President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (MANILA BULLETIN/Mark Balmores)
Malacañang remains determined to achieve the Philippines' full-year economic growth target, despite the government's chief economist acknowledging that the country will miss its goal.
President Marcos, according to Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro, will continue to make an effort to meet the gross domestic product (GDP) target for 2025.
"Muli sinisikap ng Palasyo, sinisikap ng Pangulo na maabot natin kung ano iyong target po natin. So, pagsisikapan pa rin po especially with these kind of rallies na nangyari po, medyo maingay po talaga pong nakakaapekto ito sa ekonomiya (Once again, the Palace and the President are striving to achieve our target. So, we will continue to make an effort, especially with these kinds of rallies that have been happening. They are quite loud, and they really do affect the economy)," Castro said.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the country is expected to miss its GDP target, following the sharp slowdown in the third quarter amid the worsening corruption scandal.
Despite this, Castro said, the President is still keen on achieving the target.
"So, pagtutulung-tulungan po ng economic team ng Pangulo at also with the help of the people na sana maabot natin ang target (So, the President’s economic team will work together, and with the help of the people, we hope to reach our target)," Castro said.
According to Balisacan, reaching even the lower end of the government's 2025 target is "very unlikely."
He added that the government has already downscaled its 2025 growth goal to a range of 5.5 to 6.5 percent, from 6 to 8 percent.
Missing this year's GDP target will make it three years in a row for the Marcos administration.