Political, economic, and cultural control under charter change

April 12, 2023

Proponents in Congress and their private sector cohorts are preoccupied with pushing for charter change. But this will be to the detriment of the Philippines and its people – politically, economically, and culturally.

On changing the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution: More foreign investment does not mean more development

January 26, 2023

As the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments considers proposed amendments, IBON raises five major points on why economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution should be retained.

Duterte giving public utilities to foreign capital

February 3, 2022

Congress recently ratified the bicameral version of the bill amending the Public Service Act and opening up domestic sectors to 100% ownership by foreign capital. This includes telecommunications, shipping, airports, airlines, railways, subways, expressways and tollways. Passing this proposed law will be one-step-forwards-two-steps-backwards for the country.

IBON Research Head on Charter Change

February 5, 2021

Economic cha-cha is no vaccine for recovery or development

January 13, 2021

The economy’s development lies in using the protections in the Constitution to gain from foreign investment, not in taking away the protections and giving self-interested foreign investment free rein over the domestic economy.

Charter change compromises Philippine economy

January 12, 2021

Pursuing economic Cha-cha in the middle of a public health crisis and unprecedented economic decline smacks of putting vested interests first over squarely addressing the urgent need to create and save jobs, incomes and small businesses.

Opening Statement for the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments on the Proposed Amendments to the 1987 Constitution

February 13, 2020

The current global context of growing protectionism, a turnaround from investment liberalization, and eroding multilateralism make relaxing foreign equity restrictions even more inappropriate

Neoliberal amendments loom

May 23, 2019

#MalalangEkonomiya #MayMagagawa #PeopleEconomics #BeyondElections2019

Group challenges Senate: Stop Charter change

May 19, 2019

Research group IBON is challenging the succeeding Senate to prove its independence by rejecting the proposal to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution or Charter change (Cha-cha). Lawmakers should keep in mind the dangers that Cha-cha poses on Philippine economic sovereignty, said the group, and not be swayed into passing other laws that fulfill the consistent […]