Philippine economic growth is expected to accelerate this year on the back of higher investments and consumption, an economist of UBS Investment Bank Global Research said.
In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, UBS Investment Bank Global Research Senior ASEAN and Asia Economist Grace Lim said the Philippine economy is projected to grow by 5.9 percent this year from 5.6 percent in 2025.
"We see an improving growth outlook for the Philippines," Lim said. "The underlying positive growth delta is driven by domestic demand as both investment and consumption accelerate in 2025."
She said private investments would recover gradually as financial conditions become less restrictive and consumer sentiment gradually picks up.
Solid labor income growth and the easing of food inflation will also help boost consumption growth.
"Consumption, as well, is likely to be positive amidst the improving fundamentals and the resilient labor market, which, I should add, is one of the most significant support for Philippines demand," she said.
Lim said government spending and the continued growth in services exports would also support economic growth.
"What is also often underappreciated is the bright spot of services exports, especially in the BPO sector," she said.
Lim said she expects the country's BPO sector to remain resilient this year.
Asked about the impact of tariff trade escalation on the Philippine economy, Lim said the Philippines is in a "rather defensive market in the event of potential trade tariff escalation."
"That's because the Philippines is primarily domestic-oriented with investment as a percentage of GDP 23 percent, consumption over 70 percent. So not very trade-exposed," she said.
She pointed out that in the case of trade tariff escalation, the Philippine peso could also be a relative outperformer in the region.
"That said, we do think that if tariffs are universal, then obviously there could be weaker prospects for currencies in general, but even in that scenario, it would not be a very big depreciation," she said.
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