IBON Foundation

Drop in wholesale retail trade work in Dec shows Filipinos can’t afford to spend – IBON

February 7, 2024

Job losses in the wholesale and retail trade sector may be a result of weaker demand which is concerning since the month of December is usually marked by more spending due to the holidays.

Widespread informality, growing poverty belie gov’t claims of robust jobs market – IBON

February 7, 2024

The prevalent lack of decent work and the increasing number of Filipinos falling into poverty dispels the Marcos Jr administration’s hype of a “robust” labor market.

IBON welcomes UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan’s findings of PH restrictions on freedom of opinion, expression

February 2, 2024

The UN special rapporteur was clearly able to see through the staged and sanitized government narrative meant to hide how violations under the previous Duterte government are continuing under the Marcos Jr administration. The current administration adopts a human rights-friendly posture but Ms. Khan reminded how the Philippines is still the 8th worst in the world in terms of impunity.

Economy returning to pre-pandemic slowing growth hits poor the worst – IBON

January 31, 2024

Most recent GDP figures puts the economy on the same trajectory of slowing growth that plagued it prior to the pandemic.

Foreign investment doesn’t mean development

January 26, 2024

The Marcos Jr administration claims that relaxing the Philippine Constitution’s economic restrictions through charter change or Cha-cha will attract more foreign investments and bring development to the country. But will further investment liberalization do this or just worsen Filipinos’ economic woes?

Gov’t red-tagging undermines freedom of opinion, IBON tells UN special rapporteur Irene Khan

January 25, 2024

The effectiveness of IBON’s information and education work is critically dependent on the credibility of its research and analysis. The government’s red-tagging of IBON is attempting to undermine this credibility not just among the general public but among the specific governmental, civil society, school and private sector circles that we work in.