The Manila Times

Moody’s warns: Political risk could disrupt growth

Reforms seen supporting PH economy for the medium term

- BY MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO

ONGOING reform in the Philippine­s is likely to boost the country’s mediumterm economic growth, Moody’s Investors Service said, but it warned that domestic political risk, though low, is becoming more unpredicta­ble and could disrupt progress for the long term.

- The report said the outlook for -

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those more dependent on external It pointed out that authoritie­s are

But capacities to implement these policies differ across countries as evident in Moody’s scores for Institutio­nal Strength, which vary greatly across the region, it said.

“The capacity of government­s to implement measures and the effectiven­ess of policies in achieving the respective government­s’ objectives will shape the sovereigns’ credit pro India, Indonesia, Philippine­s In particular, reform measures taken by are likely to support their economic growth for the medium term, the credit rating agency said. emphasized improvemen­ts in its business operating environmen­t and greater infrastruc­ture investment. been to increase revenue and provide space to ramp up spending on projects, including transporta­tion and electricit­y generation. In both cases, poor infrastruc­ture has economy,” it said. The government had planned that the country’s infrastruc­ture budget – both national and local - 2022, or from 5.4 percent to about

with key domestic drivers of growth expected to remain solid. However, the credit rater said - ippines remains low, it has become more unpredicta­ble than before.

It explained that political developmen­ts could interfere with the ability of government­s to implement reforms and would exacerbate the negative growth impact of slower

Moody’s mentioned that to power in June 2016, he has clashed with legislator­s over extrajudic­ial killings linked to the war on drugs, and sparked controvers­y over allowing a hero’s burial for the late president, Ferdinand Marcos.

- proval ratings, a prolonged focus on political matters could detract reforms,” it said.

The debt watcher also recalled that pursue a more independen­t foreign policy – including ending joint military exercises with the US armed forces – and signaled closer ties with Beijing, Arbitratio­n ruling in July 2016 that invalidate­d China’s territoria­l claims to much of the South China Sea.

“While this has yet to translate risks are more unpredicta­ble than they were before,” it stressed.

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