#BeyondElections2016

IBON congratulates prospective DSWD head Dr. Judy Taguiwalo

May 31, 2016

Research group IBON congratulates Dr. Judy M. Taguiwalo, Chairperson of IBON’s Board of Trustees, on being chosen by president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to head the incoming administration’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The group expressed optimism that she will be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments and, along with other progressives in the new […]

Socioeconomic reforms from Duterte offer of cabinet positions to progressives?

May 17, 2016

Research group IBON said that incoming president Rodrigo Duterte’s offer of government posts to the Philippine Left creates the possibility of implementing non-neoliberal socioeconomic policies. While these will not yet be comprehensive reforms, they could still cause meaningful initial cracks in the country’s pro-elite and neoliberal economic policies. Presumptive president Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte […]

On strengthening public education system: Review K-to-12, educators challenge Duterte

May 16, 2016

Upon the presentation of the presumptive administration’s education thrust in its eight-point economic agenda, Filipino educators network Educators Forum for Development (EfD) challenged president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to effectively strengthen the public education system by calling for a review of the K-to-12 program and pushing for a nationalist, scientific and mass-oriented curriculum. The incoming administration’s education […]

Duterte’s 8-point economic agenda business as usual

May 14, 2016

The 8-point economic agenda of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte is an elitist neoliberal agenda, research group IBON said. It is good for big business at the expense of the majority of Filipinos and long-term national development. Its “business as usual” belies the clamor for change and, in repeating Aquino-era policies that drove this clamor for […]

Dutertenomics off to bad start, says group

May 12, 2016

Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte’s initial choices for his economic team shows him treading the same Aquino administration path of elitist economics, research group IBON said. It added that Duterte’s early pronouncement on Charter change also strongly indicates continuity with the neoliberal economic policies that have kept Filipinos poor and the economy underdeveloped. The presidential frontrunner’s […]

NYTimes Photo

On imminent win: Duterte challenged to take first real steps as pro-people President

May 10, 2016

Research group IBON said that, if elected, 2016 national elections frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte would have risen to the presidency on a surge of frustration with traditional politics and chronic economic backwardness. The clamor for change deserves economic policies biased for the poor and the national economy and that break from the failed […]

Which candidate will strengthen the public school system?

May 6, 2016

Filipino families grapple with the increasing cost of education. Only 50% of Senior High-ready schools are public. Yet government keeps spending public funds for private gain: Php12.2 billion – Senior High School (SHS) Voucher Program budget for 2016; Php47.9 billion – Government Assistance for Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) from 2010-2016; Php500 million-Php1 […]

Automated Polls: Privatized elections, foreign-controlled democracy (Part 2)

May 2, 2016

Second of Two Parts By Arnold Padilla   Why Smartmatic prevails Why Smartmatic keeps on winning Comelec contracts boggles the mind especially considering the numerous and major malfunctions by the machines and services that Smartmatic provided in the past two elections. To illustrate, while the AES law mandates a 99.995% accuracy rate, Smartmatic’s PCOS machines […]