New taxes to pay for Duterte indulgences, not for COVID response—IBON

May 26, 2022

The DOF’s proposed new taxes for the incoming administration are for paying off the Duterte government’s relentless borrowing for its infrastructure and debt servicing fetish, not for much-needed COVID-19 response.

Record debt not due to COVID-19 response

March 5, 2022

The Duterte administration did not change its priorities despite urgent pandemic needs and, if anything, only used COVID-19 response to cover up massive borrowings for continued debt servicing and infrastructure.

IBON Executive Director on January 2022 NG outstanding debt

March 4, 2022

Yearstarter: Seeking better normal in 2022

January 14, 2022

The administration that is exiting and the new one entering can take a more rational and humane approach to recovering and reforming the economy.

Big budget for infra agencies, low disbursement under Duterte

October 3, 2021

The Duterte administration budgets so much for infrastructure but isn’t even able to spend all of it. The proposed 2022 infrastructure budget is even bigger — shouldn’t more of the allocation be used for health, ayuda and small business support instead?

Inessential infra isn’t more important than health, ayuda

September 16, 2021

What Build Build Build has delivered

July 25, 2021

Nearing the end of the Duterte administration’s term, we don’t seem to be anywhere near the fulfilment of its big infrastructure dream. Build Build Build is supposed to be the centerpiece of what could be a Duterte legacy, but the program’s performance is far from defining a grand exit for the administration.

Record debt under Duterte administration

December 21, 2020

Each Filipino in effect owes Php92,190 and each Filipino family owes Php405,636. The average Filipino family owes as much as it earns in 18 months or over one-and-a-half years.

Transport budget for infra but none for affected jeepney drivers

October 15, 2020

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The government should prioritize subsidizing small jeepney drivers and operators and at least postpone costly infrastructure projects that are less urgent because of the pandemic.