Features
APEC: Special lanes for whom?
November 16, 2015
Economics can be rational again and the severe imbalances in wealth and power that fetter human development and stifle economies can be dismantled by Sonny Africa IBON Features/ Commentary. It isn’t really just about the special traffic lanes or even the reorganizing of the life of the nation’s capital for a few days because of […]
Why APEC’s free market globalization cannot build resilient communities
November 7, 2015
PH must take back what globalization has eroded if it is to build a fortress that will truly keep the people safe and strong even in the face of calamities The Philippines spearheaded the crafting of a framework on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) for this year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) high-level meeting. […]
Post-SONA: Correct solutions based on correct analysis?
August 7, 2015
Malacanang has defended the SONA, however the President’s speech seemed to have been based on a questionable reading of the state of the nation. IBON Features— A lot has been said about the President’s final State of the Nation Address (SONA) including criticisms on the seeming rosy picture it depicted. Malacanang has defended the SONA, […]
PhilHealth: The myth of universal health care under Aquino
July 30, 2015
Health services in the country have deteriorated and become more costly for the public IBON Features—In his last State of the Nation Address, President Aquino recalled his 2012 announcement that through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), families belonging to the poorest 20% of the population do not have to pay a centavo when availing […]
MRT: Enduring poor service while paying more than needed
July 30, 2015
The public can be at the losing end when public services such as the train system is thrust into the hands of the private sector and run on their profit-seeking terms IBON Features–In anticipation of President Aquino’s last State of the Nation Address, some people’s groups compared the country’s situation to the Metro Rail Transit […]
Aquino’s PPP legacy
July 24, 2015
Pres. Aquino has paved the way for more and bigger privatization deals—he made this possible through perks and guarantees unprecedented in the history of privatization in the Philippines IBON Features—Five State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) ago, President Aquino declared public-private partnership (PPP) as the key to many of the country’s needs. Ten PPP awarded […]
SONA 2015: A Legacy of A Disconnected Economy
July 23, 2015
Economic elitism has been the norm for the economy but the growth in wealth and profits for a few has been striking under the Aquino administration IBON Features— Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III will give his last state of the nation address (SONA) at the opening of Congress next week. After so many political controversies, […]
Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs): Temporary, Diversionary and Indefensible
June 11, 2015
IBON Features | October 2010 | The retrogressive character of the CCTs is most of all defined by its defense of neoliberal macroeconomic policies. [wpdm_package id=3851 template=”link-template-widget”] IBON Features—The Aquino administration’s conditional cash transfers (CCTs), which take up the largest part of its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), have many points of appeal. Giving cash […]
APEC’s epic fail: Philippine underdevelopment
May 26, 2015
Commentary | By Sonny Africa | The organization is unabashed in pushing for neoliberal policies, the biggest reason for the exclusion and worsening of conditions for so many in the world in the last decades IBON Features—The “FuntaSea” theme of the show for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior officials held last weekend and its venue, […]