IBON update on CHR, barangay officials’ inspection of premises

November 10, 2019

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), through its Investigation Department led by Mr. Ronnie Rosero, and Barangay Sacred Heart officials, inspected last Friday the offices of IBON Foundation, IBON International and AlterMidya. The entire inspection was also covered by members of the media. The CHR and Barangay officials afterwards confirmed the legitimacy of the offices and organizations […]

PH economy headed towards 3rd year of slow growth — IBON

November 8, 2019

Research group IBON said that the Philippine economy is on its way to a third straight year of slowing economic growth under the Duterte administration. The group said that while the economy registered higher growth in the third quarter of 2019, the factors behind this are too weak and unsustainable. The government recently reported 6.2% […]

IBON warns of possible PNP harassment

November 7, 2019

IBON Foundation received information that a warrant of arrest will be served on someone supposedly within our office building. This is alarming and we believe that it is part of the Duterte government’s worsening crackdown on activists upholding human rights and so critical of its retrogressive policies and authoritarian governance. A certain Col. Joaquin Alva […]

Inflation slowing due to a sluggish economy — IBON

November 6, 2019

Research group IBON said that despite reported slower inflation, daily expenses are still rising and too expensive for the majority of Filipinos who suffer low and stagnant incomes. The group also said that slowing inflation mainly reflects a slackening economy. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported lower nationwide inflation at 0.8% in October 2019 from […]

Can’t afford to die

October 31, 2019

My friend’s lola died last month. She was dear to me, as I grew up without grandparents and she was the lola I never had. She once left the country to work as a domestic helper to ensure that all of her eight children would finish school. She liked gardening and ballroom dancing. She loved […]

Solving the NCR mass transport crisis

October 28, 2019

BY SONNY AFRICA

The mass transport crisis is real. And yes, the mass transport crisis can be solved.

Not a book review: Technology advancement for whom?

October 27, 2019

One afternoon two well-meaning colleagues recommended a reading for me. Well, actually there were two reading recommendations. But after a five-minute discussion between themselves, they settled with Ha-Joon Chang’s Economics: The User’s Guide published by Penguin Group in 2014. They must’ve really wanted me to read it because one morning, there was a copy on […]

Unmet targets: Poor water and sanitation service is failure of privatization

October 25, 2019

WATER FOR THE PEOPLE NETWORK

The public sector has to have the key and central role in providing water and sanitation services. These cannot be made dependent on the narrow profit-seeking motives of private corporations.

Until our Mary Janes come home

October 22, 2019

Did you also feel your world stop in 2015 when we thought that Indonesia had executed overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Mary Jane Veloso? Please, not another Flor Contemplacion, not another OFW coming home in a balikbayan box. Putting her kids through school was Mary Jane’s only compulsion for leaving her family and homeland for any […]