joblessness
Change? Not three decades after EDSA, not under PDP–IBON
February 26, 2017
The Philippines remains backward and underdeveloped with severe inequality 31 years after the so-called EDSA revolution, research group IBON said. The Duterte administration’s new Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 will not change this, said the group, in continuing the failed neoliberal policies of the Marcos regime and all subsequent administrations. EDSA 1986 was a repudiation of […]
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 […]
Jobs crisis prevails despite lower unemployment rate — IBON
December 20, 2016
Though claiming lowest joblessness in the past decade, research group IBON said that government’s latest unemployment figures fail to show the real extent of the jobs crisis in the country. Underemployment and poor quality of work still prevail, said the group. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) recently released the October 2016 results of the […]
Under Marcos dictatorship unemployment worsened, prices soared, poverty persisted
November 25, 2016
“The decade 1975-1986 was actually a time of intense social crisis and economic difficulty for most Filipinos. The unemployment rate was falling in the early years of the Marcos regime – from 7.1% in 1966 to 3.9% in 1975. But this reversed in the mid-1970s to rapidly rise back to 7.9% in 1980. The […]
2015 poverty results no reason for complacency–IBON
October 27, 2016
While welcoming the reported decrease in official poverty incidence, research group IBON said that the multi-billion peso conditional cash transfer (CCT)-driven result is no reason for complacency. The official figure hopefully reflects improved welfare among tens of millions of the poorest Filipinos, IBON said, but the signs of structural poverty from economic backwardness remain. The […]
On the Duterte administration’s economic direction in its first 100 days: Neoliberal economics continues, but nationalist change still possible
October 5, 2016
There is still much to be done for the Duterte administration to overcome the Philippine government’s stubborn adherence to old and discredited anti-Filipino neoliberalism. This overrides and is inconsistent with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s otherwise pro-poor and pro-Filipino pronouncements. This is also notwithstanding the welcome appointment of activists and progressives to important cabinet and other positions […]
Tens of millions of Filipinos can benefit from peace talks resumption–IBON
August 24, 2016
Research group IBON said that the resumption of peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) is a tentative step forward for socioeconomic development. After this first round, the talks will take up social and economic reforms to address the underdevelopment plaguing the nation and that is at the […]
Boost job generation by developing Filipino agri, industry–IBON
July 20, 2016
The basic economic issues confronting the new Duterte administration will take center stage in the peace negotiations as the next substantive agenda on the Comprehensive Agreement for Social and Economic Reforms. IBON joins the public in aspiring for the soonest resumption of the peace negotiations between the government and the National Democratic Front and the Moro […]
Amid growth: PH unemployment still worst in Asia–IBON
May 23, 2016
Research group IBON warned against overestimating the reported high election-boosted economic growth as a sign of economic success. Economic growth is important but should not be used to divert public attention from fundamental problems of chronic joblessness and poverty, the group said. The Philippine economy’s reported 6.9% growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the […]
