Category: Features
Why the climate strike is a social justice issue (and why it should strike at the core of growing fascism)
September 20, 2019
First of a two-part series (Note: As this article goes to press, one of the Philippine groups organizing for the global climate strike is under surveillance by State security forces and has received reports of an impending raid on their headquarters.) Around the globe on September 20, the youth are leading a coordinated strike to […]
Here comes zombie neoliberalism
August 30, 2019
(This lecture was recently discussed by IBON research head Rosario Guzman with a group of international theologians) The South Korean independent film in 2016, Train to Busan, had definitely added a novel attack to the zombies genre. It appears now that the zombie theme has been revived after considerable time of having been run into […]
Why Negros?
August 21, 2019
All over the Philippines, 207 peasants have already been killed as of March 31 since the start of the Duterte administration – 50 of the killings occurred in Negros. Three of the 15 peasant massacres nationwide happened in the island, claiming 29 out of 31 precious farmers’ lives.
President’s SONA in denial of slowing growth and fundamental econ crisis
July 29, 2019
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Duterte did not admit that the economy is on a slowdown and that the country’s production sectors are deteriorating. Instead, the President harped on deceptive, business-biased policy proposals that at the very least do not address the basic problems of the economy, and at worse, […]
Strengthen Filipino, Panitikan, and Constitution instruction in basic and tertiary education
June 24, 2019
The Supreme Court’s (SC) upholding of the removal of Filipino, Panitikan (literature), and Constitution as core subjects of the college curriculum is the latest assault of neoliberal standards on the Philippine education system. Alongside the K to 12 curriculum at primary and secondary levels, the fundamentals of nationalism, patriotism and constitutionalism are being replaced by […]
2019 midterm elections results: Harsher policies ahead
May 26, 2019
Administration-backed bets dominated the 2019 midterm elections especially in the Senate. The Duterte administration will certainly fast track its priority neoliberal policies as soon as the 18th Congress opens. It already used its super-majority in the 17th Congress to pass socioeconomic measures aggravating the country’s jobs crisis, poverty, and underdevelopment. More and harsher ones loom […]
WANTED: An Independent Senate
May 11, 2019
Midterm elections have always been crucial for any incumbent, as results will either affirm or reject the programs and policies so far of the ruling party. The 2019 midterm elections, however, appears to be different, as it happens at the heels of the Duterte administration’s implementation of harshest neoliberal economic policies and undermining democracy. The […]
What the Rice Tariffication Law violates
April 10, 2019
The declared policy of the newly signed Republic Act (RA) 11203 or Rice Tariffication Law, now with issued implementing rules and regulations, is apparently to ensure food security. Ironically, it is the very same principle that the law puts at risk. Food security is a precondition for economic development. A hungry population is a weak, […]
Beyond water interruptions: Expensive water and connection woes burden consumers
March 21, 2019
By the Samahan at Ugnayan ng mga Konsyumer para sa Ikauunlad ng Bayan (SUKI) The ongoing water shortage is just the latest among water problems that consumers have been struggling with for decades. Despite privatization and its promises, poor consumers across the metropolis still suffer expensive water, erratic connections, and inadequate services. The government and […]
