(NEDA chief kumpiyansa) EKONOMIYA NG PH MAS MABILIS NA LALAGO SA Q4

TIWALA si National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan na mas mabilis ang magiging paglago ng ekonomiya ng bansa sa fourth quarter ng 2023 kumpara sa 5.9 percent expansion na naitala sa third quarter.

“I haven’t seen the numbers but [I] hope it will be good, because our leading indicators are good [like the] labor market,” pahayag ni Balisacan sa sidelines ng annual reception para sa banking community noong Biyernes ng gabi.

“Hopefully [it will be better than the third quarter] because our target, the lower end of the range of 6 to 7 percent, I’ll be happy [if] we get close to it even if it’s lower,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang ekonomiya ng bansa ay lumago ng 5.9 percent sa third quarter ng 2023, na naghatid sa year-to-date economic expansion sa 5.5 percent.

Nakatakdang ilabas ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ang fourth quarter at full-year economic expansion sa Miyerkoles.

“So far the indicators, those factors that influence economic activities, are associated with economic activities, like the labor market, that’s very encouraging. Inflation has continued to decrease, reaching its lowest point in 21 months, those are encouraging,” ani Balisacan.

Bagama’t bumaba ang exports at imports noong nakaraang taon, si Balisacan ay umaasa sa domestic consumption upang itulak ang paglago.

“What goes to GDP (gross domestic product) is exports minus imports…but the economy is far more — it’s largely domestic, the high share of domestic component of GDP is what gives you the confidence, I think despite the high inflation, the domestic spending is quite robust,” ani Balisacan.

“Of course, it could have been much better if the inflation had declined faster than what we’ve seen. But I think the fact that inflation seems to continue to decrease should give confidence to our people,” dagdag pa niya.

(PNA)