Commentary
Land reform, starting point of rural development
January 20, 2017
“Agricultural development should first focus on real land reform. This ensures that subsequent farm support will increase rural incomes and improve the livelihoods of the majority poor peasantry, expand the domestic market, and create a surplus for reinvestment in national industry. These are also the conditions for greater linkages between agriculture and industry, including the […]
Aid for profit undermines development
December 5, 2016
Official development aid (ODA) is increasingly becoming a tool to support private profits rather than people-centered development. This indicates the persistence of the neoliberal ways that prevent aid from meaningfully contributing to national development. The Second High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) recently held in Nairobi, Kenya, concluded with a […]
US aid and imperialism
October 21, 2016
For daring the US and others to withdraw their aid, President Rodrigo Duterte has been called a “psychopath”. For those whose way of thinking has been systematically warped by colonialism and neocolonialism/imperialism, it is plain madness. As a poor country, why would we shun the “altruism” of rich countries like the US? On the contrary, […]
Hindi lumingon–a second look? The economics of the Duterte administration
May 14, 2016
by Sonny Africa IBON FEATURES – Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte projected a vastly different image from the other presidential candidates and indeed from every national politician the Philippines has ever had: coarse, cussing, irreverent, misogynistic, an unrepentant human rights violator, and a self-proclaimed “Socialist” and “Leftist”. But, never mind, the strongman was effective and got […]
Path not to take: The exclusionary and elitist Daang Matuwid
May 8, 2016
#BeyondElections2016 | The Aquino administration’s long-playing call to sustain its so-called legacy of a fast-growing economy driven by “good governance” resonated in the “ituloy ang Daang Matuwid” electoral campaign. That the elections are just a day away and that the term of Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III is nearing its end are opportune moments to review […]
Anyare? Economic decline since Marcos
May 5, 2016
The Marcos dictatorship started the Philippines on a path of economic decline that remains until today. This has already had the worst consequences for tens of millions of Filipinos across two generations. Unless corrected, it will burden generations to come. The Philippine economy’s decline since the 1980s is commonly attributed to the Marcos regime’s corruption […]
Di lumingon: The economics of the next administration
April 26, 2016
By Sonny Africa IBON executive director #BeyondElections2016 | The leading candidates for the presidency project vastly different images: plain but competent technocrat, earnest would-be mother of the nation, beleaguered man of the masses, and of course the coarse yet effective strongman. Filipino voters seem to have a variety of choices in the May 9 […]
In crisis: Why the US is pivoting to Asia Pacific
April 14, 2014
IBON Features | COMMENTARY | US officials have described the region as crucial to its economic and strategic interests, and which will yield huge returns in US investments IBON Features — Philippine officials say US President Barack Obama’s visit to the Philippines, the final leg in a series that includes Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, […]
UN report reaffirms water privatization amid MWSS rate hike controversy
April 14, 2014
IBON Features | COMMENTARY | By Arnold Padilla | The renewed support for the corporate takeover of water and energy sectors comes at a time that these policies are seriously being challenged by consumers IBON Features— The World Water Day quietly passed by last March 22. It is a United Nations (UN) event that has […]
