Philippines GDP grows 6.6 pct in Oct Dec, 6.8 pct for year

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MANILA, Philippines –The Philippine economy expanded at a 6.6 per cent annual rate in October-December, the slowest pace of expansion for the year, though full-year annual growth clocked in at a relatively brisk 6.8 per cent, officials said Thursday.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said that robust domestic demand underpinned growth in the fourth quarter, helping to offset a contraction in agriculture and slowing government spending.

The 6.8 per cent expansion for the year was at the high end of the government’s target of 6.0 to 7.0 per cent growth. Growth in the past seven years has averaged 6.3 per cent.

Brash-talking President Rodrigo Duterte inherited a relatively vibrant economy when he took office in June. He has pledged to slash the poverty rate, but investors are wary of his brutal anti-drug campaign that has left more than 7,000 dead and his rhetoric against the United States, other Western governments, the United Nations and human rights groups.

The 6.6 per cent growth in October-December was lower than the 7.0 per cent growth in the previous quarter but up from 6.3 per cent growth in the last quarter of 2015.

Growth usually slows after a new president takes office, as investors adopt a “wait-and-see” attitude,” Pernia said.

He said the latest data were a “testament that our economy remains robust and is growing at a healthy and steady pace.”

He forecast that the economy would attain the 2017 official target of 6.5 to 7.5 per cent annual growth. In the medium-term, that could accelerate to 7 to 8 per cent in the medium-term.

Pernia said the government hopes to gain “upper middle-income” status for the Philippines.

The would require raising gross national income per capita to over $8,000 from less than half that now. The government also aims to help 6 million out of 22 million Filipinos escape poverty by 2022.

The Philippines has a population of nearly 104 million people.