IBON Foundation
Pension hike welcome, but entire pension system reform needed–IBON
January 23, 2017
Though welcoming the recent House of Representatives’ (HOR) passage of the Php 2,000 pension hike, research group IBON expressed concern over another simultaneously approved bill that allows the Social Security System (SSS) to raise member contributions without presidential approval. The group said that the Duterte administration should instead address SSS inefficiencies and work towards […]
Land reform, starting point of rural development
January 20, 2017
“Agricultural development should first focus on real land reform. This ensures that subsequent farm support will increase rural incomes and improve the livelihoods of the majority poor peasantry, expand the domestic market, and create a surplus for reinvestment in national industry. These are also the conditions for greater linkages between agriculture and industry, including the […]
Duterte admin’s econ direction troubling, but peace talks may stir change?
January 18, 2017
While the unorthodox Pres. Rodrigo Duterte gained popular support due to its pro-poor pronouncements and promise of change, research group IBON said that the neoliberal economic agenda prevails as Duterte’s economic managers and other dominant groups push big business-biased/free market-oriented policies over people-centered reforms. Nevertheless, IBON also said that the ongoing peace negotiations between the […]
“Change Underway?” IBON 2016 Yearend Birdtalk Paper (Introduction)
January 16, 2017
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte brashly entered the national political scene on the back of widespread public dissatisfaction and with vivid promises of change. The new pro-poor administration would be different and overturn the domination of the traditional powers that keep the country poor and underdeveloped: oligarchs, corrupt politicians, drug lords and organized crime, and even […]
Meaningfully distribute income, wealth and assets
January 13, 2017
Growth is not felt by the poor majority. The wealth of the 10 richest Filipinos grew 220% within 2010-2015 while the real value of the average daily basic pay of wage and salary workers rose by just 5.3%. From 2015-2016, the net worth of the 40 richest Filipinos grew by almost 14% while the real […]
Substantially increase wages
January 13, 2017
The daily minimum wage remains insufficient for the basic needs of a family of six. The daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (Php481), the highest in the country, is not even half of the family living wage of Php1,119. The gap between the minimum wage and the family living wage also continues to widen. […]
Create jobs by building national industry
January 13, 2017
The country’s worsening jobs crisis sees more and more Filipinos in poor quality work. Six of 10 are either non-regular and agency-hired workers, in private households, self-employed, own-account workers, or in unpaid family work. Quality jobs bring peace. Create jobs by building national industry. Base peace on people-centered development.
Distribute land to the tiller for free
January 11, 2017
Nine of 10 Filipino farmers are landless, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. Meanwhile, according to September 2015 data from the Land Bank, 75% of agrarian reform beneficiaries could not pay land amortization. Filipino farmers remain among the poorest of the population. Peace must be based on social justice. Distribute land to the tiller for free. Base […]
Fuel excise tax more burden than boon for poor — IBON
January 9, 2017
Research group IBON said that the fuel excise tax being pushed by President Duterte’s economic managers will increase taxes on already burdened poor and low income wage earners. The group said that the Duterte administration should redesign the tax system to tax the richest who have the huge ability to pay more and relieve […]
