We all must brace for trials in 2016

WE Filipinos should brace ourselves for a difficult year. With the release yesterday by the National Economic and Development authority (NEDA) of the economic growth figures for 2015, and with heavy clouds looming over the world economy in 2016, we should not be lulled into complacency by the high expectations and general optimism that will naturally attend the accession to office of a new president on June 30 this year.

As announced the other day by NEDA Director-General and economic planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who has actually resigned to take up another important post, the Philippine economy grew by 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier.