News

TRAIN worsens burden of inflation on poor – IBON

June 7, 2018

Almost 18 million Filipino families are already hard-pressed to survive on incomes below the family living wage of Php30,000 per month estimated by IBON Research group IBON said that higher prices as reflected in the accelerating May 2018 inflation bears heavily on the poor, and that the recently passed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion […]

Stop over-relying on foreign investments, government told

June 4, 2018

Soon after the enactment of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, research group IBON said that the Duterte government should not depend on foreign investments for economic progress and job generation. For expediency, the Ease of Doing Business Act or Republic Act (RA) 11032 simplifies the application process for the […]

Php750 minimum wage possible, non-inflationary and good for the economy–​IBON​

June 3, 2018

Contrary to government and big employers’ claims, research group IBON said that raising minimum wages nationwide to Php750 is doable, need not spike prices further, and will benefit millions of Filipino workers and the economy. The group cited the following reasons: Raising minimum wages nationwide to Php750 is doable if owners of establishments allow a […]

Wage hike urgent, and should be substantial, gov’t told

May 31, 2018

Research group IBON said that the government’s recently announced plan to respond to labor’s clamor for an increase in the minimum wage is welcome. IBON underscored that this move is urgent amid rising prices, and added that the hike should be meaningful enough to keep up with accelerating inflation and worsening poverty, said the group. […]

One-fourth of increase: TRAIN aggravates oil price hikes–IBON

May 24, 2018

Government is wrong in downplaying the contribution of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law on recent big-time oil price hikes, research group IBON said. The price of fuel products combined with the TRAIN increased since year-end 2017 to Php10.20 per liter for diesel, Php11.41 for kerosene, and Php15.14 for gasoline this week. […]

Poor-quality work increased amid economic growth–IBON

May 16, 2018

First quarter economic growth this year did not translate to better jobs for Filipinos, research group IBON said. This means that despite government claims that the groundwork for reforms has been laid, growth has remained essentially exclusionary, generating jobs that are insecure and low-paying, said the group. Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia recently announced the […]

TRAIN-induced price increases are permanent—IBON

May 10, 2018

The inflation spike marks the start of increases​ driven by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN)​ in the prices of basic goods and services for the next three years, research group IBON said. Further inflationary surges are likely to happen in 2019 and 2020 when the next two rounds of additional taxes on […]

Over a million more underemployed, part-time workers under Duterte

May 1, 2018

The number of Filipino workers relegated to insecure and low-paying jobs have grown under the Duterte administration, said research group IBON. Latest official labor force data shows a higher number of employed under Pres. Duterte. The number of employed increased to 41.8 million in January 2018 from 39.3 million in the same period last year, […]

Working Filipino’s real wage, purchasing power weakening under Duterte

April 25, 2018

Research group IBON said that accelerating inflation is rapidly eroding the real wage and purchasing power of minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR). Real wages show the actual value of wages after these are adjusted for inflation. After almost two years in power, the Duterte administration has only raised the minimum wage […]