This lifted the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP), the total value of goods produced and services rendered in the country, in the first six months to 6.3 percent, up from 4.5 percent in the same period last year.

Neighboring countries, however, are growing at much robust rates. Malaysia posted 8 percent; Hong Kong 12.1 percent; Taiwan 7.7 percent; China 9.6 percent and Singapore 12.5 percent.

The country's gross national product (GNP), which combines the GDP with net factor income from abroad, grew by a slower 5.7 percent in the second quarter, down from 6.5 percent a year ago.

This was due to the "negligible" 0.3-percent growth in net factor income, which includes remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). Compensation income of OFWs grew by only 3.3 percent, much weaker than the 11.5-percent growth posted last year.

The government is expecting to meet the full-year GDP growth target of 4.9 to 5.8 percent, it said .