The second-quarter print was below the median GDP growth estimate of 2.8% in a BusinessWorld poll of 21 economists and analysts conducted last week. The second-quarter performance brought first-half GDP growth to 2.6%, well below the government’s 3.5%-4.5% full-year target. Excluding the pandemic period, this was the worst performance since the 16.2% drop in the second quarter of 2011. “However, government final consumption spending accelerated as social assistance was expanded to cushion vulnerable households and sectors,” Mr. Balisacan said. “One component of the industry is construction, public construction and private construction.