Features
Philippines in a Happy and Healthy Relationship with China?
November 28, 2018
by Sonny Africa IBON Features – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recently concluded state visit was hyped as historic and relationship-altering in a good way towards “comprehensive, strategic cooperation”. The joint statement released at the end spoke of a couple with a healthy relationship: reminiscing the past, establishing trust, open communication, arguing in a healthy way […]
Duterte’s infrastructure miracle: Resurrecting a damned project
November 20, 2018
By Jose Lorenzo Lim Through China ODA, the Duterte administration revives a project halted by the historical struggle of the Cordillera people against destructive infrastructure The Chico River Basin Dam Project was an infamous World Bank-funded hydroelectric project under the Marcos Era. Local opposition to the project was strong. The famed Macli-ing Dulag, tribal chieftain […]
Heightening China-PH economic relations: friends with benefits?
November 19, 2018
by Rosario Bella Guzman There is a growing concern about the phenomenal increase of Chinese capital flowing into the Philippine economy. China has recently overtaken the US in terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows and trade. In the first semester of 2018, FDI from China amounted to US$175 million as compared with Japan’s US$154 […]
After five years: Build, Build, Build a new adversary of Yolanda survivors
November 8, 2018
by Jolo Lim IBON Features – Typhoon Yolanda was a disaster of epic proportions. It became an even bigger tragedy because of government neglect and corporate opportunism. Five years after the super-typhoon, a new adversary is rising for typhoon survivors that are yet to fully recover. The Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program has been […]
Further imperiling Philippine rice
October 29, 2018
The government’s accelerated move to impose rice tariffs and lift quantitative restrictions on rice imports is touted to ease inflation. It comes with a heavy price in the long-term, however, as it puts in peril the livelihood of millions of Filipino rice farmers. Amid runaway inflation triggered by its regressive tax reform program, the Duterte […]
Decade of 7% PH Growth: It’s Just A Fantasy
October 18, 2018
By Sonny Africa In a speech before leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said that the country is on an “upward trajectory of growth”. He was echoing the country’s economic managers who were recently touting a recovery of Philippine economic growth to the 7-8% target next […]
4th Industrial Revolution: Change is coming?
September 25, 2018
by Sonny Africa Constant technological progress invariably showcases the huge creative potential of people and the immense possibilities to build a society without poverty. We all aspire to a society that continuously improves everyone’s well-being and that is within the planet’s ecological capacity. Outside of abhorrent weapons technology, new technology is always exciting for its […]
PH Economy Duterteriorating
August 29, 2018
IBON FEATURES – Stay the course, the country’s economic managers always insist. They will be the last to admit bad economic news because eternal sunshine is part of their job. Their recent spontaneous reactions against federalism are however more revealing. They are losing control of the economy as it is and they know the ill-conceived […]
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 […]
