The Philippines is tempering its economic growth outlook for 2024 as it braces for "difficult months" when the El Nino weather phenomenon takes its toll.
A corner in Makati city of the Philippines. (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) 𓆉– The Philippines istempering its economic growth outlook for 2024 as it braces for "difficultmonths" when the El Nino weather phenomenon takes its toll.
Speaking at a press conference on December 13, the country’s EconomicPlanning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that while the medium-term grossdomestic product (GDP) growth of 6.5%-8% is still being targeted, its higherend is already out of the range for next year. The government is monitoring risks like ElNino and geopolitical tensions that can raise uncertainty and disrupt supplychains, Balisacan said. In thePhilippines and other parts of Asia, El Nino usually causes hot, dry weatherthat results in lower agricultural production and disruption in water and powersupplies. TheMinistry of Science and Technology has warned that 65 provinces, or about 77 %of the Philippines, can suffer from moderate-to-severe drought in February toMay 2024. The minister revealed that the governmentwill ask traders to frontload their commodity imports. Besides, the government isalso considering extending a reduction in tariffs for commodities like meat,corn, and rice beyond the December 31, 2023 deadline. The country'sinflation averaged 6.2% in January to November, well above the central bank's2%-4%target. Its economy grew 5.5% in January to September. Cabinet officials involved in the economic cluster willmeet on December 15 to discuss macroeconomic assumptions./.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on October 5 that it has approved a 300 million USD policy-based loan to support the Philippine government in creating a stronger institutional and policy environment to help expand Filipinos’ access to financial services.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 400-million-USD loan to help the Philippines achieve its medium-term fiscal strategy and finance its post-pandemic economic recovery through a stronger focus on revenue mobilisation.
A massive manhunt is underway for suspects who bombed a Catholic mass and killed at least four people while injuring 50 others in southern Philippines, Lieutenant-General William Gonzales, the Western Mindanao Command chief, said on December 4.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
A corner in Makati city of the Philippines. (Photo: Reuters) 
