endIndex: Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 22) — The country's budget deficit reached ₱200.3 billion in May, slightly narrower than last year's tally but the widest since December, data from the Treasury Bureau published Tuesday revealed. The latest figure is 0.91% lower than the ₱202.1 billion logged in May 2020. However, it is the largest recorded since December, where the fiscal deficit ballooned to ₱302.6 billion. The Treasury noted the deficit's recent marginal narrowing comes as "growth in expenditure levels kept pace with the acceleration in revenue collection." The government raked in ₱256.4 billion in May, a 69.26% jump driven by higher tax collections. The Bureau of Internal Revenue raked in ₱183.7 billion during the month, growing by 60.54%. The Bureau of Customs, meanwhile, collected ₱48.6 billion -- a 58.05% increase -- owing to efforts on improving valuation and collection.