Palace: Economic slowdown temporary, not reflective of long-term outlook

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Friday said that the slowing Philippine economic growth in the second quarter of 2026 is “only temporary” and “does not determine the country’s long-term direction.” The Philippine Statistics Authority reported a 2.3 percent economic growth amid the peak impact of the Middle East war, down from 2.8 percent in the previous quarter.