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Filipinos perform a Dragon dance in front of the Philippine Stock Exchange electronic board in Makati's financial district, Manila, Philippines, 09 February 2016 as they celebrate the Chinese New Year. The Philippine economy grew at a 'respectable' 5.8 percent in 2015, a slower rate than the previous year and missing the government's annual target, an official said. Although still expected to be among the fastest in the region, gross domestic product (GDP) growth was slower than the administration's target of 7 percent to 8 percent, and down from 2014's expansion of 6.1 percent. “This growth is respectable given the difficult external environment, the onset of El Nino, and the challenges in government spending in the first semester”, Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. The year ended on a stronger note as the economy grew by 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter. (Photo by Francis R. Malasig/EPA)
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