IBON Foundation

Rehab Marawi, but don’t abandon Yolanda–IBON

November 4, 2017

Research group IBON said that while rehabilitation efforts are very much needed in war-ravaged Marawi, the Duterte administration should not consider reconstruction work in Yolanda-stricken areas to be over. Counting down to four years since super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit southern Philippines, IBON noted how government’s response remained slow-paced and its policies even counter-productive in the […]

Four years after Yolanda: Better lives for whom?

November 2, 2017

It has been four years since super-typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) struck several provinces in the Eastern Visayas region. After the huge influx of aid, it may be hard to believe but a huge percentage of the survivors still live in temporary shelters, are underserved in terms of social services and public utilities, and are either unemployed […]

Consumers to pay big business, foreign firms’ income tax under Duterte bill

October 20, 2017

By Arnold Padilla (Released at the launch of consumer network Samahan at Ugnayan ng Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI)) When President Rodrigo Duterte told striking jeepney drivers and operators “Magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom”, he could be as well speaking to all poor Filipinos who struggle with ever-rising cost of electricity, water and […]

Corporate Capture in Jeepney “Modernization”

October 17, 2017

By Glenis Balangue The Duterte administration has suspended classes on October 16-17, anticipating that the transport strike of jeepney drivers and operators to protest the phaseout of jeepneys may paralyze transportation nationwide. Yet, the government has been sweeping under the rug concerns not only of small drivers and operators but also of the riding public: […]

Hindi Totoong Maka-mahirap Ang TRAIN Ni Duterte

October 11, 2017

  Ano ang TRAIN? Itinuturing na ‘urgent’ ng gubyernong Duterte ang Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion o TRAIN. Layunin ng TRAIN na makalikom ng P1.3 trillion para tustusan ang Build! Build! Build! o ang engrandeng programa sa imprastruktura ng pamahalaan. Itutulak daw nito ang pambansang pag-unlad at ang kapakanan ng mahihirap. Sa ilalim ng […]

On Consumer Welfare Month: 20 years of MWSS privatization, 20 years of violating the people’s right to water

October 3, 2017

​By Water for the People Network- The 20th anniversary of the privatization of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) in August was considered a milestone by privatization proponents. The MWSS has often been used to showcase the supposed benefits of turning over water supply services to private corporations. But the start of government-declared Consumer Welfare Month […]

Gov’t should spare consumers from water firms’ Php82-B back charges

October 3, 2017

As the Philippine government launches Consumer Welfare Month, the Water for the People Network (WPN) warned against impending unreasonable water rates should government yield to the monetary demands of Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company. The network said that the Supreme Court decision that public utilities cannot pass on their corporate income taxes […]

Under TRAIN, taxes are cut on the rich (TRAIN Infographic #5)

September 28, 2017

  TRAIN will make the rich richer – The net impact of the change in income taxes, expansion of VAT coverage, new oil excise taxes, and inflationary effect is that the highest-earning 40% of Filipino households, or 9.1 million households with some 40 million Filipinos, will have more money in their pockets after the tax reform. This […]