Positibo si House Ways and Means Committee Chair Joey Salceda na makakamit ng Pilipinas ang A-level investment rating bago pa matapos ang termino ng administrasyong Marcos Jr. sa 2028.
Ito ang pagtaya ng mambabatas kasabay ng pananatili ng BAA2 investment rating at stable outlook ng Moody’s investment sa Pilipinas.
Giit ni Salceda, ang magandang takbo ng ekonomiya sa kabila ng mga hamon sa global environment ay dahil sa matatag na fiscal at economic policy ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“The global environment is challenging. High energy and food prices persist – and overall sentiment is gloomy, especially with China’s slowdown and continuing challenges in Europe. And yet, the country’s prospects remain strong. This is in large part due to the President’s decisively pro-investment and fiscally responsible policies,” sabi ni Salceda.
Naniniwala rin ang economist solon na lalo pa gaganda ang investment outlook ng bansa oras na maisabatas ang CREATE MORE Act dahil sa mas maayos na fiscal incentives regime.
“We are also working with the President and the rest of Congress for reforms to boost the capital and investment markets. That will grow our base further,” dagdag ng House tax chief.
Kinakitaan din aniya ng positibong epekto ang lumalagong balance of payments surplus ng bansa mula sa USD 62 million nitong Hunyo sa USD 88 million nitong Hulyo; mas mabagal na inflation; at ang on-time na pag-apruba sa 2025 budget.
Katunayan, kumpiyansa si Salceda na makakakuha ang Pilipinas ng rating upgrade mula sa tatlong malalaking rating agency na S&P, Moody’s at Fitch sa susunod na taon.
Noong nakaraang buwan lang ay binigyan ng Japan-based Rating and Investment Information, Inc. (R&I) ang Pilipinas ng A- rating mula sa BBB+.
“What the Japanese credit rating agencies seem to understand better than the Western credit rating agencies is that the Philippines never defaults on its foreign loans, it has an unbroken line of generally fiscally conservative finance ministers, and it holds the limits to fiscal deficit spending almost like a religious tenet. As our biggest lender, investor, and trading partner, Japan understands this country’s fundamentals better than any other country in the world. And I’m sure the Big Three will follow, especially if growth tracks targets this year,” sabi ni Salceda. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
