News
Emergency relief and COVID-19 response more important than debt payments
April 16, 2020
NEWS
Emergency relief for millions of Filipino families during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis is more important than mindless debt servicing.
As extended lockdown begins: Gov’t response stalled, stingy despite millions of Filipinos in need
April 14, 2020
NEWS
Poor households have struggled to survive four weeks of the enhanced community quarantine and will only endure greater difficulties during the two-week extension. The Duterte administration needs to let go of its burdensome bureaucratic requirements, increase funding, and expedite getting help to all families in need.
Less than 1/3 of 18M beneficiaries reached: Gov’t should expedite socioecon response under extended lockdown
April 8, 2020
NEWS
Nearly four weeks into the government’s military lockdown and especially with the two-week extension, emergency relief measures are still too slow and too small.
Non-delivery of emergency cash transfers shows gov’t indifference, causing unrest
April 2, 2020
NEWS
Government chose not to immediately dispense cash transfers and instead even used the promise of Php200 billion in emergency subsidies to 18 million low income families to justify its sweeping emergency powers
Duterte report shows govt COVID-19 response is insufficient, insensitive
April 1, 2020
NEWS
The Duterte administration’s first official report on COVID-19 efforts failed to show clearly what the government’s plan is and even just what is being done.
Tourism package under COVID-19 response a “Php14-billion lie” — IBON
March 18, 2020
The Php14 billion allocation identified by government’s economic managers is actually part of TIZA funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects
Recycled Php27.1 B COVID-19 response package betrays govt complacency
March 18, 2020
NEWS
The Duterte administration’s Php27.1 billion package of so-called priority actions exposes its complacency in dealing with the pandemic and the disruption to people’s livelihoods. This is just another result of the government’s overly militarist mindset where forceful action is crudely seen as decisive action. The spread of COVID-19 needs much more government resources and a much more holistic approach.
3 of 5 workers in Luzon will likely lose wages, earnings due to Luzon lockdown
March 18, 2020
NEWS
Potentially 14.4 million non-regular workers and informal earners, or three-out-of five employed persons in Luzon, are most at risk of lost wages and earnings due to the Luzon-wide lockdown. Government should take necessary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, but these should be particularly sensitive to the plight of low income workers and their families.
Luzon lockdown threatens livelihoods of 11M workers, informal sector earners
March 17, 2020
NEWS
The Duterte administration’s declaration of an enhanced community quarantine over the whole of Luzon threatens to displace nearly 11 million workers and informal sector earners. While government is correct to take all necessary measures to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus, it is failing to do this in a way that protects the poorest and most vulnerable Filipinos.
