Economic cha-cha is no vaccine for recovery or development

January 13, 2021

The economy’s development lies in using the protections in the Constitution to gain from foreign investment, not in taking away the protections and giving self-interested foreign investment free rein over the domestic economy.

Opening Statement for the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments on the Proposed Amendments to the 1987 Constitution

February 13, 2020

The current global context of growing protectionism, a turnaround from investment liberalization, and eroding multilateralism make relaxing foreign equity restrictions even more inappropriate

Global crisis even less reason for charter change

September 28, 2019

BY SONNY AFRICA

The policy question is not how to attract foreign investment at all costs. Rather, it is asking what needs to be done for foreign capital to genuinely contribute to the country’s long-term economic development.

Govt anti-inflation measures inadequate and anti-agriculture

October 2, 2018

Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration’s anti-inflation measures are reckless stop-gap measures that will ironically harm domestic agriculture, displace farmers and fisherfolk, and worsen food insecurity. The group also said that the government should use its vast authority to take much more decisive steps to reduce inflation. President Duterte issued Administrative Order (AO) […]

PH Economy Duterteriorating

August 29, 2018

IBON FEATURES – Stay the course, the country’s economic managers always insist. They will be the last to admit bad economic news because eternal sunshine is part of their job. Their recent spontaneous reactions against federalism are however more revealing. They are losing control of the economy as it is and they know the ill-conceived […]

​Why rice tariffication does not guarantee lower rice prices

August 25, 2018

Accelerating inflation is becoming worrisome for tens of millions of low-income Filipino families. Since the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) kicked off early this year, the prices of goods and services have climbed incessantly. Rice inflation itself accelerated from just 1.5% in the beginning of 2018 to a 5% high in July. Inflation […]

Charter Change: Renewed blow to sovereignty (IBON Facts & Figures excerpt)

April 22, 2018

The Philippine Congress pushed anew efforts towards amending the 1987 Philippine Constitution… This call for changes in the Charter is the latest among many attempts, seeking to remove the Charter’s nationalist and other progressive economic provisions. Widespread protests and outright resistance from various sectors however deterred legislators from pursuing the changes. Those who are opposed […]

Book: Mining Ills

March 17, 2018

The book Mining Ills probes violations on social determinants of health in a number of Philippine communities upon the entry of mining companies, most of which are transnational corporations (TNCs).

From stalled WTO to a new world order

December 18, 2017

Trade deals were stalled mainly due to large developed countries’ differences at the recently concluded World Trade Organization (WTO) 11th ministerial conference (MC-11) in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The bigger powers especially the United States (US) and the European Union (EU) pushed their own development agendas and set aside that of the lesser economies, while accusing the […]