PAGHINA NG ECONOMY, INAASAHAN NA NG PALASYO

INAASAHAN na ang mas mababang economic growth forecast ng Asian Development Bank (ADB) para sa Filipinas dahil sa pagsasara ng Boracay Island noong nakaraang Abril 26 at sa pagpapatupad ng Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, ayon sa Malacañang.

Ginawa ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque ang pahayag makaraang sabihin ng Manila-based multi-lateral institution na inaasahan nito na lalago ang Philippine gross domestic product (GDP) ng 6.4 percent sa 2018, bago sumigla sa 6.7 percent sa 2019.

“We take note of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)’s 6.4 percent Philippine economic growth outlook for 2018,” wika ni Roque.

Ang naturang mga numero ay mas mababa sa annual growth target ng administrasyong Duterte na 7 hanggang 8 percent. Ang naunang growth forecast ng ADB ay 6.8 percent ngayong taon at 6.9 percent sa susunod na taon.

“We expected this slowdown vis-à-vis our growth target for the year, given that certain policy decisions, such as the closure of Boracay and the full implementation of our comprehensive tax reform package which would benefit the country in the long-run, contributed to the deceleration,” ani Roque.

Gayunman ay tiniyak niya sa publiko na naglatag na ang gobyerno ng siyam   na hakbang na tutugon sa inflation at sa iba pang supply issues.

“These measures include the release of some 4.6 million bags of rice from the warehouses of the National Food Authority (NFA) to retailers and the establishment of an inter-agency surveillance and monitoring team that will ensure that rice from the ports are directly delivered to the NFA warehouses and retailers.

“Other measures are the reduction of gap between farm gate prices and retail prices of chicken; the opening by the Sugar Regulatory Administration of sugar importation to direct users to moderate costs for consumers; and for the Bureau of Customs to prioritize the release of essential food items at the ports.”

Ang pagpapatupad ng nasabing mga hakbang ay inaasahang magpapahupa sa rate ng 2.4 percent.

“We assure the public that our macroeconomic fundamentals are resilient, strong and stable. Per ADB’s updated outlook, the Philippines’ growth remains the second highest in Southeast Asia,” ani Roque.

“Our economic managers are committed to the country’s long-term vision and are swiftly addressing issues affecting our growth prospects to sustain high growth and make it inclusive,” dagdag pa niya. PNA