Philippines says may hit high end of 2009 growth goal

Published: 13 Oct 2009 18:43:50 PST

MANILA, Oct 14 - Growth of the Philippine economy this year will likely reach the high end of the government's 0.8 to 1.8 percent target, Socio-economic Planning Secretary Augusto Santos said on Wednesday.

The cost of massive crop and infrastructure damage brought by two recent typhoons may be offset by inflows of foreign aid and remittances, other officials earlier said.

"We expect the Philippine economy to attain the high end of the ... growth projection," Santos told an investors briefing.