Manila, June 12 -- Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday said the country is now entering a "breakthrough era" of sustained and inclusive growth under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

The leader of the House of Representatives issued the statement after the World Bank, in its June 2025 Economic Update, ranked the Philippines as the second-fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia, posting a solid 5.6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2024, with strong projections through 2027. Only Vietnam ranks higher in the region.

"The World Bank's latest forecast is more than just good news -- it is a clear validation that our country is moving in the right direction. We are no longer just recovering. We are...