THE Philippine economy is projected to grow at a faster pace this year because of government’s infrastructure drive and improved exports, according to an IHS Markit economist.

In an email to The Manila Times, IHS Markit Asia-Pacific chief economist Rajiv Biswas said the country’s “GDP (gross domestic product) growth momentum is forecast to strengthen to 6.1 percent in 2020, helped by stronger exports as improving global electronics orders and the US-China ‘phase one’ trade deal [would] support Philippines exports [amid the] continued ramping-up of the Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build infrastructure program.”