News

Duterte admin’s econ direction troubling, but peace talks may stir change?

January 18, 2017

While the unorthodox Pres. Rodrigo Duterte gained popular support due to its pro-poor pronouncements and promise of change, research group IBON said that the neoliberal economic agenda prevails as  Duterte’s economic managers and other dominant groups push big business-biased/free market-oriented policies over people-centered reforms. Nevertheless, IBON also said that the ongoing peace negotiations between the […]

Fuel excise tax more burden than boon for poor — IBON

January 9, 2017

  Research group IBON said that the fuel excise tax being pushed by President Duterte’s economic managers will increase taxes on already burdened poor and low income wage earners. The group said that the Duterte administration should redesign the tax system to tax the richest who have the huge ability to pay more and relieve […]

Institutionalize free public higher education – IBON

December 22, 2016

Though the additional funds for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) are welcome, research group IBON said, free tuition for higher education needs to be institutionalized as a right of all Filipinos rather than discretionary depending on the perceived availability of funds. If made into law, more funds will be mandatorily earmarked to ensure that all […]

Jobs crisis prevails despite lower unemployment rate — IBON

December 20, 2016

  Though claiming lowest joblessness in the past decade, research group IBON said that government’s latest unemployment figures fail to show the real extent of the jobs crisis in the country. Underemployment and poor quality of work still prevail, said the group. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently released the October 2016 results of the […]

Protect PH econony, drop Cha-cha, lawmakers told

December 14, 2016

Protect PH economy, drop Cha-cha, lawmakers told   As the Duterte administration embarks on amending the highest law of the land, research group IBON called on legislators and government officials to stop moves to change the economic provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Not allowing Charter Change (Cha-cha) in this aspect can be a concrete […]

Use funds to hasten Yolanda rehab, Duterte gov’t urged

November 29, 2016

Research group IBON echoed the call for government to expedite Yolanda rehabilitation as the typhoon survivors trooped to Manila to air their grievances. Government should make use of the billions of pesos in relief funds and resources to help millions of survivors who have for three years now been struggling to recover their homes and […]

​EV agri neglected despite billions in Yolanda funds

November 28, 2016

As disaster survivors from Eastern Visayas converge in Manila to bare  mounting poverty, hunger and injustice in the region, research group IBON said that the region’s agriculture and fisheries sector  are slow to recover despite billions in available Yolanda funds. The group noted that while a significant number of people in Eastern Visayas depend on […]

64% of Filipinos had trouble paying for electricity—IBON Survey

November 21, 2016

​IBON’s latest survey showed that many Filipinos had trouble meeting expenses on electricity and water in the recent months. Asked how their family met expenses on electricity and water in the past three months, six of ten said they had trouble meeting electricity expenses while many said they had trouble meeting water expenses. Sixty-four percent […]

IBON promotes “Economics for Filipinos” with National Book Awardee

November 20, 2016

During National Book Week, research group IBON is set to launch its 2017 “Economics for Filipinos” planner with recently-proclaimed National Book Awardee Manix Abrera. Themed “Promoting Pro-people Economics for Filipinos”, the 2017 IBON planner was illustrated by the  celebrated Philippine Daily Inquirer cartoon strip “Kiko Machine” artist and author. His recent work “News Hardcore!” earned […]