News

Inflation worsening: Gov’t should act fast as households’ incomes hemorrhage

October 5, 2018

Research group IBON said that inflation has not tapered off as government projected but has accelerated in September, highlighting government’s continued neglect in addressing rapidly rising prices of goods and services. The group said that government continues to push failed neoliberal measures, while feigning concern for Filipino families struggling with a quickly falling purchasing power. […]

Dubai crude trigger price to suspend TRAIN oil taxes already reached, IBON observed

October 4, 2018

The government is already obliged to start considering suspension of its oil excise taxes as provided for under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, said research group IBON. The group said that oil prices have in effect already reached the trigger price for suspending excise taxes as provided in Republic Act 10963 or […]

Poor and middle class burdened most by TRAIN’s oil taxes

October 3, 2018

The higher oil excise taxes of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) is a greater burden on the poor and middle class than the rich, said research group IBON. The poor and middle class, even those few with gains from personal income tax cuts, will suffer cuts in their standard of […]

Govt anti-inflation measures inadequate and anti-agriculture

October 2, 2018

Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration’s anti-inflation measures are reckless stop-gap measures that will ironically harm domestic agriculture, displace farmers and fisherfolk, and worsen food insecurity. The group also said that the government should use its vast authority to take much more decisive steps to reduce inflation. President Duterte issued Administrative Order (AO) […]

No to large dams: MWSS water security roadmap may cause more insecurity-WPN

September 26, 2018

The recent onslaught of Super Typhoon Ompong triggered the release of waters from big Luzon dams and caused flooding in low-lying areas. Water rights group Water for the People Network (WPN) said that because of this and other harmful effects on communities and livelihoods, the government should shift away from building large dams to more […]

Rate hike for Maynilad customers approved: Looming increase in water rates to burden consumers more

September 14, 2018

Amid soaring prices, the MWSS Board of Trustees has given the nod to higher water rates for Maynilad Water Systems Inc. This and impending Manila Water Company, Inc. rate increases are bound to burden consumers anew, said water rights group Water for the People Network (WPN). WPN urged the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System-Regulatory Office […]

295,000 jobs lost since Duterte assumed office, IBON maintains

September 13, 2018

Research group IBON stood by its estimates that close to 300,000 jobs were lost since the start of the Duterte administration, that has been downplaying the fact. The group stressed this after Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) honorary chair Sergio Ortiz-Luis said that IBON’s description of jobs lost is “deceiving”. Ortiz-Luis reportedly said that […]

Jobs crisis getting worse under Duterte gov’t – IBON

September 10, 2018

Research group IBON said that the jobs crisis in the country is getting more severe under the Duterte administration. The group said that the government should be more forthright and admit growing economic insecurity from inflation and joblessness rather than keep trying to downplay this. Millions of Filipinos are jobless, including those excluded from official […]

Government losing control of economy –IBON

September 5, 2018

  The Duterte administration is losing control over the Philippine economy and the poorest Filipinos are suffering for this, research group IBON said upon the release of the August inflation rate. The greatly accelerating inflation is only the latest in a series of bad economic news about the economy’s so-called fundamentals. The Philippine Statistics Authority […]