Duterte administration
2017 SONA: Change is not always for the better
July 25, 2017
Sonny Africa Among Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s idiosyncrasies is preferring a vulgar stream-of-consciousness approach in his speeches. This is even for the annual state of the nation address (SONA) at the opening of Congress which is undoubtedly the government’s highest-profile policy speech of the year. The president’s choice is a matter of style but then this […]
2017 SONA dismissive of PH socioecon problems—IBON
July 25, 2017
The 2017 State of the Nation Address was dismissive of the Philippines’ serious socioeconomic problems especially joblessness, poverty and inequities, research group IBON said. The President even tended to oversimplify the economic situation to justify authoritarianism, said the group. President Duterte delivered Monday his second State of the Nation Address to the country’s senators and […]
President’s SONA can unite, but will likely divide
July 24, 2017
Sonny Africa Pres. Rodrigo Duterte started his term as a potentially powerful unifier of the nation, but he is now unfortunately its biggest source of division. Last year, he spoke of resuming peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), bringing all Moro groups together in an undivided peace process, and upholding […]
Building destruction? Foreign creditors gain more from Duterte’s infra plan
July 21, 2017
by Arnold Padilla #PeoplesSONA2017 / IBON Features — One of the anticipated highlights of President Rodrigo Duterte’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) is his grand infrastructure plan dubbed Build! Build! Build!. There are concerns that it would result in a heavy debt burden. The issue is valid. After all, the price tag of […]
On peace talks interruption: Negotiated econ reforms risk being lost–IBON
July 21, 2017
#PeoplesSONA2017 / Research group IBON said that the interruption of peace talks between the government and the NDFP also interrupts important discussions on economic reforms. The group said this in the aftermath of the announcement of Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, that the back-channel talks with the National Democratic Front of the […]
Dutertenomics: lost cause?
July 20, 2017
During the Duterte administration’s first year, there was all the hype about aiming for inclusiveness and championing the common Filipino family’s dream for a comfortable life. The President took important, some unprecedented steps including hinting nationalism, willingness to work with progressives in the cabinet and pursuit of peace negotiations. Yet the administration capitalized on bloody […]
Mga Gera ni Digong: Ang Unang Taon ng Rehimeng Duterte
July 14, 2017
Download Usapang IBON Midyar 2017 Praymer here “Tampok ang kawalan ng anumang makabuluhang pagbabago sa pangkalahatang programa at direksyon ng pambansang ekonomya sa paglalahad ng pamamahala ni Pangulong Duterte. Sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga itinalagang opisyal sa ekonomya na kabilang sa masusugid na neoliberal sa bansa at mga dating ahente ng mga imperyalistang institusyon, pinanatili at itinataguyod ni Duterte ang […]
DepEd streamlining of Grade 10 Social Studies ignores democracy, governance lessons–EFD
July 5, 2017
Transformative education advocates belonging to the Educators Forum for Development (EFD) expressed concern about the Department of Education’s (DepEd) latest Contemporary Issues curriculum revision. The measure effectively removes topics pertinent to students’ grasp of and attitude towards issues that have been afflicting Philippine society until now, the group said. The DepEd released an April 21, […]
Rehashed neoliberal policies: One year of Dutertenomics
June 28, 2017
The Philippines is in a worsening socio-economic crisis. The direction of economic policies under the Duterte administration is alarming and in urgent need of correction. The government’s economic team still uses the anti-development policy framework of past administrations which will mean greater economic distress for the majority of Filipinos. The economy’s poor performance since June […]
