The national government posted a P131.6 billion budget deficit in the first four-months of the year, 18 percent higher compared with P111.8 billion in the same period last year, the Department of Finance (DoF) said Thursday.

Finance Secretary Margarito B. Teves, said total revenue during the period grew 11 percent to P390.3 billion from P351.9 billion a year ago, while government's expenditure amounted to P521.9 billion from P463.7 billion in 2009.

At end-April, the Bureau of Internal Revenue collected P265.1 billion, 10 percent higher than the P241.8 billion in the same period last year, while the Bureau of Customs generated P83.4 billion from P64.7 billion.

Revenue from the Bureau of Treasury, meanwhile, fell 22 percent to P18.9 billion from P24.4 billion last year, while other offices remitted P23 billion revenue, higher than the P21 billion in 2009.

In April alone, the government posted a budget surplus of P2.6 billion from P7.9 billion excess in the same period last year.

Total revenues last month reached P124.5 billion, higher by 6.8 percent compared with the P116.6 billion in the same month in 2009.