PHL economy slowed down in 2011 – NSCB
The Philippine economy grew to a slower place at 3.7 percent in 2011, the first full year of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration, compared to 7.6 percent in 2010, according to the latest government data released Monday.
Last year's growth figure was way below the 5.5 percent forecast estimated by American banking giant Citigroup and the 4.3 percent expected by British banking giant Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corp.
The slowdown was attributed to government underspending on infrastructure in the second and third quarters, and sustained decline in fishing among other factors, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) said.
In a statement released Monday, NSCB secretary-general Romulo A. Virola described Philippine growth last year as “relatively feeble” compared to the previous year, which was boosted by election spending.