FocusEconomics has raised the gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for the Philippines to 6.9 percent this year, from an earlier 6.7 percent estimate, to remain the fastest growing economy in Southeast Asia.

The Barcelona-based think tank said it expects the economic momentum to be carried over by the faster-than-anticipated 8.3 percent growth in the first  quarter, from a 7.8 percent growth in the fourth quarter.....