Gov’t growth hype hides worsening situation of ordinary Filipinos — IBON

November 23, 2022

The finance secretary’s recent trumpeting of rapid growth is hype, and in reality the economy and the conditions of ordinary Filipinos have barely even returned to pre-pandemic levels.

New taxes to pay for Duterte indulgences, not for COVID response—IBON

May 26, 2022

The DOF’s proposed new taxes for the incoming administration are for paying off the Duterte government’s relentless borrowing for its infrastructure and debt servicing fetish, not for much-needed COVID-19 response.

Statement on government’s COVID-19 stimulus measures

May 30, 2020

STATEMENT

Fiscal decisions are critical especially in times of crisis – when the need is greatest for the State to commit to its obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the social and economic rights of the people.

Gov’t Php1.5T COVID-19 response strategy bloated, misleading

April 23, 2020

NEWS

The Duterte administration continues to be misleading about its COVID-19 response strategy. A closer look shows that the government is not actually spending as much as it claims.

There’s funding to respond to COVID-19 – the problem is at the top

April 9, 2020

POLICY NOTE

The government can find the funding for COVID-19 response measures needed – on a scale many times over its Php275 billion program – if it genuinely wants to.

Stubbornly high inflation increases risk of econ slowdown, unmanageable debt–IBON

November 6, 2018

Research group IBON said that the apparently uncontrollable inflation is fast becoming a flashpoint of the administration’s economic mismanagement. High inflation is combining with rising interest rates, slowing remittances and failing exports to dampen economic growth. The administration is desperate for a short-term infrastructure stimulus to compensate for these, said the group, but a major growth slowdown […]

Bolder measures beyond suspension of fuel excise needed—IBON

October 16, 2018

The Duterte administration’s announcement that it will suspend the next round of fuel excise taxes will not lower current high prices and at best only lessens TRAIN’s inflationary impact next year, research group IBON said. It is however a welcome admission of the inflationary impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, […]

Inflation worsening: Gov’t should act fast as households’ incomes hemorrhage

October 5, 2018

Research group IBON said that inflation has not tapered off as government projected but has accelerated in September, highlighting government’s continued neglect in addressing rapidly rising prices of goods and services. The group said that government continues to push failed neoliberal measures, while feigning concern for Filipino families struggling with a quickly falling purchasing power. […]

Dubai crude trigger price to suspend TRAIN oil taxes already reached, IBON observed

October 4, 2018

The government is already obliged to start considering suspension of its oil excise taxes as provided for under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, said research group IBON. The group said that oil prices have in effect already reached the trigger price for suspending excise taxes as provided in Republic Act 10963 or […]