Reject LRT-1 fare hike and junk PPP deal, IBON urges next admin

May 9, 2016

#BeyondElections2016 | As millions of voters troop to polling precincts to choose the country’s next political leaders, research group IBON Foundation urged whomever the new President will be to reject the fare hike being sought by the private operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT 1). The group added that the new administration […]

Which candidate will strengthen the public school system?

May 6, 2016

Filipino families grapple with the increasing cost of education. Only 50% of Senior High-ready schools are public. Yet government keeps spending public funds for private gain: Php12.2 billion – Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program budget for 2016; Php47.9 billion – Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) from 2010-2016; Php500 million-Php1 […]

Has PhilHealth, the country’s so-called universal health care program, benefited the Filipino people?

April 24, 2016

#BeyondElections2016 | All the presidential bets vow to continue Philhealth. But has this so-called universal health care program benefited the Filipino people? The 2015 National Government budget for PhilHealth rose to Php39.1 billion from only Php3.5 billion in 2011. It is now said to cover 87% of the entire population as of 2013. Yet, according […]

Gov’t privatization of irrigation, calamity unpreparedness amid El Nino hit

April 3, 2016

In the aftermath of the State-sponsored violence and continued harassment of protesting drought-stricken farmers in Kidapawan, North Cotabato, research group IBON criticized the Aquino government’s unpreparedness for El Nino and indicative neglect of agriculture in general, said the group. Department of Agriculture (DA) data shows that the damage caused by El Nino has already reached […]

Better jobs, better water? Privatization undermines work, water rights–WPN

March 22, 2016

  ​#BeyondElections2016 | ​As International Water Day is celebrated, water right advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) reiterates how neoliberal privatization has displaced jobs in the public water sector and led to more expensive water. The United Nations themed this year’s Water Day “Better Water, Better Jobs”. It stated that that 1.5 billion […]

Mega Dams: Profiteering in Infrastructure

March 14, 2016

“The circa 1970s Laiban dam has been recently revived supposedly to augment Metro Manila’s water supply that other dams cannot provide especially during dry months. Also, the last remaining hydro-electric government facility. Angat dam in Bulacan has been offered to bidders after the sale of Magat, Ambuklao-Binga and Pantabangan-Masiway to big private corporations in previous […]

“No home birthing” policy: burden to Filipino mothers

March 8, 2016

A mother in the town of Mansalay, Oriental Mindoro who belongs to the Mangyan tribe recalled how her husband had to pay a penalty at the municipal hall so that he could get their child’s registration of live birth. Meanwhile, another mother in the hinterlands of Eastern Samar had to borrow money to rent a house for […]

Filipino kids wither while super rich get richer under Aquino

March 7, 2016

Research group IBON called attention to the worsening state of Filipino children’s health amid reports that the Philippines’ super-rich had continued to grow even richer under the Aquino regime. The stark contrast underscores the exclusiveness of hyped growth, the group said. The burgeoning wealth of 11 Filipino businessmen, amounting to US $41.5 billion or Php1.95 […]

Philippine labor force, domestic and abroad

July 19, 2012