Philippine economy

TRAIN still inflationary with lifting of fuel excise suspension

November 30, 2018

Research group IBON said that government’s continued implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) means that TRAIN’s taxes will keep raising prices next year and make inflation higher than it should be. The group said that lifting the fuel excise tax suspension shows the Duterte administration’s insincerity and insensitivity in addressing the […]

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 […]

By Shubert Ciencia from Nueva Ecija, Philippines - Nagacadan Rice Terraces (Kiangan, Ifugao), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4405840

Rice tariffication will displace rice farmers, worsen food insecurity–IBON

November 22, 2018

Rice tariffication and uncontrolled rice imports will displace rice farmers and worsen food insecurity without solving the problem of expensive rice, research group IBON said. The government is using high inflation to justify rice sector liberalization according to long-standing demands of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and big foreign agricultural exporters. Domestic agriculture should be […]

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 […]