Four reasons why the Kaliwa Dam Project loan is onerous

October 11, 2020

Features | President Duterte has reportedly ordered a review of loan agreements to determine if any are onerous and disadvantageous to the Filipino people. Yet the Kaliwa Dam project which has come under fire for its unfavorable Chinese loan agreement has already started.

Never Gonna Give You Up: Duterte’s Top 2021 Infrastructure Flagship Projects and Recovery

October 3, 2020

BY JOSE LORENZO LIM

Are these projects really what will bring economic recovery while the nation grapples with a crisis-stricken public health system and economic decline?

The fate of BBB in the time of COVID-19

May 7, 2020

FEATURES

The Philippines has to improve the current state of infrastructure especially in the context of COVID-19: one that supports a strong public health system and the stable production of the nation’s needs in order to withstand and battle a pandemic.

Duterte admin banning aid to hide human rights violations

September 24, 2019

Research group IBON, a member of the multisectoral network AidWatch, said that the Duterte administration is stopping talks on new official development assistance (ODA) from 18 countries as part of its efforts to hide the worsening domestic human rights situation. This includes Spain which is supporting the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). The group said […]

China ‘aid’ spikes under Duterte (updated)

March 28, 2019

On the Duterte government designing loans to favor China

March 27, 2019

Gov’t designed Kaliwa loan to favor China—IBON

March 26, 2019

The Kaliwa Dam loan agreement is designed to unduly favor Chinese interests over that of the Philippines. IBON Foundation raised this concern in the wake of the release, upon public pressure, of this and other loan agreements. Metro Manila private water concessionaire Manila Water Company, Inc. and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage Systems (MWSS) have […]

Govt should be transparent, release 9 signed foreign loan agreements — IBON

March 16, 2019

Research group IBON said the Duterte administration should immediately release to the public all nine foreign loan agreements it has already signed for infrastructure projects, especially for the upcoming Kaliwa Dam project with China. The group raised concerns of government’s transparency since it has denied IBON’s previous requests for copies of the loan agreements. The […]

Duterte’s infrastructure miracle: Resurrecting a damned project

November 20, 2018

By Jose Lorenzo Lim Through China ODA, the Duterte administration revives a project halted by the historical struggle of the Cordillera people against destructive infrastructure The Chico River Basin Dam Project was an infamous World Bank-funded hydroelectric project under the Marcos Era. Local opposition to the project was strong. The famed Macli-ing Dulag, tribal chieftain […]