campaign against smuggling and tax evasion,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said on Monday.

“œMoving forward, the Aquino administration will continue to plug loopholes in the Philippine tax system, one of which has seen progress after 15 years of continued delay. The excise tax reform has been approved at the committee level of the Lower House and the Finance department remains optimistic it shall be passed into law this year given President Aquino‒s support to the measure which he identified as urgent,” he added.

January-April spending up 12%

Disbursements growth remained at somewhat the same level with that of revenues as of April, keeping the fiscal situation in check while making sure that government spends to support growth.

Government expenditures amounted to P122.244 billion last month, 9.1% up from last year’s figure. As of April, the government already disbursed P517.127 billion, a 12.1% improvement year-on-year.

“Rest assured that the government will continue to accelerate spending for the year to support growth, taking advantage of its large fiscal space to finance infrastructure projects and social programs that shall in the long-term, curb poverty and promote inclusive growth,” Purisima said.