By Bienvenido S. Oplas, Jr.
SELECTED macro-economic data of the Philippines compared to our more economically-stable neighbors in the region.
* The Philippines is the only economy with consistently declining GDP growth rate. Others have up-down or down-up trends.
* The Philippines has the highest inflation rate in the region, 2018 and 2019 Year to date (Ytd., January to May/June).
* The Philippines and Indonesia have high, decline then increase interest rates. Vietnam has the highest but with slight decline trend.
* The Philippines and Indonesia have the worst current account/GDP ratio. Difference is that Indonesia has been in negative territory for several years now, Philippines only in 2018.
The Duterte administration’s ma-croeconomic performance in the last three years is not sterling, not outstanding, and wasted the economic momentum from the previous administration. But at least we are still growing at a high rate above 5%.
