liberalization

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 […]

Protect PH economy, thwart RCEP
November 20, 2017
Research group IBON said that the Philippine government should promote and protect Filipino industry instead of pursuing one-sided free trade agreements (FTAs). This is after Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participating countries recently said that the regional trade deal would continue their strong economic performance. According to IBON, the government should only enter economic […]

Rising US, China protectionism: Philippines still on losing end
November 14, 2017
By Audrey De Jesus Free trade agreements (FTAs) are a major agenda item for countries attending the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. whether at the meeting proper or the sidelines. Contrary to the projection that FTAs promote partnerships for development, however, these FTAs are becoming more and more one-sided. As the world […]

Five ASEAN features that show “One Community” is exclusionary
November 12, 2017
By Casey Salamanca On its 50th year, and under Philippine chairmanship, the Association of South East Asian Nations or ASEAN is being hyped to have brought development to its member countries. Themed “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” for 2017, the convergence of ASEAN’s ten-member countries and its dialogue partners is anticipated to bolster the regional […]

RCEP: Giving Up Sovereignty and Development
September 4, 2017
IBON Foundation Statement for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Stakeholder Consultation Interface with DTI and Key Agencies Manila, September 4, 2017 IBON welcomes this opportunity to interact with the DTI and key agencies on their negotiations for the Philippines on the RCEP. We look forward to hearing from our country’s negotiators. We also continue to […]

Rehashed neoliberal policies: One year of Dutertenomics
June 28, 2017
The Philippines is in a worsening socio-economic crisis. The direction of economic policies under the Duterte administration is alarming and in urgent need of correction. The government’s economic team still uses the anti-development policy framework of past administrations which will mean greater economic distress for the majority of Filipinos. The economy’s poor performance since June […]

Marcos-initiated “globalization” led to PH economic decline
November 26, 2016
“In 1980, the Marcos regime actually made the Philippines the first country in Asia and the second country in the world, after Turkey, to be at the receiving end of a World Bank structural adjustment loan (SAL). The conditionalities of the US$200 million loan included among others tariff cuts, removal of import licenses and […]