'Long-term economic fundamentals intact'

DESPITE WEAKER 2025 GROWTH

- By KEISHA TA-ASAN

Finance Secretary Frederick Go expressed optimism that the Philippine economy would regain momentum this year, even after gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed to 4.4 percent in 2025, missing the government's target for the third straight year.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Philippine Life Insurance Association event yesterday, Go said growth recovery would be gradual and would not happen all at once.

However, he said that Philippine growth “should be back on track this year.”

“I’m hopeful that we will achieve our growth targets this year. The whole year is four quarters, right? We're not going to get there in the first quarter. If we do everything right, it’s going to happen progressively,” Go said.

The government is targeting growth of five to six percent this year.

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, GDP growth slowed to three percent in the fourth quarter of 2025.

This brought full-year expansion to 4.4 percent, down from 5.7 percent in 2024 and below the government's 5.5 to 6.5 percent target.