News
PH ‘stimulus’ smallest in region
July 29, 2020
NEWS
Philippine spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is among the smallest in the region. The narrow-minded obsession with ‘creditworthiness’ stops the government from taking the urgent steps needed to restore livelihoods and save the economy.
IBON opens to gov’t inspection days before anti-terrorism law effectivity
July 15, 2020
NEWS
With the Anti-Terrorism Law soon coming into effect, research group IBON opened their office for inspection by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Bgy. Sacred Heart officials. The ocular inspection was requested to show IBON’s transparency and prove the absence of illegal materials and equipment on the premises.
Gov’t creating pretext to use Anti-Terrorism Law against IBON?
July 11, 2020
The persistent falsehoods and malicious accusations spread by the PNA and NTF-ELCAC appear to be laying the groundwork for the Anti-Terrorism Law to be used against the institution and its research and education work. These accusations are however baseless and IBON will continue to explain socioeconomic and political issues, uphold the interest of the marginalized majority of Filipinos, and advocate against unjust and inequitable economic structures.
Higher inflation for poorest Filipinos underscores urgent need for continued cash subsidies
July 8, 2020
NEWS
Higher inflation is problematic but particularly burdens the poorest Filipinos. Inflation rates for the 30% poorest households are higher than the national average. Especially amid historic joblessness, this affirms how the government should continue giving cash subsidies as income support, the group said.
Gov’t should check SAP’s gross failure as COVID cases rise – IBON
June 30, 2020
The Duterte government should correct the huge shortfall of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) especially amid a continuously increasing number of COVID-19 cases. About 9 million out of the target 18 million poor households received only one tranche of emergency aid, or just Php53 per day over 106 days of COVID-19 lockdown.
Open-air jeepneys safer against COVID-19 than enclosed modernized counterparts
June 21, 2020
NEWS
With only modernized jeepneys allowed to resume operations next week, traditional jeepneys off the road inconveniences commuters and also denies them potentially safer means of transport. The traditional open-air jeepney is likely even safer against COVID-19 than its air-conditioned modernized counterpart.
Govt jeepney ban has already cost drivers Php78,000
June 19, 2020
NEWS
Thousands of small jeepney drivers have lost as much as Php78,000 each from three months of mass transport suspensions since the lockdown. The government has been insensitive and stingy assistance has pushed jeepney drivers and their families into poverty.
Duterte administration’s recovery plans help the rich more than the poor
June 5, 2020
government’s supposed recovery plans are more concerned about supporting business profits than helping the mass of unemployed Filipinos. The finance department’s PH-PROGRESO and stimulus bills in Congress give considerable support to businesses while millions of affected families get token support at best.
Official unemployment figures understate historic jobs crisis
June 5, 2020
The unemployment crisis is actually even worse than official figures show. The 20.4 million real unemployed and underemployed today is the worst crisis of mass unemployment in the country’s history.
