neoliberal economics
TRAIN-driven rising cost of living makes wage hike urgent
July 9, 2018
Research group IBON said that tax-driven inflation is making the meager wages of poor Filipinos fall even further behind the rising cost of living. The group said this makes it even more urgent for the government to immediately raise wages even as it revisits the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law behind the […]
Govt’s TRAIN to blame for highest inflation in nearly 10 years — IBON
July 5, 2018
Research group IBON said that the government’s insistence on higher taxes especially on the poor is among the factors driving inflation rates to their highest in nearly a decade. The group said that runaway inflation is due to the peso depreciation and rising global oil prices combined with the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion […]
Time for govt to come up with realistic poverty threshold – IBON
June 8, 2018
Research group IBON said that it is about time for government to update its poverty threshold to reflect a more realistic poverty reduction target. This is in light of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto Pernia’s recent statement that Php42,000 a month is “a decent income at least to live above the poverty […]
Poor-quality work increased amid economic growth–IBON
May 16, 2018
First quarter economic growth this year did not translate to better jobs for Filipinos, research group IBON said. This means that despite government claims that the groundwork for reforms has been laid, growth has remained essentially exclusionary, generating jobs that are insecure and low-paying, said the group. Socio-Economic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia recently announced the […]
Working Filipino’s real wage, purchasing power weakening under Duterte
April 25, 2018
Research group IBON said that accelerating inflation is rapidly eroding the real wage and purchasing power of minimum wage earners in the National Capital Region (NCR). Real wages show the actual value of wages after these are adjusted for inflation. After almost two years in power, the Duterte administration has only raised the minimum wage […]
Peace talks a casualty of the Trump-Duterte meeting?
November 24, 2017
By Arnold Padilla IBON Features – President Rodrigo Duterte’s hosting as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and related meetings solidified the sort of foreign policy that his administration will chart throughout its term. It is one that critics have already pointed out as still dependent on the patronage of the […]
2nd quarter growth rates point to economic headwinds
August 22, 2017
Research group IBON said that the recently released 2017 second quarter national accounts underscore the serious headwinds facing the Philippine economy. The group said that the Duterte administration should focus on building sustainable domestic foundations of growth and development rather than depend on external factors such as remittances, cheap labor business process outsourcing (BPO), and […]
Buwis(et)! DOF’s Top 5 Tax Reform Lies
June 20, 2017
By Sonny Africa IBON FEATURES — The Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), the first part of the Duterte administration’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program (CTRP), has hurdled the House of Representatives (HOR) and is up for deliberations at the Senate. The Department of Finance (DOF) targets approval of TRAIN, or House Bill No. […]
Economy loses jobs despite reported growth
June 12, 2017
The recently released labor force survey figures indicate an alarming intensification of the domestic jobs crisis with the economy losing jobs despite reported economic growth, said research group IBON. Reported unemployment and underemployment in the country fell, but so did employment and the size of the labor force – all of which indicate growing distortions […]
