IBON Executive Director on the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028

January 30, 2023

Filipinos didn’t feel growth because of ayuda cuts and stingy wage hikes – IBON

January 27, 2023

Millions of ordinary Filipinos did not benefit from supposedly rapid 2022 growth because the government tightened the purse strings on urgent cash assistance and only gave a negligible wage hike last year.

Rapid 2022 growth just a flash in the pan, poverty even increased — IBON

January 27, 2023

Relatively rapid growth in 2022 is only a rebound after the protracted pandemic lockdowns and there will be a steep slowdown this year.

On changing the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution: More foreign investment does not mean more development

January 26, 2023

As the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments considers proposed amendments, IBON raises five major points on why economic provisions in the 1987 Constitution should be retained.

Bongbong will be tested on the economy in 2023

January 21, 2023

The binding constraint to steadier progress and development is the outdated faith in market forces. The blindness to the state’s responsibility to intervene will mean worse times in 2023. It will also reopen lockdown wounds that were hidden by last year’s rebound but haven’t really healed yet.

“Louis Vuitton” tax inferior to billionaire wealth tax – IBON

January 19, 2023

A higher consumption tax on luxury goods is desirable but is not a substitute for a wealth tax which can raise far more revenues for social and economic development.

Strong labor market? Part-time, informal workers surge by over 2M – IBON

January 6, 2023

Latest labor force data showing huge spikes in part-time and informal jobs belies government claims of a strong labor market and steady economic recovery.

Employment decline belies govt claims of upbeat labor market — IBON

December 8, 2022

The government’s claim of an upbeat labor market is an overstatement that dismisses the significant decline in employment and growing number of discouraged workers.

The Family Living Wage as of November 2022

December 6, 2022