Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte cast doubt on the administration’s economic growth forecast in the fourth quarter, calling the target a case of daydreaming.
“Nananaginip ng gising, kung sino man nagsasabi na makaka-recover ang ekonomiya by fourth quarter of this year, nanaginip ng gising — wala ‘yan sa tamang pag-iisip talaga,” she said on Friday, Nov. 14, when asked about her thoughts on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s pronouncement that the economy may recover from its losses before year-end.
[Translation: Daydreaming—whoever says the economy will recover by the 4th quarter of this year is daydreaming —they’re really not in their right mind.]
At the sidelines of the Office of the Vice President’s 90th anniversary celebration, Duterte said economic slowdowns were driven by loss of confidence from foreign investors, resulting in a lack of investments.
Marcos earlier said the government is boosting public spending to regain losses from the third quarter, which was marred with the flood control controversy and successive calamities.
The country’s economic growth dropped to 4 percent in the third quarter, slower than the 5.5 percent in the previous quarter.
Supporting anti-corruption rallies
Meanwhile, Duterte expressed support for Filipinos planning to mount rallies in the wake of the alleged pocketing of public funds through infrastructure deals.
This remark came ahead of the three-day transparency rally of religious group Iglesia ni Cristo from Nov. 16 to 18 and the expected massive protests on Bonifacio Day on Nov. 30 by church and progressive groups.
“I commit and I call on the administration, the government to respect the right of the people to freedom of speech and expression. Huwag sila masyado maging balat sibuyas (they should not be so onion-skinned),” Duterte said.
When asked if she is worried that a sedition complaint may be filed against her, the vice president said she is just waiting for the government to detain her.
In February, the National Bureau of Investigation filed a complaint for grave threats and inciting to sedition against Duterte for her remark in November 2024 where she claimed that she contracted someone to kill the president, the first lady, and first cousin Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.
