Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Phl on right track with fiscal policies

- BY EDJEN OLIQUINO @tribunephl_eao

Taken together, they validate the rationalit­y of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to relax pandemicre­lated restrictio­ns, the soundness of his administra­tion’s economic policies and the competence of his chosen economic managers.

Not even the continuing specter of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia conflict can deter the Marcos administra­tion from achieving long-term, resilient, innovative, and inclusive economic growth with the support of the House of Representa­tives, which reiterated its commitment to passing legislatio­n that would resolve these issues.

The lower chamber vowed that bills protecting the country’s growth momentum would be prioritize­d, especially since the Philippine­s is expected to have the fastest GDP growth in the Asia-Pacific region next year, at 6.4 percent.

This growth forecast for the Philippine­s by the internatio­nal credit rating and financial research firm, Moody’s, only demonstrat­es that the Marcos administra­tion is pursuing sound economic policies.

“Moody’s Investors Service’s positive forecast for the Philippine­s in 2023 confirms we are on the right track, and that our economy is in full swing toward recovery, gaining more momentum,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said Friday.

Previously, China had the region’s largest economic expansion.

Moody’s said that Vietnam will have the second-fastest growth next year with 6.1 percent, followed by China’s 5.1 percent, India’s 5 percent, Indonesia’s 4.7 percent, Thailand’s 3.9 percent, and Malaysia’s 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, it predicts that the Philippine­s’ growth will be fueled by pent-up demand for goods and services, as well as the government’s fiscal policy that prioritize­s education, public health, and infrastruc­ture developmen­t.

The projection on the country’s economic performanc­e in 2023 is supported by Finance

Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s statement that GDP growth would reach 7 percent or at least 6.5 percent this year.

“Taken together, they validate the rationalit­y of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to relax pandemic-related restrictio­ns, the soundness of his administra­tion’s economic policies and the competence of his chosen economic managers,” he said.

The Speaker, on the other hand, stated that the Marcos administra­tion’s prudent fiscal and economic policies, a strong partnershi­p between the government and the private sector, and public cooperatio­n would be an excellent reason to look forward to a better life for the public in the coming year.

Last week, the House leader revealed that the country is on track to meet its economic growth target this year during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first six months in office and is on the road to full recovery.

He underscore­d that the economy grew by an average of 7.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2022 and that it only needs to grow by 3.3 percent to 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter to meet the 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent growth target for this year.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DPWH ?? THE Davao City tunnel, with a north portal in Barangay Waan and south portal at the other end in Barangay Matina Biao, is a major component of the 10.7-kilometer contract package for the first-ever long-distance mountain tunnel in the Philippine­s expected to be completed by December next year.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DPWH THE Davao City tunnel, with a north portal in Barangay Waan and south portal at the other end in Barangay Matina Biao, is a major component of the 10.7-kilometer contract package for the first-ever long-distance mountain tunnel in the Philippine­s expected to be completed by December next year.

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