Still only token ayuda in 2022 budget – IBON

August 30, 2021

The Duterte administration’s proposed 2022 budget once again refuses to give the ayuda that millions of Filipinos need to alleviate the economic distress from lockdown-induced disruptions to livelihoods. COVID-19-related emergency assistance programs have been discontinued. There is some additional funding for existing social welfare programs but this falls far short of huge needs since the pandemic.

Govt’s 7-9% growth in 2022 is just a fantasy – IBON

August 26, 2021

The Development Budget Coordination Committee has had a poor record of projecting economic growth in the last five years with their estimates always off the mark. Worse, their narrow-minded fiscal conservatism is the biggest factor preventing more rapid recovery.

Business-as-usual 2022 budget unresponsive to pandemic – IBON

August 26, 2021

The proposed 2022 national budget is perplexingly business-as-usual with the same priorities as before the pandemic. There is still disproportionate attention to infrastructure, the military and police, and debt service with only marginal changes to the health and social protection budgets. This latest spending plan should not just be scrutinized but also retailored to give due attention to urgent medical and economic responses.

2022 budget stalls recovery, worsens inequality

August 23, 2021

Government’s proposed 2022 national budget is the second budget in a row that fails to respond to the pandemic. The Duterte administration is not spending enough on economic stimulus, health, ayuda, and small businesses which are the most important things to recover quickly and stop worsening deprivation. The economic managers’ misguided fiscal conservatism is counterproductive and needs urgent correction.

Use ₱133.9-billion TRAIN revenues for ayuda – IBON

August 14, 2021

The Duterte administration can use revenue generated by its regressive TRAIN law to fund emergency cash assistance. TRAIN’s new taxes increased the prices for goods and services consumed by the majority poor Filipinos even amid the pandemic and the revenues can be used productively while the law remains.

Q2 rebound isn’t recovery, will fade without real stimulus – IBON

August 10, 2021

NEWS

The positive second quarter growth in gross domestic product is only a rebound from the record economic collapse in the same period last year. It is not a sign of recovery gaining traction.

June labor force survey confirms economy not recovering despite reopening

August 3, 2021

The latest labor force survey (LFS) shows how far away the economy is from recovering without real fiscal stimulus. Job generation is hollow with a bloating informal sector and huge contraction in full-time work. These will worsen with the looming ECQ which will push millions of Filipinos into deeper economic distress.

IBON Praymer: Ang pagwawakas sa rehimeng Duterte

July 17, 2021

Huling taon na ng gobyernong Duterte, subalit hindi pa rin nakukuha ng mamamayan ang sensible, makatwiran at mahusay na paggogobyerno sa harap ng napakalalang krisis ng Pilipinas.

Neil Doloricon, 63

July 16, 2021

We are immensely grateful for how he enriched IBON with how he saw and interpreted the world.