Eco prospects; political twists

THE Philippines will likely enjoy the most favorable growth momentum in Southeast Asia in the next five years. A favorable forecast.

*** But political twists and gyrations continue to develop threatening to disturb the country’s economic equilibrium.

No to dirty politics and major economic disturbances.

*** The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) says in its 2015 economic outlook for Southeast Asia that the Philippines enjoys the most rosy forecast in the region.

PH star shining, economic path clearing and smelling good.

*** The Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA) adds that “this is the first time since the Outlook was first published in 2010 that the Philippines has the best growth forecast among the Asean-5 countries.” Growth forecast improving.

*** The OECD projects that the 10member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will likely post an average growth of 5.6 percent in the next five years.

Robust and favorable.

*** “(But) among the ASEAN-5 countries, the Philippines has the best growth perspective with an average growth forecast of 6.2 percent for 2015 to 2019,” the DFA points out, adding that other ASEAN-5 countries are projected to only grow by only 6.0 percent for Indonesia, 5.7 percent for Vietnam, 5.6 percent for Malaysia, and 4.1 percent for Thailand. PH to leads the pack. Hooray!

*** Likewise, the Philippines has emerged as one of the top three countries in the world that have the most effective financial inclusion programs, according to the “Global Microscope 2014” index of the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) which assessed the of 55 countries.

An improvement from the 2013’s 4th ranking.

*** “Peru, Colombia, and the Philippines demonstrate the most conducive environments for financial inclusion,” with PH improving its score to 79 ( out of 100) from last year’s 67.9, trailing behind Peru’s 87 and Colombia’s 85,says the report.

A welcome feat, courtesy of the BSP.

*** Meanwhile, Malacañang says President Aquino’s advice for the Senate to speed up the investigation of the allegedly overpriced Makati City Hall Building II involving Vice Pres. Binay .will not create a “bad precedent” as feared.

Not an interference by the Executive branch with the Senate, Palace says

*** Presidential Communications Operations Office ( PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. says that President Aquino was “simply expressing his views on the appropriate mechanisms for ferreting out the truth and for exacting accountability in a manner consistent with law.”

Let the truth set us free, he says.

*** Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda adds there was nothing unusual when the President urged Senate President Franklin Drilon to speed up the investigation against Binay so that the legislature could focus on other pressing concerns. “Was it against the law?” he asks.

*** Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr., says that like President Aquino, he wants the Senate to expedite its ongoing probe of corruption allegations against the Vice President to ensure that legislative mill keeps grinding in both chambers of Congress.

Translation: No congressional roadblocks, please!