President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. attributed the Philippines’ sharp economic slowdown in 2025 to climate-related disruptions and the government’s ongoing corruption investigations, Malacañang said Thursday, following the release of the country’s latest growth data.
The Philippines recorded its slowest non-pandemic growth in 14 years at 4.4% in 2025, below the earlier projection of 5.5% to 6.5%.
“Naipaliwanag na sa Pangulo ni Sec. Balisacan ang epekto ng climate change related disruptions at nang pag-iimbestiga sa flood control mess sa ating ekonomiya,” Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
“Tanggap ng Pangulo ang naging resulta nang pangunahan niya na ‘mapanagot ang mga sangkot sa korapsyon,’” she added.
“Alam niyang tatamaan ang kaniyang administrasyon at ang ekonomiya pero hindi siya nagdalawang isip na iutos ang patuloy na pag iimbestiga rito dahil kung di niya sisimulan, kailan pa?” she said.
Castro said the administration is pushing for stronger investments in technology and productivity, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure, while advancing priority legislation and governance reforms.
“Sa ngayon ay ginagawa ng administrasyon ang mga hakbang upang ma boost ang investments… mapasabatas ang mga prirority bills, mas lalong mapaigting ang good governance,” she said.
“Maipapakita rin natin na ang bansang lumalaban sa korapsyon ay mas pinagtitiwalaan hindi lang ng mga investor kundi pati ng mga leaders at mamamayan ng ibang bansa,” she added.
The Marcos administration launched a crackdown on irregularities in flood control projects in mid-2025, leading to the cancellation or delay of several infrastructure initiatives as authorities tightened safeguards against corruption.
Unemployment also rose to 4.2% in the first 11 months of 2025, higher than the 3.9% recorded a year earlier.