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Wage hike necessary, overdue amid pandemic and high prices
January 23, 2021
A substantial wage hike remains just and necessary even amid the pandemic economic shock. It is incumbent on the government to come up with schemes to enable a wage hike that increases incomes of low-income households and which will also stimulate aggregate demand in the economy. This can include mandating higher wages while giving wage subsidies to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)
Crisis upon crisis: 2021 Yearstarter Birdtalk highlights
January 23, 2021
It is important that the government acknowledge the enormity of the public health and economic crisis. This is necessary for the vital shift in attitude from business-as-usual to undertaking urgent COVID-19 response and long-term reforms.
IBON debunks economic Cha-cha movers’ claims on FDI
January 19, 2021
Charter change proponents claim that removing economic protections against foreign investments is needed for economic recovery. But FDI liberalization will instead have long-term adverse impacts on national economic development.
The 2021 Yearstarter Birdtalk
January 16, 2021
There’s certainly much we can do to make sure that 2021 is better.
Economic cha-cha is no vaccine for recovery or development
January 13, 2021
The economy’s development lies in using the protections in the Constitution to gain from foreign investment, not in taking away the protections and giving self-interested foreign investment free rein over the domestic economy.
Charter change compromises Philippine economy
January 12, 2021
Pursuing economic Cha-cha in the middle of a public health crisis and unprecedented economic decline smacks of putting vested interests first over squarely addressing the urgent need to create and save jobs, incomes and small businesses.
Cash subsidies for poorest households urgent as inflation reaches 21-month high
January 5, 2021
In the face of soaring prices, joblessness and meager incomes, emergency cash subsidies for the poorest Filipinos and support for small businesses need to be increased substantially. Distribute Bayanihan 2 cash assistance immediately, and a new cash subsidy program to cover several millions of vulnerable citizens should be drawn up.
2020 Yearender: Economic lessons from Jose Rizal
December 30, 2020
The worst economic collapse in Philippine history and in Southeast Asia is mainly due to the government’s stumbling pandemic response and lackluster economic measures in 2020. If, again, there is more bluster than action in 2021 then real recovery will be much farther away than it should be.
Dire state of PH economic, social, and cultural rights
December 27, 2020
The pre-pandemic year saw the nation’s pre-existing social and economic woes worsening. Pursuing the people’s economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights is urgent and vital in getting out of the COVID crisis and moving towards real recovery.
