How the IMF and World Bank remade the Philippine economy

After more than six decades of IMF-World Bank intervention, the question remains—who decides the country’s economic future?

News

Stop power privatization, democratize the power sector—IBON

October 17, 2026

HOR’s 2027 GAB worsens already flawed NEP—IBON

October 13, 2026

Filipinos already squeezed by less jobs and high prices will be even worse off as Super El Niño hits—IBON

October 7, 2026

Three-year-high inflation rate for bottom 30%: BBM’s inaction hits poorest hardest—IBON

October 7, 2026

IBON Statement on the ASEAN Energy Business Forum

October 6, 2026

Energy advocates press for nationalized power system as ASEAN energy investors gather

October 6, 2026

Deregulation exposes Filipinos to oil shocks; gov’t must reclaim control—IBON

September 25, 2026

Marcos opts for easy power relief over real electricity reform—IBON

September 17, 2026

Features

Education gets the largest share in the 2027 budget, second year in a row since the Marcos Jr administration moderated its infrastructure priorities after the flood control scandal. We hear the same familiar pitch from government officials: education is their top priority. A claim easy to make but hard to prove. Looking past the bold […]

Education takes a backseat in the 2027 budget

October 16, 2026

Ayuda and the budget appropriations for it are rarely made with the Filipinos in crisis in mind.

There Are No AICS-idental Misappropriations

October 16, 2026

One of the most enduring legacies of IMF-World Bank impositions is not the debt that remains on the books, but the colonial mentality and dependence persisting long after debts have been repaid.

The IMF and World Bank no longer need to tell us what to do

October 14, 2026

The president’s balde response to what could be the strongest El Niño in 150 years raises serious questions about the Marcos administration’s preparedness.

Super El Niño

The government’s bucket solution

October 14, 2026

The IMF-World Bank’s 82 years are a long history of destructive policies that have devastated economies and provoked resistance and outrage worldwide.

The Long Con:

Traversing the IMF-World Bank’s long trail of ruin

October 12, 2026

The ayuda system is clearly about neoliberal welfare policies, set in place only for temporary welfare to keep families subservient to patronage politics and to steer the economy toward priorities shaped by foreign interests rather than people’s needs.

‘Bakit Kami Wala, Bakit Sila Meron?’:
What Sways Ayuda?

September 22, 2026

Resources

Apat na taon ni Marcos Jr: Ang Hindi Maikubling Krisis

July 29, 2026

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Controlling the Cure

June 30, 2026

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Birdtalk Briefing Paper

2026 Yearstarter: From frustration to action

February 24, 2026

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Nagsasapawang krisis, ang kawastuhan ng galit

February 3, 2026

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Urban Stories Ch2

January 7, 2026

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IBON on budget transparency

November 17, 2025

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Infographics

Agriculture decline under Marcos Jr

Infoposts

HOR version of the 2027 budget: More pork for patronage and corruption?

Photoquotes

IBON Executive Director on the anniversary of the Philippine Senate’s rejection of the US-RP Military Bases Agreement

Topics

Philippine Economy

International Relations

People Economics

Networks

Water for the People

Water for the People

Stop TRAIN Network

Stop TRAIN Network

SUKI Network

NO to KKLD

CPDG

POWER

Green Action Philippines

Green Action Philippines

AidWatch Philippines

AidWatch Philippines

Consumers International

Consumers International

Bantay Bigas

IPED EFD

AlterMidya Network

AlterMidya Network