Consumer Rights
Groups hold media forum, exposing privatization as systemic theft at play
December 8, 2025
Public funds and resources continue to be used by bureaucrats and private entities to operate and manage public facilities to enrich themselves and stay in power.
Water for the People Network Position Paper at the Senate Committee on Public Services Hearing
October 7, 2025
Millions of Filipinos are being denied the right to water due to harmful Joint Venture Agreements that have privatized our public water districts.
Government losing control of economy –IBON
September 5, 2018
The Duterte administration is losing control over the Philippine economy and the poorest Filipinos are suffering for this, research group IBON said upon the release of the August inflation rate. The greatly accelerating inflation is only the latest in a series of bad economic news about the economy’s so-called fundamentals. The Philippine Statistics Authority […]
Why rice tariffication does not guarantee lower rice prices
August 25, 2018
Accelerating inflation is becoming worrisome for tens of millions of low-income Filipino families. Since the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) kicked off early this year, the prices of goods and services have climbed incessantly. Rice inflation itself accelerated from just 1.5% in the beginning of 2018 to a 5% high in July. Inflation […]
First quarter of TRAIN: A preview of the worse to come for the poor
April 20, 2018
Nanay Inday joins the many ordinary folk in bearing the brunt of price hikes upon the January 2018 implementation of the first package of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN). A resident of the urban poor community in San Roque North Triangle, she laments that there are no longer Php5.00 bundles […]
Gov’t must ensure efficient and accessible transport for all–IBON
February 28, 2018
Policy study baring unsound transport policies released Research group IBON said that the Philippine government’s policies have increasingly opened the transport sector to profit-oriented control, thereby privatizing the transport system and undermining public usage of this very basic service. Government should reverse this trend and strengthen the public transport system to improve people’s mobility and […]
2018 prosperity by Duterte policies not for all—IBON
January 2, 2018
Admin’s avid push for market-driven measures will run over the poor majority The new year seems to usher in more difficulties for Filipinos in accessing basic goods, public utilities, and services amid government’s exclusionary policies, research group IBON said. The market-driven policies that have been prioritized by the Duterte government such as the Tax Reform […]
Gov’t assures private profits over MRT commuter welfare
November 29, 2017
The government’s assurance of private profits from day one has led to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 woes that has put commuter welfare on the line, said research group IBON. The latest series of train breakdowns and mishaps is but the tip of the iceberg and will persist under a privatized light rail system. […]
Consumers to pay big business, foreign firms’ income tax under Duterte bill
October 20, 2017
By Arnold Padilla (Released at the launch of consumer network Samahan at Ugnayan ng Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI)) When President Rodrigo Duterte told striking jeepney drivers and operators “Magtiis kayo sa hirap at gutom”, he could be as well speaking to all poor Filipinos who struggle with ever-rising cost of electricity, water and […]
