Philippines' 2021 growth to rebound less than expected, says IMF

Manila Philippines financial district economy
This file photo shows Manila's financial district. (Photo: AFP / Jay Directo)

MANILA: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) slashed its 2021 growth forecast for the Philippines to 5.4 per cent from 6.9 per cent, but a sharp rebound could come next year if coronavirus quarantine curbs are eased sooner than expected, its mission head said on Wednesday (Jun 16).

A new surge in COVID-19 cases starting in March prompted the reimposition of stricter containment measures, likely slowing the country's economic recovery in the first half, Thomas Helbling, IMF mission chief for Manila, told reporters in a briefing.

The Philippines is battling one of Asia's worst coronavirus outbreaks with more than 1.3 million cases recorded and nearly 23,000 deaths.

The economy contracted by a record 9.6 per cent last year, and gross domestic product shrank 4.2 per cent in the first quarter, a bigger drop than had been expected. Manila has a 6 to 7 per cent growth target for this year.

READ: Philippines prolongs COVID-19 curbs in capital, more areas under strict quarantine

New cases have come off a peak, allowing the government to gradually ease restrictions in the region around the capital. But provinces continue to battle surges, showing the pandemic is far from over in the Southeast Asian nation.

For 2022, the Philippines' economy is forecast to grow 7 per cent, stronger than the IMF's previous forecast of 6.5 per cent, Helbling said.

But a resurgence of COVID-19 infections and potential delays in vaccinations due to supply constraints pose downside risks to the IMF's outlook, Helbling said.

As of Jun 13, the country has administered two doses of COVID-19 vaccines to close to 2 million people, government data showed, or just 2.8 per cent of the 70 million it aims to immunise this year.

For the recovery to take hold, Helbling said the country's monetary policy should remain accommodative and the government must maintain financial stability and revive credit growth.

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

Source: Reuters