The Philippines bagged a landmark vote of confidence as
global debt watcher Fitch raised the country's credit rating to
investment grade Wednesday.
For the first time in history, the Philippines is deemed as an econmy where it is safe for global investors to pour in capital.
Fitch
Ratings said the country's long-term foreign-currency issuer default
rating (IDR) is now up to BBB- from BB+. The long-term local-currency
IDR has likewise been raised to BBB from BBB-.
An investment
grade is seen to lower the Philippines' borrowing cost, thereby
increasing opportunities for the government to save.
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"The Philippine economy has been resilient, expanding 6.6% in 2012
amid a weak global economic backdrop," Fitch said in a statement posted
on its website.
Key drivers for the credit rating hike, Fitch
said, are strong external balance sheets, a persistent current account
surplus and high remittances.
Fitch also lauded reforms
implemented under the previous and present administrations, which it
said led to "favorable macroeconomic outturns."
"Improvements in
fiscal management begun under President Arroyo have made general
government debt dynamics more resilient to shocks," Fitch said.
Fitch
is the first debt watcher to give the Philippines an investment grade,
even as two other rating firms place the Philippines only a notch lower.
Standard & Poor's considers the Philippines a BB+ market at present while Moody's Investors Service gave it a Ba1 rating.
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Welcoming the long-awaited credit rating upgrade, President Benigno
Aquino III said the development will "encourage even greater interest
and investments in our country."
"This is an institutional affirmation of our good governance agenda," Aquino said in a statement posted on the Official Gazette.
"Sound
fiscal management and integrity-based leadership has led to a resurgent
economy in the face of uncertainties in the global arena," he added.
Also
commenting on the upgrade, Asian Development Bank Country Economist
Norio Usui said it "can trigger the kind of investment that will help
carry the country into its next phase of development."
"Prudent
measures to attract investment, improve the business climate and
diversify the economy have paved the way for growth," he added.
The ADB official however challenged authorities "to make that growth more inclusive by creating more and better jobs."
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