MANILA — The Philippine economy expanded 7.2 percent in 2013 despite the havoc wrought in the last months of the year by a super typhoon, an earthquake and a weekslong gun battle that shut down a major port city. Even then, the Philippines was the second best performing economy in Asia after China in the fourth quarter, growing 6.5 percent from a year earlier, officials said. Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said Thursday the performance would have been better if not for the natural disasters and a nearly monthlong gunbattle between government troops and Moro rebels that shut down a major southern city. “This is a remarkable turn out,” Balisacan said. “The economy grew better than our expected target of 6.0 to 7.0 percent for 2013 despite the challenges we faced during the year.” In September, government troops battled Moro rebels in Zamboanga, paralyzing the key port city for nearly a month. More than 200 people, mostly insurgents, were killed. In October, a powerful earthquake shook the central Philippines, causing widespread destruction and killing more than 200 people. — Agencies
