Philippine-based companies expect to increase sales, profits and
inventory in the second quarter amid heavy election spending, along with
efforts of the outgoing administration to finish building projects, a
survey by business intelligence provider Dun & Bradstreet showed.
Overall, however, the business optimism index declined by a point to 32
for the next quarter, as businesses expect prices of their products to
slide due to stiff competition from foreigners and fewer orders. They
are also unlikely to hire as many workers as in this quarter.
"The latest business optimism index showed that for the second quarter,
volume of sales, net profit and inventory improved by 4, 8 and 10
points, respectively, from the first-quarter level," D&B said.
But the index for selling price and expected orders declined by 7 and 5
points, respectively. The employment index also slid by 12 points, the
survey showed. The three indices were still positive, implying moderate
gains for April to June.
The survey, conducted among 251 companies and 97 firms under the
Philippine Economic Zone Authority, measured growth in eight sectors —
construction; manufacturing durables; manufacturing nondurables;
transport, communication, and utilities; wholesale; finance, insurance
and real estate; services; and retail.
The index for second-quarter volume of sales is projected to increase by
four points to 56 points from the first quarter, with the biggest jump
seen in construction; transport, communication and utilities; and
retail.
Construction firms will likely benefit the most from higher earnings,
posting a 60-point increase to 80 index points.
Stable prices
University of Asia and the Pacific economist Victor A. Abola, who
interpreted the D&B survey results, said demand would be supported
by more money sent home by Filipino workers abroad, increased orders
from the country’s trading partners abroad, and stable consumer prices.
"Inflation decelerated from 4.4 percent in December to 4.2 in February.
Second-quarter [inflation] should range from 4.2-4.6 percent with very
slight acceleration," he told reporters.
But new orders are likely to slip except for construction companies, as
the election season ends in the second quarter. "Companies will start
relying on organic growth for new orders," Abola said.
He noted that while election spending contributes only half-a-point to
total economic output, "it has a multiplier effect on subsequent
quarters."
Meanwhile, as the school year starts in the middle of the year,
companies are expected to build up inventory, except those in the retail
and transport, communication, and utility sectors.
El Niño
Abola expects economic growth to be sustained in the third quarter, as
demand for residential units and steady infrastructure development
continue. The economist eyes as much as 4.2 percent growth this year —
0.4 point higher than his earlier forecast — despite crop damage from an
El Niño-induced drought.
"We are coming from a very low base last year," Abola pointed out,
adding that despite billions of pesos worth of agriculture damage, the
economy would benefit from the rebound of industries and services.
"Of course, [there is also] election spending, exports, and remittances
[from Filipinos abroad]," he said. The D&B business optimism index
excluded the agriculture sector.
"The agriculture sector is not very large," Abola said, noting that the
economy could still grow by 3.5 percent in the first two quarters
despite crop losses. Still, he said, growth would be higher this year if
not for agricultural damages from the dry spell and the floods caused
by twin storms in the latter part of 2009.
David Mikael Taclino
Inyu Web Development and Design
Creative Writer
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