COVID-19

Marcos Jr’s first 100 days: The truth is out
October 8, 2022
The first 100 days are arguably the most crucial moment to make a break from the past – not just from the past administration but from poverty, inequality and underdevelopment. The Marcos Jr administration failed to do anything with this moment and, if anything, confirmed that it is unable to even imagine any real fundamental change.

Is it time to move on?
The resiliency myth
June 29, 2022
The Philippines recently ranked as one of the five worst places to be as the ripples of COVID-19 continue. This is contrary to the outgoing Duterte administration’s repeatedly built narrative – that it did well on the pandemic and is leaving behind an economy that is on a quick rebound.

Only among the rich
May 27, 2022

Global COVID-19 Vaccine Inequality
May 27, 2022

The scourge of price hikes
April 16, 2022
Prices keep rising, cash subsidies are limited, and real wages keep falling. The situation will not get better if the government does not acknowledge that the rampant jobs crisis and worsening poverty are huge problems that require big solutions.

Chronically ailing PH public health system under Duterte
April 7, 2022
FEATURES
Duterte has not taken significant measures that will strengthen the public health system and make health services accessible and equitable to the Filipino people.

Gov’t, not pandemic, caused record deficits and debt – IBON
March 5, 2022
Had the Php5.3 trillion gross borrowings in 2020 and 2021 been spent on ayuda and producer subsidies, and less on infrastructure and debt servicing, economic rebound would have been bigger, revenues would have recovered faster, and there would have been less need for borrowing.

Record debt not due to COVID-19 response
March 5, 2022
The Duterte administration did not change its priorities despite urgent pandemic needs and, if anything, only used COVID-19 response to cover up massive borrowings for continued debt servicing and infrastructure.

BBB: Farce multiplier
January 19, 2022
The real question is what balance to strike between universal social protection and infrastructure. The disproportionate attention to urban-centric transport infrastructure of the Build Build Build program is clearly a problem.