2026, 2027 growth goals unattainable

The Philippines’ economic growth is expected to lag behind government projections over the next two years, according to economists from De La Salle University (DLSU).

- Ricardo M. Austria

“Our model predicts that the government will continue to miss its targets over the next two years as economic expansion moderates to about five to six percent in 2026 (5.6 percent) and in 2027 (5.8 percent),” said economists Jesus Felipe, Mariel Monica Sauler, Gerome Vedeja, and Clarence Gabriel Fernandez in DLSU’s report of the Philippine economy for November 2025, published this week.

To recall, the government, through the Cabinet-level, interagency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), has set its annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth target at six to seven percent for 2026 to 2028.

“As the government continues to miss its targets, the recent dip in our economic performance must serve as a wake-up call for our policymakers. The government must ensure that something concrete will come out of these investigations," the DLSU economists said, referring to the flood control controversy.

The economists stressed that "spending on basic infrastructure that facilitates more economic activities must resume at the soonest," while also urging that reforms should already focus on supporting the manufacturing industry to increase productivity and competitiveness.