Manila, Sept. 4 -- The country's total outstanding debt is expected to go down towards the end of the year as the National Treasury pays off major loans and borrows less.

In a statement late Wednesday, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said the national government's total outstanding debt which amounted to PHP17.56 trillion as of end-July 2025, is expected to decline as the government pays off PHP814.2 billion worth of domestic bonds by December 2025 and fundraising activities wind down.

"The national government's borrowings are used to support key infrastructure and development initiatives in education, healthcare, agriculture, and social services, among other priorities of the Marcos Jr. administration," the BTr said.

BTr data showed ...