Philippines in a Happy and Healthy Relationship with China?

November 28, 2018

by Sonny Africa IBON Features – Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recently concluded state visit was hyped as historic and relationship-altering in a good way towards “comprehensive, strategic cooperation”. The joint statement released at the end spoke of a couple with a healthy relationship: reminiscing the past, establishing trust, open communication, arguing in a healthy way […]

China vs Japan vs US: Foreign direct investments (FDI) inflows

November 28, 2018

China a growing but still minor ODA partner of the Philippines

November 28, 2018

Beware of onerous China ODA – IBON

November 19, 2018

In its eagerness to raise billions of pesos in funds for its hyped infrastructure program, the Duterte administration is brokering questionable deals with China that could threaten Philippine sovereignty. Research group IBON raised the warning in anticipation of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the Philippines. IBON said that a number of agreements between […]

First Basket Projects Under China’s ODA

November 16, 2018

Econ slowdown due to failed govt policies, may be sign of worse to come–IBON

November 10, 2018

Research group IBON said that the government should take the economy’s 3rd quarter growth slowdown as showing what needs to be improved in its economic policies instead of being dismissive about it. Its flagship Build, Build, Build will only be a short-term boost to the economy at best and direct measures to strengthen domestic agriculture […]

After five years: Build, Build, Build a new adversary of Yolanda survivors

November 8, 2018

by Jolo Lim IBON Features – Typhoon Yolanda was a disaster of epic proportions. It became an even bigger tragedy because of government neglect and corporate opportunism.  Five years after the super-typhoon, a new adversary is rising for typhoon survivors that are yet to fully recover. The Duterte administration’s Build, Build, Build program has been […]

Be bold enough to implement a meaningful wage hike, gov’t told

November 7, 2018

The new National Capital Region (NCR) minimum wage is still way below the amount that a family needs to cope with continuously rising prices, research group IBON said. The paltry increase reflects government’s refusal to institute a meaningful wage hike despite its urgency and doability. Government should instead have ordered employers to give a substantial […]

Lowest-income households have lost as much as Php6,800 to high inflation

November 6, 2018

The incomes of the country’s poorest households have eroded after ten months of accelerating inflation. Research group IBON estimates that the poorest 60 million Filipinos have suffered income losses of anywhere from Php2,500 to as much as Php6,800 because of worsening inflation since the start of 2018. The inflation rate has increased from 3.4% in […]