Philippine economy

Real regulation and agri dev’t needed to solve rice woes — IBON

January 7, 2019

Research group IBON said that to truly resolve high rice prices and production concerns, the government should develop domestic rice production and ensure strict monitoring and regulation. With Pres. Duterte poised to sign the Rice Tariffication Bill into law, the group said that the measure is not the solution and only covers up government’s long-time […]

2018 inflation highest in 10 years amid slowing growth — IBON

January 4, 2019

Inflation for 2018 is more than double the Duterte administration’s original inflation target for the year and the highest in a decade, research group IBON said. Along with slowing economic growth, this further points to the failure of government’s economic managers to rein in consumer prices and of its neoliberal policies, such as the Tax […]

2018 Yearender: Are You High? The Economy Isn’t

December 31, 2018

by Sonny Africa Executive Director, IBON Foundation The Duterte administration’s economic managers made some odd statements as the year wound up. Economic planning secretary Ernesto Pernia said “the Philippine economy became stronger and even more resilient than ever”. Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez III insisted on “the soundness of the Duterte administration’s economic development strategy”. Bangko […]

New Year blues: Inflation-driven water rate hikes to hound consumers

December 29, 2018

Water firms are not yet finished with squeezing higher water rates out of consumers. Advocacy group Water for the People Network (WPN) said that the most recent approval of water rate hikes for implementation this New Year shows that government prioritizes water firms’ profits over minimizing the impact of high inflation on water consumers, particularly […]