TRAIN Package 1A: From the poor to the rich

November 30, 2018

Government’s continued implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) means that TRAIN’s taxes will keep raising prices next year and make inflation higher than it should be. Read: TRAIN still inflationary with lifting of fuel excise tax suspension

Philippines in a Happy and Healthy Relationship with China?

November 28, 2018

by Sonny Africa IBON Features – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recently concluded state visit was hyped as historic and relationship-altering in a good way towards “comprehensive, strategic cooperation”. The joint statement released at the end spoke of a couple with a healthy relationship: reminiscing the past, establishing trust, open communication, arguing in a healthy way […]

China vs Japan vs US: Foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows

November 28, 2018

China a growing but still minor ODA partner of the Philippines

November 28, 2018

TRAIN-1B tax amnesty worsens PH tax inequities

November 27, 2018

The Duterte administration is set to make the country’s tax system even more regressive and inequitable with the looming passage into law of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Package 1B which is yet another tax amnesty package for the rich. Research group IBON said that TRAIN-1B rewards tax delinquents for bad behavior and […]

Rice tariffication will displace rice farmers, worsen food insecurity–IBON

November 22, 2018

Rice tariffication and uncontrolled rice imports will displace rice farmers and worsen food insecurity without solving the problem of expensive rice, research group IBON said. The government is using high inflation to justify rice sector liberalization according to long-standing demands of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and big foreign agricultural exporters. Domestic agriculture should be […]

Two of China’s projects in Philippines’ mineral-rich areas

November 21, 2018

China’s foreign direct investment inflows rapidly increasing

November 21, 2018

Duterte’s infrastructure miracle: Resurrecting a damned project

November 20, 2018

By Jose Lorenzo Lim Through China ODA, the Duterte administration revives a project halted by the historical struggle of the Cordillera people against destructive infrastructure The Chico River Basin Dam Project was an infamous World Bank-funded hydroelectric project under the Marcos Era. Local opposition to the project was strong. The famed Macli-ing Dulag, tribal chieftain […]