Many of these children might have been forced to leave school to earn a living. In 2006 some 2.5 million children aged 5 to 17 were working either to augment family income or simply to survive. The number of children in school is also dropping: in SY 2005-2006 only 84% of children aged 6-11 was able to attend elementary school, a sharp decrease from 90% in 2001-2002.
MANILA — The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country?s biggest business organization, hailed the strong performance of the first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.9%.
MANILA — Detained lawmaker Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran today said that the Macapagal-Arroyo administration’s crowing that the economy is on an upsurge was empty and that whatever improvement in the economic indicators the government has chosen as signs of progress was not reliable.
Statement of the President: On economic growth in the 1st quarter of 2007
I am pleased to announce that the economy has shown rather strong growth in the first quarter of 2007. Gross domestic product or GDP grew by 6.9 percent, while gross national product or GNP grew by 6.6 percent. This is a great sign that we will meet our GDP growth target of 6.1 to 6.7 percent for 2007.
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