Duterte administration

Pension hike welcome, but entire pension system reform needed–IBON

January 23, 2017

  Though welcoming the recent House of Representatives’ (HOR) passage of the Php 2,000 pension hike, research group IBON expressed concern over another simultaneously approved bill that allows the Social Security System (SSS) to raise member contributions without presidential approval. The group said that the Duterte administration should instead address SSS inefficiencies and work towards […]

Land reform, starting point of rural development

January 20, 2017

“Agricultural development should first focus on real land reform. This ensures that subsequent farm support will increase rural incomes and improve the livelihoods of the majority poor peasantry, expand the domestic market, and create a surplus for reinvestment in national industry. These are also the conditions for greater linkages between agriculture and industry, including the […]

Duterte admin’s econ direction troubling, but peace talks may stir change?

January 18, 2017

While the unorthodox Pres. Rodrigo Duterte gained popular support due to its pro-poor pronouncements and promise of change, research group IBON said that the neoliberal economic agenda prevails as  Duterte’s economic managers and other dominant groups push big business-biased/free market-oriented policies over people-centered reforms. Nevertheless, IBON also said that the ongoing peace negotiations between the […]

“Change Underway?” IBON 2016 Yearend Birdtalk Paper (Introduction)

January 16, 2017

  Pres. Rodrigo Duterte brashly entered the national political scene on the back of widespread public dissatisfaction and with vivid promises of change. The new pro-poor administration would be different and overturn the domination of the traditional powers that keep the country poor and underdeveloped: oligarchs, corrupt politicians, drug lords and organized crime, and even […]

Create jobs by building national industry

January 13, 2017

The country’s worsening jobs crisis sees more and more Filipinos in poor quality work. Six of 10 are either non-regular and agency-hired workers, in private households, self-employed, own-account workers, or in unpaid family work. Quality jobs bring peace. Create jobs by building national industry. Base peace on people-centered development.

Fuel excise tax more burden than boon for poor — IBON

January 9, 2017

  Research group IBON said that the fuel excise tax being pushed by President Duterte’s economic managers will increase taxes on already burdened poor and low income wage earners. The group said that the Duterte administration should redesign the tax system to tax the richest who have the huge ability to pay more and relieve […]

These issues and more at the IBON 2016 Yearend Birdtalk

January 2, 2017

Join us on January 13, 2017 1-5m for a discussion on these issues and more at the IBON Yearend 2016 Birdtalk! #WeLearnChange #EconomicsForFilipinos. – https://www.facebook.com/IbonFoundation/videos/10157987318205162/

Change Underway?–The IBON 2016 Yearend Birdtalk

December 31, 2016

  The overwhelming win of an unorthodox Presidential candidate in the May 2016 elections promised several windows for reforms. For a country stricken with poverty and a worsening jobs crisis, beyond a coarse-mannered figurehead, prospects that this new leadership could jumpstart measures to improve the lives of the poor majority of Filipinos were introduced. In […]

Institutionalize free public higher education – IBON

December 22, 2016

Though the additional funds for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) are welcome, research group IBON said, free tuition for higher education needs to be institutionalized as a right of all Filipinos rather than discretionary depending on the perceived availability of funds. If made into law, more funds will be mandatorily earmarked to ensure that all […]