Manila, May 20 -- HSBC Philippines continues to be optimistic on the Philippine economy's growth prospects, noting that the country is one of the fastest growing in the region.

"I know the Q1 (first quarter) GDP (gross domestic product) footprint came at about 5.4 percent, which is a bit below expectations. But our HSBC house view still remains that for full year 2025, [economic growth will] be at about 5.6 percent. And that is, compared to most of the Asian markets, is one of the fastest growing econom[ies] within Asia," HSBC Philippines head of international wealth and premier Pramoth Rajendran said in a briefing at the Shangri-La at the Fort in Bonifacio Global City on Tuesday.

Rajendran said consumption and the country's demographic...