IBON Foundation
IBON Executive Director on TRAIN and CREATE
July 26, 2021
Rice tariffication harmed farmers
July 26, 2021
Government not underspending? Budgeted too little, didn’t even spend it all
July 25, 2021
The Development Budget Coordinating Committee said that a total of Php665.7 billion has so far been released for the Duterte administration’s government’s COVID-19 response. This is however insufficient for such a huge national emergency. Worse, large amounts have not even been spent as of June.
Strong fiscal stimulus? Below average spending worsens in 2021, 2022
July 25, 2021
In the name of credit-worthiness, the Duterte administration increased its spending by only a bit, which is not at all commensurate to the enormity of the crisis at hand.
Helped Filipinos? Too few helped, too little given
July 25, 2021
The people’s and nation’s needs amid a public health emergency and economic crisis are huge, but government help stayed stingy while spending big on infrastructure, the military and debt-servicing.
Almost upper-middle-income country?
July 25, 2021
The government claims that the Philippines is close to being an upper-middle-income country. Yet its use of the very low poverty threshold of only Php71 per person per day or Php10,756 per month excludes millions of Filipinos with little earnings from those counted as poor.
Strong economy? Weak agriculture sector
July 25, 2021
The Duterte administration claims that under its watch, agriculture sector growth significantly increased. Simply untrue.
Strong economy? Falling real wages
July 25, 2021
The Philippines’ credit rating by Standard & Poor went up a notch from BBB/ Stable to BBB+ Stable this May, the highest recorded in history. But what use are rising credit ratings if working people still receive paltry wages?
