Sonny Africa
Sonny Africa is the executive director of IBON Foundation.
SONA 2020: “Boracay is doing well because of its scenery”
July 28, 2020
BIRD FEED
The president is at the commanding heights of policymaking in the country. If this last SONA showed anything, it’s the lack of leadership over pandemic response at the very top — Pres. Duterte doesn’t seem to appreciate the worst public health crisis and economic decline in the country’s history.
The unbelievable indifference of the Duterte administration
July 16, 2020
FEATURES
The Duterte government insists that it is successfully responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reality is a little bit different – it hasn’t done enough, and is planning to do even less.
Upon COVID-19: Time to tax the super-rich
May 25, 2020
FEATURES
The Philippines has never had a wealth tax. For as long as there has been a tax system in the country, taxes have been collected from what people pay for what they consume or from what they earn.
Why make the poor pay for COVID-19 response?
May 24, 2020
COMMENTARY
There’s more than enough money for all the COVID-19 response we need – the Duterte administration just has to take the side of the people and stop being so scared of the rich.
Financial strength, development weakness
May 14, 2020
COMMENTARY
In this kind of situation, you don’t obsess about fuel-efficient driving or not red-lining the tachometer or limiting the car’s mileage – you step on the gas. Glorifying ‘financial strength’ is stepping on the brakes.
There’s funding to respond to COVID-19 – the problem is at the top
April 9, 2020
POLICY NOTE
The government can find the funding for COVID-19 response measures needed – on a scale many times over its Php275 billion program – if it genuinely wants to.
Dealing with COVID-19: Just reboot the economy?
March 30, 2020
POLICY NOTE
The coronavirus pandemic and the expansive efforts to address it are new and unprecedented. But they also exposed many old problems that have always been there.
Duterte administration’s bumbling, stumbling COVID-19 response
March 21, 2020
BY SONNY AFRICA
The poorest already have it worst – and we’re not even sure if the virus is really on its way to being contained.
“Just follow” won’t beat COVID-19
March 16, 2020
COMMENTARY
BY SONNY AFRICA
The coronavirus threat is real and it’s critical for the government to respond quickly and decisively. But what if government’s response is muddled and, worse, ill-conceived?
