NEDA chief raises Q4 growth forecast to 5.8-6.5 pct

President Aquino's top economic manager says growth in the fourth quarter could be stronger than initially though despite the damage brought by Yolanda. Socio Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has raised his growth forecast for the fourth quarter of last year to a range of 5.8% to 6.5%. That's higher than his initial estimate of 4.1% but still slower than the over 7% seen for most of 2013 before a destructive typhoon hit the Visayas. Mornings@ANC, January 16, 2014