Faster PH growth seen attainable in 2025

Despite weaker-than-expected growth in 2024, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) forecasts the Philippine economy to accelerate past six percent next year and reach 6.3-percent growth next year, matching the pace of Vietnam.

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According to the 2025 edition of UNESCAP’s Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific report, published Tuesday, April 8, the Philippine and Vietnamese economies are projected to expand by a similar pace in 2026, making them the fastest in Southeast Asia.

Last year, UNESCAP overestimat-ed the Philippine economy to grow by six percent, as actual gross domestic product (GDP) growth expanded only by 5.7 percent, failing to meet the government’s downscaled target of six percent to 6.5 percent.

Despite the shortfall, Philippine GDP growth posted a faster movement than the 4.8-percent expansion of the Southeast Asian region.

Average growth in the region is seen to slow to 4.7 percent this year and continue declining to 4.6 percent in 2026.