But as we enter #DuterteYear2, we need to be wary of (and prepare for) emergent economic trends: massive government infrastructure spending, higher future inflation, labor policies that could worsen unemployment and underemployment, US Fed rate hikes that could further depreciate the peso, and increasing twin deficits.



We also need to talk more about the economic repercussions of President Duterte’s favorite and most consequential policies, namely the war on drugs and the Mindanao-wide declaration of martial law.



Only time will tell the impact of such sweeping policies on growth, inflation, and unemployment. But before they cause any irreversible damage to our economy, their rationale and effectiveness should not escape scrutiny today.



It’s one thing to blame outsiders for the state of the economy. But it’s another when our very own leaders implement reckless, ill-thought policies that bring economic hardships to our people. – Rappler.com



The author is a PhD student at the UP School of Economics. His views are independent of the views of his affiliations. Follow him on Twitter: @jcpunongbayan

