The expensive and harmful ‘Build Better More’

June 2, 2023

The Philippine government has a repetitive narrative when it comes to infrastructure – that it will “revitalize the economy” and “create more jobs” or that the government is “Building more for better lives” — claims so-repeated that they seem like obvious benefits. But history shows that this is not always the case.

Foreign investment hasn’t done much to develop the Philippine economy

March 6, 2023

Foreign investment can play a role in development but, clearly, not under the free market-oriented policy framework the government has been insisting on since the Marcos dictatorship.

Charter change compromises Philippine economy

January 12, 2021

Pursuing economic Cha-cha in the middle of a public health crisis and unprecedented economic decline smacks of putting vested interests first over squarely addressing the urgent need to create and save jobs, incomes and small businesses.

IBON Executive Director on the CREATE Bill and FDI

May 28, 2020

Stop over-relying on foreign investments, government told

June 4, 2018

Soon after the enactment of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act, research group IBON said that the Duterte government should not depend on foreign investments for economic progress and job generation. For expediency, the Ease of Doing Business Act or Republic Act (RA) 11032 simplifies the application process for the […]

Econ Cha-cha will lead to further PH socioeconomic decline

January 17, 2018

With the recent majority vote in favor of a constituent assembly (con-ass) by the House of Representatives (HOR), research group IBON warned that one of the primary reasons behind the push for Charter change (Cha-cha) is the lifting of foreign ownership caps​. This will lead to the further stunting of the Philippine economy​, said the group, […]

Federalism Cha-cha weakens nationalist provisions–IBON

August 16, 2017

Research group IBON criticized the weakening of nationalist provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution in the proposed federalism charter of pro-administration solons. The group said that the insertion of the phrase “unless otherwise provided by law” in portions restricting foreign participation in essential sectors threatens prospects for the Philippine economy to develop independently. Introduced by […]

Most Filipinos opposed to more foreign ownership in PH economy – IBON Survey

November 4, 2016

​Nine of 10 Filipinos do not approve of further opening up the Philippine economy to foreign ownership of  land and the exploration and development of natural resources Research group IBON’s recent survey showed that the majority of Filipinos are against further foreign ownership in the country’s economy. Asked if they favored the proposal to further […]

There is room for pro-people economics but 10-pt agenda concerning–IBON

July 16, 2016

“While there are sunny prospects, the 10-point agenda of neoliberal policies hangs over like a dark cloud,” said research group IBON’s executive director Sonny Africa yesterday at its political and economic briefing. In its 2016 Midyear Birdtalk held at the University of the Philippines, IBON welcomed the Duterte administration’s opening of opportunities for pro-people measures […]