Behind the bluster, a flourishing economy in the Philippines

After six months at the helm in the Philippines, Mr Rodrigo Duterte has been touting just two achievements of his presidency - a vicious war on drugs and an alliance with his country's one-time bitter rival, China.

Yet, behind the curse-laden bluster and populist demagoguery that has defined Mr Duterte's rule, he presides over one of the world's fastest growing economies and has put cabinet colleagues to work on drafting reforms and legislation to tackle the economy's most stubborn structural problems.

Advisers say Mr Duterte's economic successes come from using a strategy he honed as the long-time mayor of Davao City at a national level.

He concentrates on busting crime and deliberately delegates the handling of the economy to others.

By his own admission, Mr Duterte says he is no expert on the economy and leaves it to"the bright guys" in his cabinet.

Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia sees the president only twice monthly and rarely hears feedback.

He said Mr Duterte is focused almost entirely on crime and drugs.

"That has been his obsession. He essentially leaves other issues and concerns to the Cabinet," he said.

The strategy seems to have worked although economists are beginning to question how long it can last.

"That's what we're hoping for, that his core economic team can prevail," said Bank of the Philippine Islands economist Emilio S. Neri.

"The fundamentals are there, but we are leaning towards deficit spending and stimulus-driven growth and some unsustainable populist policies are worrisome."

At the national level, Duterte's signature campaigns have included his tilt towards China while turning his back on long-term ally, the United States, in addition to the war on drugs.

The economy has boomed under his watch, although some of the gains have been ascribed to the previous administration's policies and Mr Duterte's decision to retain them.

Growth reached an annual 7.1 per cent in the third quarter of last year, Asia's second highest and the country's strongest quarter in three years. The government expects full-year growth around 7 per cent.

WORRIES

The economy is expected to grow 6.5-7.5 per cent this year, but there are worries that Mr Duterte's erratic behaviour could impact policy, with political risk over his drugs crackdown and foul-mouthed outbursts at some big donors and investors.

Markets have signalled their concern.

In the six months since Mr Duterte took over, the main stock index has lost nearly 20 per cent in dollar terms and is among the worst performers in Asia. Over the same period, the peso is down around 5 per cent to the dollar, although other currencies in the region are also depressed.

But Mr Duterte has plenty of supporters, who say his decisive leadership and intolerance of bad governance will be a long-term boon for the economy.

In Davao City, he helped lure investors, dramatically cut red tape and fired inept officials.

In 2014, Davao saw growth of 9.3 per cent, compared to 6.1 per cent nationwide.

Analaysts at Nomura have said his populist, development-centred approach suggests he is "strongly motivated" to address the Philippines' biggest weakness - infrastructure.

Expenditure on infrastructure, including on flood management schemes, ports, a rapid-transit bus system and a rail line, makes up a quarter of next year's record US$67 billion (S$96 billion) budget.

Consumer spending is strong, helped by $22 billion of remittances in the first 10 months from Filipinos overseas, a 4 per cent rise. Unemployment was a record low 4.7 per cent in the third quarter, from 5.7 per cent a year earlier.

"He should deserve credit," Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said.

"Unfortunately, people are always looking at the controversial statements. But if you judge it, he has done an excellent job... The important thing is the trust and confidence of businesses in him is very high." - REUTERS