News

First peace talks in the world to tackle comprehensive social and economic reforms deserves public’s full support

October 5, 2016

Peace deal will have widespread public support because it will benefit the majority of Filipinos On the eve of the start of the second round of peace negotiations between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), research group IBON said that the comprehensive reforms the talks will take up are the key […]

Tax the richest to provide much-needed social services, Duterte gov’t urged

September 27, 2016

Research group IBON remarked that the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposed tax plan essentially remains elitist and is inconsistent with President Duterte’s pro-poor stance. Following the president’s lead, government should be brave enough to tax the richest businesses and families instead of burdening the poor with new taxes. The DOF on Monday submitted to Congress […]

P125 wage hike increase necessary, possible and good for economy–IBON

September 20, 2016

Research group IBON said that the P125 across-the-board wage hike proposed by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is necessary, possible and good for the economy. The group further said that the prices of goods and services do not have to rise and workers do not have to be laid off if employers accept […]

World Bank tax help unwelcome

September 20, 2016

Research group IBON said that the World Bank’s recent offer to assist the Department of Finance (DOF) with its tax reform plan, although not surprising, is unwelcome news. The World Bank with twin global financial pillar International Monetary Fund (IMF) has long been at the forefront of designing the Philippines’ regressive tax system, including providing […]

IBON joins groups in industrialization call

September 18, 2016

Research group IBON said that national industrialization is the way to go in order for the Filipino majority to prosper. It should be made the government’s primary economic strategy, the group said. IBON co-sponsored last Wednesday a forum titled “The Change We Need” with top earner Steel Asia, science and technology network AGHAM, AGHAM Youth and […]

Heed Cuba lessons, boost public health care, DOH urged

September 9, 2016

  Research group IBON said that Filipinos will benefit if the government adopts Cuba’s model of a state-run health care system. The group stressed that people’s access to this social service is becoming more limited by Philippine health services being increasingly run by the private sector for profit. Department of Health (DOH) officials recently toured […]

Lumad evacuees’ return home signals rebuilding of alternative schools

September 7, 2016

  The ​Educators’ Forum for Development (EfD), a network of 100 schools nationwide advocating transformative education, commended the more than 2,000 Lumad evacuees on the reclaiming of their homes and ancestral land in Bgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. The group said that this also signifies initial steps towards the rebuilding of Lumad alternative schools and […]

DOF tax reforms relieve rich while burdening poor–IBON

September 5, 2016

Research group IBON said that the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposed tax reform program relieves the rich and burdens the poor. The group said that this will worsen inequality in the country and should be replaced by a tax program that taxes the rich instead and is backed with the required political will. The DOF […]

Tens of millions of Filipinos can benefit from peace talks resumption–IBON

August 24, 2016

Research group IBON said that the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is a tentative step forward for socioeconomic development. After this first round, the talks will take up social and economic reforms to address the underdevelopment plaguing the nation and that is at the […]