Philippine economy
January inflation partially due to TRAIN—IBON
March 2, 2018
No cash transfers to cover January inflation, with prices going even higher in the months and years to come The Department of Finance (DOF) said that January inflation was not caused by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law. Research group IBON however points out that the new tax program definitely contributed to […]
Wholesale ‘Swiss challenge’ will lead to greater, more hidden corruption–IBON
February 2, 2018
The Duterte administration’s proposal to do away with public bidding and replace this with the even less transparent ‘Swiss challenge’ system for all government projects could lead to more extensive and veiled corruption, said research group IBON’s executive director Sonny Africa. Pres. Duterte’s push for the Swiss challenge system is supposedly aimed at getting rid […]
2017 Yearend Birdtalk: Dutertenomics and Dictatorship, Thwarting Democracy
January 29, 2018
Download the 2017 Yearend Birdtalk briefing paper here The year 2017 will be remembered as the year when the first major signs of distress for the Duterte administration showed themselves. The signs of economic troubles and the fundamentally anti-poor direction of economic policies became even clearer. The political agenda of centralized power and extended rule […]
Under Duterte: Biggest contraction in employment in 20 years –IBON
January 20, 2018
PH growth job-destroying in 2017 Going on its second year, the Duterte administration saw the largest contraction in employment in 20 years, research group IBON said in its year-end analysis of economic and political trends. This shows that generally rising Philippine economic growth remained unfelt by Filipinos amid a worsening jobs crisis, said the […]
Independent foreign policy? Foreign interests behind TRAIN, Cha-cha, says IBON
January 18, 2018
While President Duterte likes to claim that his administration adheres to an independent foreign policy, it appears that his major programs such as the packages of tax reforms and the planned Charter change (Cha-cha) are actually pushed by US and other foreign interests. IBON noted that the tax reforms and Cha-cha are among the key policy reforms long lobbied for by […]
Letter to the Editor | Five reasons why the TRAIN will not benefit the poor
January 16, 2018
These reiterations are in reaction to the article “Assessing TRAIN” by Mr. Filomeno Sta. Ana of the Action for Economic Reforms (AER), which appeared on the January 8, 2018 issue of Business World. IBON has repeatedly presented its evidence-based analysis of the TRAIN (basing on the Department of Finance data no less) and consistently deepened […]
Even more money for the rich under TRAIN law – IBON
January 12, 2018
The rich and other higher income groups will have larger take home pay than previously estimated under the new tax law, while the poor will still bear the brunt of paying higher taxes, said research group IBON. IBON said that the highest earning 40% or about 9.1 million households will have even more money in […]
Downplaying the price impact of TRAIN dishonest and insensitive–IBON
January 8, 2018
Petroleum excise taxes proven to be very inflationary in the past The administration persistently downplays certain increases in the prices of goods and services, research group IBON’s Executive Director Sonny Africa said. This is dishonest and insensitive to the burden that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) imposes on the poor to avoid […]
2018 prosperity by Duterte policies not for all—IBON
January 2, 2018
Admin’s avid push for market-driven measures will run over the poor majority The new year seems to usher in more difficulties for Filipinos in accessing basic goods, public utilities, and services amid government’s exclusionary policies, research group IBON said. The market-driven policies that have been prioritized by the Duterte government such as the Tax Reform […]
