Middle East war a threat to PH development gains

THE Philippines could see years of progress in poverty reduction, education and living standards eroded by the economic fallout from the Middle East war, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said. “The Philippines is among the more exposed economies in Asia and the Pacific, and among the harder hit,” the UNDP said in a report, noting the country’s heavy dependence on Middle Eastern crude oil, imported fertilizer and food products, as well as remittances from overseas