Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday expressed optimism that the government can still meet its economic growth target for the year. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. continues to urge his economic team to implement measures to bolster the country’s growth trajectory.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized that despite disruptions, such as recent rallies impacting the Philippine economy, the administration is determined to achieve its growth goal. Addressing concerns over potentially missing the GDP target for the third consecutive year, she assured that efforts are ongoing to meet the objective. When asked if the government still aims for the growth target, Castro confidently replied, “Definitely.”

In a media briefing on Monday, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan mentioned that a 7-percent growth is necessary for the economy to meet the 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent full-year growth target. Balisacan acknowledged that achieving this would be challenging due to issues like natural disasters and investigations into flood-control projects. He stated that the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) would convene on Dec. 9 to review recent developments affecting economic targets.

Castro also urged Congress to expedite deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget to avoid a reenacted spending program, which she described as “most anomalous.” She stressed the importance of passing the 2026 General Appropriations Act on time to prevent a reenacted budget scenario for 2025. Despite the limited time, Castro expressed hope that Congress could still accelerate the process.