National Socioeconomic Situation
Heed Cuba lessons, boost public health care, DOH urged
September 9, 2016
Research group IBON said that Filipinos will benefit if the government adopts Cuba’s model of a state-run health care system. The group stressed that people’s access to this social service is becoming more limited by Philippine health services being increasingly run by the private sector for profit. Department of Health (DOH) officials recently toured […]
The Change We Need: a public forum on national industrialization
September 8, 2016
Invitation to a public forum on national industrialization from AGHAM — Industrialization is a key factor in developing the Philippine economy, which, for several decades, has remained agrarian and pre-industrial. Establishing industries will also propel the country’s science, technology and innovation capacities. President Rodrigo Duterte’s promise to establish industries, particularly steel manufacturing industry, is a […]
Lumad evacuees’ return home signals rebuilding of alternative schools
September 7, 2016
The Educators’ Forum for Development (EfD), a network of 100 schools nationwide advocating transformative education, commended the more than 2,000 Lumad evacuees on the reclaiming of their homes and ancestral land in Bgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. The group said that this also signifies initial steps towards the rebuilding of Lumad alternative schools and […]
DOF tax reforms relieve rich while burdening poor–IBON
September 5, 2016
Research group IBON said that the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposed tax reform program relieves the rich and burdens the poor. The group said that this will worsen inequality in the country and should be replaced by a tax program that taxes the rich instead and is backed with the required political will. The DOF […]
TAX GANERN! DOF’s Tax Reforms Tax the Poor and Relieve the Rich (Part 2)
September 2, 2016
by Sonny Africa (Second of Two Parts) Read Part 1 Significant additional revenues can be raised with some basic reforms in the country’s regressive and pro-elite tax system. This is the most rational and sustainable way of ensuring that there are resources for social and economic spending biased for the needs of the poor majority […]
TAX GANERN! DOF’s Tax Reforms Tax the Poor and Relieve the Rich (Part 1)
September 2, 2016
by Sonny Africa (First of Two Parts) The Department of Finance (DOF) will submit a tax policy reform program to Congress in September. The administration’s economic managers are using Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s current popularity to push an unpopular pro-rich neoliberal tax agenda. The proposed program lowers the tax burden on the rich and on big […]
Tens of millions of Filipinos can benefit from peace talks resumption–IBON
August 24, 2016
Research group IBON said that the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is a tentative step forward for socioeconomic development. After this first round, the talks will take up social and economic reforms to address the underdevelopment plaguing the nation and that is at the […]
IBON’s Social Studies Textbook Series: Take a different look at history
August 22, 2016
Why is #MarcosNotAHero? These textbooks say why and more.
2nd quarter growth weakest in five election years: Bold new economic policies needed
August 18, 2016
Research group IBON said that the 7.0% growth in the second quarter of 2016 and 6.9% growth in the first semester are the weakest in the past five election years and challenge the Duterte administration. Bold changes in economic policies are needed to achieve sustained higher growth, said the group. According to IBON, the […]
