MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is unlikely to meet its 2014 growth target after the economy’s expansion slowed to 5.3 per cent in the third quarter.
Growth was dragged down by reduced government spending, a decline in agriculture and slower expansion in services and industry. The economy grew 6.4 per cent in the previous quarter.
Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Thursday that growth for the first nine months was 5.8 per cent.
He said hitting even the low of the government’s 6.5-7.5 per cent full-year target “would pose a big challenge.”
The economy would have to expand 8.2 per cent in the fourth quarter to meet it, and economic managers “will brainstorm intensively on how we can come as close to this figure as possible,” he said.
Agriculture and fisheries declined 2.7 per cent due to damage from calamites, including last year’s Typhoon Haiyan.
Service industries, which remained the growth driver, decelerated to 5.4 per cent growth from 7.7 per cent a year earlier. Industrial growth slowed to 7.6 per cent from 7.7 per cent last year and 7.9 per cent the previous quarter.
Government spending and public construction shrank 6.2 per cent due to delays in projects that stemmed from new documentary requirements.
The Philippine economy grew 7 per cent in the third quarter of last year
“Do we see a brighter prospect? The short answer is yes,” Balisacan said.
It is expected that private business will remain robust, government will have adjusted to new budget protocols, and the reconstruction assistance for typhoon affected areas will gain further traction, he said.
