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Market Indicators

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Agri grows

THE Philippine economy expanded by 6.4 percent in the first quarter of the year, settling within the government's 6 to 7 percent target.

In a briefing on Thursday, Philippine Statistics Authority Undersecretary and National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the growth during the quarter, however, eased from the 8 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth recorded in the same quarter last year.

National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that while the growth figure during the quarter was lower year-on-year, "we need to exercise caution in interpreting this as a slowdown since the previous year’s growth came from a low base."

Illegal structures

DAVAO City – Nearly 200 makeshift structures atop dikes and under bridges were demolished by the Public Safety and Security OfficeRiver Patrol Monitoring Team (PSSO-RPMT), an official here said Thursday. PSSO head Angel Sumagaysay, said the RPMT, tasked with the monitoring and demolition of illegal structures, noted that the bulk of the knockeddown structures are made of light materials. “Most of these structures are located in Talomo District, at SIR, Davao River, only a few structures remain as almost all the structures have been demolished,” Sumagaysay said in a statement.

Strong public health system

DAVAO City – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte underscored Thursday the need to strengthen the country’s public health system. In her speech at the opening ceremony of the 49th Midyear Convention of the Philippine College of Surgeons here, Duterte cited the country’s journey throughout the pandemic as an eye-opener to put premium priority on public health. “Coming from one of the biggest cities in the country, I have learned that it is necessary to establish satellite offices in various parts of the country to further help our countrymen,” she said, adding that the poor should have wide access to medical services.