Category: News
Duterte selling out sovereignty for Chinese funding – IBON
June 20, 2019
Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration’s downplaying of the hit-and-run by a Chinese vessel of a Philippine fishing boat in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) shows how it gives more importance to Chinese funding over Philippine sovereignty. On June 9, a Chinese vessel rammed and sank the Filipino fishing boat F/B Gem-Ver and […]
On Sin Tax: Raise direct taxes rather than consumer taxes –IBON
June 7, 2019
Research group IBON said that the passing of the Sin Tax Reform Bill made the country’s tax system more regressive by increasing consumer taxes that burden the poor while cutting income tax and corporate tax that make the rich even richer. As part of the government’s tax reform agenda, Senate Bill No.2233 or the Sin […]
Govt should address job losses in agri, manufacturing — IBON
June 5, 2019
Research group IBON said that the rise in employment and decline in unemployment is seemingly welcome after the worsening job generation in the past four consecutive labor force rounds. But this should not be taken at face value because of alarming underlying trends. This includes job losses in the production sectors that the Duterte administration […]
Sin taxes, UHC to fund privatization of health services–IBON
June 1, 2019
Research group IBON said that government must allot a higher budget for public health services rather than fund private health providers through the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act. Also known as Republic Act (RA) 11223, the UHC Act ostensibly aims to provide all Filipinos with promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative, and palliative health services “without causing […]
Amendments to Public Services Act removes Constitutional protections on public utilities
May 24, 2019
Research group IBON raised the alarm that proposed amendments to the Public Services Act (PSA) removing Constitutional protections on public utilities will undermine national security and consumer welfare. The group argued that foreign control over important sectors should still be minimized and that natural monopolies should if anything be more tightly regulated. The Senate identified […]
Group challenges Senate: Stop Charter change
May 19, 2019
Research group IBON is challenging the succeeding Senate to prove its independence by rejecting the proposal to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution or Charter change (Cha-cha). Lawmakers should keep in mind the dangers that Cha-cha poses on Philippine economic sovereignty, said the group, and not be swayed into passing other laws that fulfill the consistent […]
Slower economy affirms undue hype over credit rating upgrade
May 9, 2019
Sign of unsound economy Slower gross domestic product (GDP) growth during the first quarter of 2019 belies any claim of a healthy Philippine economy. Research group IBON stressed that the Duterte administration’s enthusiasm over the recent credit rating upgrade that the country got is unwarranted. Instead of hailing business-biased programs, government should look to more […]
Malacañang’s enthusiasm on credit rating upgrade unwarranted-IBON
May 4, 2019
IBON executive director Sonny Africa said that the recent credit rating upgrade is not a sign of economic progress and that Malacañang’s enthusiasm is greatly unwarranted. The credit rating upgrade is most of all an assessment of the government’s ability to repay debt and not of economic development. There would be no such upgrade if […]
Employers can afford Php750 minimum wage—IBON
April 30, 2019
Employers can very well afford to raise the minimum wage to Php750 which only entails a small cut in their profits, research group IBON said. The Duterte administration should support this hike which will help millions of Filipino households dependent on wages and salaries cope with the rising cost of goods and services, said the […]
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