Next Philippine leader will face huge economic test

Significance

Current President Rodrigo Duterte's single, six-year term ends in June. On December 14, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) said GDP growth should reach 5.0-5.5% in 2021 and 7.0-9.0% in 2022. The pandemic-hit economy shrank by 9.6% in 2020.

Impacts

• A recent move to halve the waiting time for COVID-19 booster vaccines should help mitigate the threat posed by the Omicron variant.
• Many voters will rely on social media, where disinformation is rampant, for news about the elections.
• Duterte's daughter Sara, Marcos's running mate, will likely win the vice-presidential race.