Duterte gov’t to blame for worst economic collapse in PH history

August 6, 2020

STATEMENT

The Duterte administration is to blame for the worst economic collapse in the country’s recorded history. Growth rate falling to -16.5% in the second quarter from 5.4% in the same period last year is an unprecedented 21.9 percentage point drop.

PH ‘stimulus’ smallest in region

July 29, 2020

NEWS

Philippine spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is among the smallest in the region. The narrow-minded obsession with ‘creditworthiness’ stops the government from taking the urgent steps needed to restore livelihoods and save the economy.

SAP exaggerated, millions left behind

July 28, 2020

FEATURES

It has been over 130 days since the start of COVID-19 lockdowns, yet government help for families most affected by the crisis remains snail-paced, measly, and even much less than promised.

SONA 2020: “Boracay is doing well because of its scenery”

July 28, 2020

BIRD FEED

The president is at the commanding heights of policymaking in the country. If this last SONA showed anything, it’s the lack of leadership over pandemic response at the very top — Pres. Duterte doesn’t seem to appreciate the worst public health crisis and economic decline in the country’s history.

Beyond capacity and overwhelming incompetence

July 19, 2020

FEATURES

The entire Philippine economy will suffer if Filipinos are not protected from this disease. The government cannot afford another lockdown since it will not only endanger the economy but will also bring intense hunger and more hardship. It must act now and prevent the health system from collapsing and the Filipino people from succumbing to both the pandemic and to poverty.

The unbelievable indifference of the Duterte administration

July 16, 2020

FEATURES

The Duterte government insists that it is successfully responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reality is a little bit different – it hasn’t done enough, and is planning to do even less.

IBON opens to gov’t inspection days before anti-terrorism law effectivity

July 15, 2020

NEWS

With the Anti-Terrorism Law soon coming into effect, research group IBON opened their office for inspection by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Bgy. Sacred Heart officials. The ocular inspection was requested to show IBON’s transparency and prove the absence of illegal materials and equipment on the premises.

On the BBB fix: Why do you build me up?

July 11, 2020

FEATURES

The government is still hell-bent on pursuing a grand infrastructure program amid the pandemic and despite its actually bleak accomplishments so far. The government says it will revise its list of infrastructure projects to adapt to COVID-19. But does it really have the will to shift the focus of its infrastructure program, or even the capacity to fully implement this?

Gov’t creating pretext to use Anti-Terrorism Law against IBON?

July 11, 2020

The persistent falsehoods and malicious accusations spread by the PNA and NTF-ELCAC appear to be laying the groundwork for the Anti-Terrorism Law to be used against the institution and its research and education work. These accusations are however baseless and IBON will continue to explain socioeconomic and political issues, uphold the interest of the marginalized majority of Filipinos, and advocate against unjust and inequitable economic structures.