News
Duterte admin banning aid to hide human rights violations
September 24, 2019
Research group IBON, a member of the multisectoral network AidWatch, said that the Duterte administration is stopping talks on new official development assistance (ODA) from 18 countries as part of its efforts to hide the worsening domestic human rights situation. This includes Spain which is supporting the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The group said […]
21st Century Neoliberal Authoritarianism for Whom?
September 12, 2019
(Statement for the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Inquiry on “The Current Situation Impacting on the Work, Safety, and Security of Human Rights Defenders in the Philippines” delivered on September 11, 2019) IBON Foundation was set up in 1978 and is in its 41st year of service to the Filipino people. We are a small […]
Job creation volatile, mostly of poor quality work
September 7, 2019
Research group IBON said that the recently reported job generation is mostly in poor quality work and confirms volatile labor market conditions rather than a strengthening economy. The group made the statement after the recent release of seemingly favorable employment figures and warned against complacency. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported an increase in the […]
Scrap provincial bus ban, find pro-people solution to traffic–IBON
August 13, 2019
Government should find another way of decongesting Metro Manila’s major thoroughfare instead of aggravating the inconveniences of hundreds of thousands of provincial bus commuters, research group IBON said. Commuters’ welfare should be the primary consideration of the Duterte administration in addressing transport woes, said the group, but its approach should be comprehensive and regulation should cover private […]
It is offending China, not war, that Pres. Duterte is avoiding – IBON
July 27, 2019
Research group IBON said that Pres. Duterte’s stance on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, as expressed in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), is not about avoiding war with China, but is about avoiding offending the Chinese government and losing all its promised funds. Last July 22, Pres. Duterte highlighted the possibility […]
Research group: Davao businessmen may be benefiting from Duterte admin’s infra program
July 26, 2019
Amid government hype of its Build, Build, Build program, research group IBON noted that there has been a conspicuous increase in public infrastructure spending in the Davao region that seems to have favored Davao-based businessmen. The group observed that close allies of the president have benefited from the government spending surge by clinching a number […]
Duterte’s Midterm: Change for the Worse
July 22, 2019
(IBON 2019 Midyear Birdtalk Briefing Paper economic situation highlights) The country’s slowing economy, and worsening jobs crisis and poverty disputes the Duterte administration’s hype of economic gains. IBON said that this is bound to worsen if the Duterte administration continues unopposed on its current neoliberal trajectory wherein the interests of big foreign and local business […]
Prices still higher now than since start of Duterte admin
July 6, 2019
Research group IBON said that while June inflation has slowed, the prices of basic food items are still higher, especially when compared to prices at the start of the Duterte administration. The wages and incomes of many Filipinos are unable to keep up with the high prices. The group said that food prices will continue […]
Duterte administration being dishonest about economic ‘gains’
July 4, 2019
Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration is being dishonest in its recent pronouncements about high growth, reducing unemployment, and reducing poverty. The group said that the government is taking liberties with statistics as part of its propaganda campaign that President Duterte is keeping his promise of real change. In its pre-State of the […]
