Duterte administration
Four reasons why RCEP will be detrimental to Filipino farmers
May 16, 2017
The fight of Filipino peasants such as the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Foods Corporation for land, food, and justice, stands to be further undermined once the Philippine government fully accedes to the China-backed mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). While the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was seemingly put […]
RCEP is Undemocratic and Anti-Development
May 11, 2017
IBON Foundation Statement for the Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Trade Negotiating Committee (TNC)18th Round of Negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Manila, May 10, 2017 Our countries should not be prevented from implementing real development policies. After over three decades of globalization we need to reclaim our economic sovereignty, not erode this even […]
Reject moves to further weaken investment regulation at RCEP talks – IBON
May 10, 2017
Research group IBON urged Philippine negotiators to reject proposals that may further restrict the policy options of the country in regulating foreign trade and investment. IBON made the appeal as it joined other cause-oriented groups in a dialogue today with trade officials from the Philippines and other countries that are negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic […]
Pro-rich, anti-poor tax program passes through House committee –IBON
May 5, 2017
As the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN) which contains the first part of the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposed Tax Reform Package advances in Congress, research group IBON reiterated that this legislative proposal remains biased for the rich and burdens the poor. With the majority approval of the House of Representatives committee […]
Infographic: Poor quality work persists in the Philippines
May 1, 2017
“IBON re-estimates of labor force survey figures amount to over four million unemployed Filipinos with an unemployment rate of over 9% and the officially reported 7.5 million underemployed with an underemployment rate of 18.3% in 2016. This indicates that there are still a considerable 11.5 million who are without work or still looking for […]
Earth Day 2017 | Four towns and an Apple: Mining and environmental plunder
April 22, 2017
By Glenis Balangue A day before Earth Day, technology giant Apple made a bold claim. Blamed time and again for its role in sustaining the highly destructive mining industry, Apple said it plans to stop using minerals and metals for its famed iPhones and Macs. In its 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report, Apple said that to […]
DO 174 no solution to contractualization–IBON
April 21, 2017
As the debate on contractualization continues towards Labor Day, research group IBON stated that the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE)’s Department Order (DO) 174 is only an affirmation of the anti-worker practice of contractualization. Despite workers’ demand and President Duterte’s marching order to end all forms of contractualization, the DOLE’s promotion of the “win-win solution” […]
‘Dutertenomics’: golden age of oligarchic and foreign interests in infrastructure?
April 20, 2017
“Build, build, build” is said to be the foundation of the Duterte administration’s development plan, which his economic managers are packaging as “Dutertenomics”. The plan is supposed to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure”. But despite the attempt at branding, Dutertenomics is neither new nor unique. Its cornerstone of massive infrastructure development is still […]
Rethink RCEP, liberalization, ASEAN told
April 20, 2017
Research group IBON today asked the Philippine government and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) to rethink plans of further deepening economic liberalization. This has only caused unprecedented production decline, poverty and joblessness while undermining national sovereignty, development planning, and public welfare and interest in the country and region. IBON […]
