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MANILA, Aug. 23 -- The Philippine economy is expected to have grown by 5.9 to 6.9 percent in the second quarter on back of the global recovery and election related spending, a senior official said Monday.

The second quarter GDP growth was "fostered by the recovery of the global economy which fueled strong growth in international trade," Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga said in a press briefing.

He said that improved consumer and investor confidence, the peaceful of the national elections in May and election-related spending also contributed to the GDP growth. But the El Nino- induced dry spell, which reduced farm production, limited the GDP expansion.

Paderanga said this will put the GDP growth in the first half at 7 percent. In the first quarter, Philippine GDP expanded at 7.3 percent.

Paderanga is optimistic that the economy will continue to grow in the next few months. He said that increased investments and exports will support growth, pushing the GDP to expand beyond the 5 to 6 percent estimate for the full year.