Philippine economic growth likely accelerated in the first quarter of 2016 compared with the same period a year earlier, as a rebound in manufacturing and strong domestic consumption should have more than offset weaker exports and agricultural losses due to El Nino, Yahoo quoted the Manila Times as saying. Gross domestic product may have expanded by 6.1% to 7.6% in the January to March period, analysts said, up from the 5% recorded a year earlier. Growth was recorded at 6.3% in the previous three-month period. Official first-quarter GDP data is scheduled to be released this Thursday.
