Win Gatchalian: Politics not factor in economic slowdown in Q3 2025

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday expressed belief that political infighting did not contribute to the country's slower economic grown in the third quarter of 2025. 

Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate finance committee and sponsor of the 2026 budget of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) at the upper chamber, said this when asked during the plenary session by Senator Risa Hontiveros if the clash between the camps of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte became a factor for the economic slowdown. 

"No, Mr. President. To a larger extent, politics is always factored in any business, especially in our country. It's just a matter of how wide or how noisy it is. But in terms of the slight slow down in our economic growth, politics is not part of it," Gatchalian answered.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew slower in the third quarter of the year as investor and consumer confidence was dampened amid the ongoing flood control projects corruption scandal. 

The country's GDP—the value of goods and services produced in a period—grew by 4% in the July to September 2025 period, slower than the 5.5% growth rate seen in the April to June 2025 period.

The third quarter GDP growth was the slowest since the second quarter of 2022, when the economy grew by 4.3%.

Gatchalian said that among the factors for the economic slowdown were the recent typhoons topped by the massive earthquakes that hit the country, as well as the issues in construction due to the flood control scandal.

Hontiveros, for her part, insisted that the Uniteam breakup might have also impacted the economy. 

"Siyempre kung ang isang bagay ay nagsimula sa pagkakaisa, kapag nag-break up 'yung Uniteam, imposible naman na 'yung mga presumptions of political stability na mag-u-undergird sa further economic development or even specifically GDP growth, ay walang epekto talaga," she said.

(If something started with unity and they break up, it is impossible that the presumptions of political stability that will undergird further economic development or even specifically GDP growth will have no effect at all.) 

To recall, Duterte was Marcos' running mate when they ran during the 2022 elections. However, two years after they were elected—thanks to the Uniteam coalition's successful campaign—relations between the country's two top officials frosted following a series of issues, including those related to the use of confidential funds, drug use, and politicking, among others.

Gatchalian emphasized that it was difficult to quantify if ever the rift between Marcos and Duterte indeed had contributed to the slump. 

"Kung meron man, Mr. President, it's very hard to quantify, it's very difficult to quantify the effects. But kung meron man, I think probably, especially the local businessmen, marami sa mga lokal na negosyante natin parang sanay na sila sa politics. I think the effects will be largely from foreign investors or foreign companies who are here," he explained. 

(If ever it has impacts, it's very difficult to quantify the effects. But if there is indeed, I think probably, it will be largely from foreign investors or foreign companies who are here because many of our local businessmen seem to be already used to politics.)

Earlier in the day, Marcos attributed the downturn to typhoons that hit the country and global economic situation. He expressed confidence that recovery would be achievable by the end of the year. — VDV, GMA Integrated News