The expensive and harmful ‘Build Better More’

June 2, 2023

The Philippine government has a repetitive narrative when it comes to infrastructure – that it will “revitalize the economy” and “create more jobs” or that the government is “Building more for better lives” — claims so-repeated that they seem like obvious benefits. But history shows that this is not always the case.

China ‘aid’ spikes under Duterte (updated)

March 28, 2019

China a growing but still minor ODA partner of the Philippines

November 28, 2018

Duterte’s infrastructure miracle: Resurrecting a damned project

November 20, 2018

By Jose Lorenzo Lim Through China ODA, the Duterte administration revives a project halted by the historical struggle of the Cordillera people against destructive infrastructure The Chico River Basin Dam Project was an infamous World Bank-funded hydroelectric project under the Marcos Era. Local opposition to the project was strong. The famed Macli-ing Dulag, tribal chieftain […]