Duterte administration
2018 Midyear Birdtalk: Illusory Growth, Emergent Authoritarianism
August 12, 2018
Download here Two years into the Duterte administration, the Philippine economy’s gains are illusory and the political situation is on the brink of accelerated decline. The economy is on borrowed time. There is a limit to how long the government’s infrastructure spending frenzy and hype about sound fundamentals can disguise the problems. Agricultural and industrial […]
Crisis of PH agriculture drives high inflation and economic slowdown
August 10, 2018
Research group IBON said that the recently released second quarter 2018 growth figures confirm the fundamental reason for rising food prices: underdeveloped agriculture from government neglect. While the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law is the most proximate driver of inflation within the Duterte administration’s control, the agricultural sector’s underdevelopment is the long-term […]
Projected rice tariffication revenues may not be enough support for farmers
August 10, 2018
Research group IBON doubted that projected revenues from imposing tariffs on unlimited rice imports instead of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on the staple would be enough to support farmers’ production. The group stressed this amid worrisome agriculture decline and increasing food prices, which the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) yesterday used to justify proposals for […]
Poor Filipino families worst hit by rising July 2018 inflation
August 8, 2018
Research group IBON said that faster inflation largely due to rising food prices hits poor households the worst. The group also said that the Duterte administration’s proposal to increase food imports is short-sighted, and that the best defense against rising food prices and high inflation is to increase domestic food supply through long-term solutions that […]
Poorest 60M Filipinos suffer income loss due to first 6 months inflation in 2018
August 7, 2018
Lowest-income households lost as much as Php2,700 since start of 2018 Accelerating inflation since the start of the year has eroded the incomes of the country’s poorest families. Research group IBON estimates that the poorest 60 million Filipinos have suffered income losses of anywhere from Php993 to as much as Php2,715 because of worsening inflation […]
Rice tariffication to impoverish Filipino farmers more, Congress warned
August 4, 2018
Research group IBON raised concern over the current move by the House of Representatives (HOR) to lift the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports and instead apply a 35% tariff on unlimited rice importation. This will practically decrease farmgate prices, said IBON, but not necessarily lower retail rice prices as government claims. Rice prices have […]
Group refutes government’s defense of TRAIN
July 23, 2018
In a consumer forum held in anticipation of the third State of the Nation Address, research group IBON debunked the Duterte administration’s avid defense of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The group said that contrary to government’s pronouncements, the tax program is not beneficial to the poor majority of Filipinos and […]
Wage hikes need not cause higher prices — IBON
July 20, 2018
Research group IBON said that substantially raising the minimum wage of Filipino workers need not lead to price hikes, contrary to the recent claims of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia. IBON said that wage hikes should be taken from profits instead of being considered a cost of production passed on to […]
Debt-driven growth an increasing burden–IBON
July 20, 2018
Nearing the third State of the Nation address, research group IBON said that debt-driven growth under the Duterte administration is not resulting in substantial improvements in the Philippine economy. According to the group, while ballooning debt accelerated government spending and pushed the 6.8% economic growth during the past year, the agriculture and industry sectors, which […]
