News
Water rate hike hit; group says increase unjustified, insensitive
January 17, 2011
The new rates mean that households using at least 30 cu. m will see their monthly water bill increase by at least P57.60 to P69 starting in February. The Water for the People Network (WPN) condemns the rate hikes implemented by private water concessionaires in Metro Manila, calling the increases unjustified and insensitive to the […]
New poverty methodology reduces number of poor by 5.3 million
January 11, 2011
Philippine poverty line now pegged at PhP46 per person per day Research group IBON questions the new methodology of the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), saying that it significantly reduces the number of poor Filipinos by some 5.3 million. The approved revisions reflected in the NSCB’s methodology for estimating poverty places the number of poor […]
With 4.16 million jobless, high unemployment still cause for concern for Aquino gov’t
November 29, 2010
The stubbornness of high unemployment and underemployment despite reported third quarter economic growth affirms that joblessness is a serious cause for concern Government’s latest labor force survey pegs unemployment at 2.80 million in October 2010, slightly higher than the 2.72 million reported in the same period last year. However these data could place the number […]
Filipinos to shoulder Php44 billion in CCT loan repayment
November 28, 2010
The increased indebtedness that the CCT program will impose on Filipino taxpayers is further argument against the supposed benefits of the program. Research group IBON calls on lawmakers deliberating on the budget for the controversial Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program to look into the resulting additional debt burden that Filipinos will shoulder to repay the […]
3rd Q GDP sharpest drop since 1997 : Economic growth notably slowing amid increasingly poor quality work
November 26, 2010
Once again, the 3rd quarter results affirm why the country cannot and should not rely on external sources of growth. The reported 6.5% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the 3rd quarter of 2010 is welcome for still being ositive but is nonetheless worrying for being the sharpest turnaround in quarterly growth since the […]
Think-tank challenges RP gov’t to denounce Seoul’s deportation of Filipino delegates
October 28, 2010
IBON research head latest Filipino denied entry to Korea Independent think-tank IBON Foundation expressed disappointment over the lack of action of the Philippine government after the Seoul government blacklisted and deported seven members of Filipino civil society groups in South Korea. Malacañang has issued a statement saying it respects the decision of the South Korean […]
Vague, huge lump-sum funds in 2011 budget go against gov’t thrust of transparency
October 28, 2010
These huge lump-sum items should be completely justified with their purposes, programs and project specified. With the 2011 national government budget approved by the House of Representatives in its third reading, research group IBON expressed concern over the PhP245-billion in vague lump-sum funds, or some 15% of the total budget. These funds, composed of big […]
Think-tank challenges RP gov’t to denounce Seoul’s deportation of Filipino delegates
October 27, 2010
IBON research head latest Filipino denied entry to Korea Independent think-tank IBON Foundation expressed disappointment over the lack of action of the Philippine government after the Seoul government blacklisted and deported seven members of Filipino civil society groups in South Korea. Malacañang has issued a statement saying it respects the decision of the South Korean […]
Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) and the Persistence of Poverty
October 25, 2010
The development outcomes of the greatly expanded CCT program are uncertain at best. [wpdm_package id=3851 template=”link-template-nopopup”] The development outcomes of the greatly expanded CCT program are uncertain at best. But its retrogressive character is most of all defined by its defense of neoliberal macroeconomic policies. The larger ‘social protection’ budget is going to be used […]
