IBON: Reject RCEP

January 31, 2022

It’s long overdue to let go of the reckless abandonment of agriculture and the Philippine economy to market forces that the Philippines is ill-prepared to take advantage of. IBON calls on our senators to reject Philippine membership in RCEP.

IBON Executive Director on the RCEP trade agreement

November 18, 2020

Protect PH economy, thwart RCEP

November 20, 2017

  Research group IBON said that the Philippine government should promote and protect Filipino industry instead of pursuing one-sided free trade agreements (FTAs). This is after Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) participating countries recently said that the regional trade deal would continue their strong economic performance. According to IBON, the government should only enter economic […]

Rising US, China protectionism: Philippines still on losing end

November 14, 2017

By Audrey De Jesus Free trade agreements (FTAs) are a major agenda item for countries attending the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. whether at the meeting proper or the sidelines. Contrary to the projection that FTAs promote partnerships for development, however, these FTAs are becoming more and more one-sided. As the world […]

RCEP: Giving Up Sovereignty and Development

September 4, 2017

IBON Foundation Statement for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Stakeholder Consultation Interface with DTI and Key Agencies Manila, September 4, 2017 IBON welcomes this opportunity to interact with the DTI and key agencies on their negotiations for the Philippines on the RCEP. We look forward to hearing from our country’s negotiators. We also continue to […]

RCEP talks secretive, undemocratic – IBON

September 4, 2017

Research group IBON expressed concern about the secretive and undemocratic proceedings of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) especially considering its apparent significant impact on the country’s economy, economic sovereignty and people’s welfare. The group said that it is the Duterte administration’s responsibility to ensure genuine transparency and public consultation to uphold the interests of […]

Duterte’s RCEP push at ASEAN, implications on PH economy & development (Part 2)

August 13, 2017

By Arnold Padilla Part 2 –  The more far-reaching implication of the RCEP is on the country’s sovereignty in regulating foreign investments and in designing and implementing development plans that would serve the national interest and public welfare. FTAs like the RCEP want to further erode the mandate of governments and other state institutions. This is […]

Duterte’s RCEP push at ASEAN, implications on PH economy and development

August 10, 2017

By Arnold Padilla Part 1-At the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), President Rodrigo Duterte endorsed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) deal. RCEP is being negotiated by the 10 member states of the ASEAN plus six other countries that ASEAN has a free trade agreement (FTA) with or the so-called […]

Four reasons why RCEP will be detrimental to Filipino farmers

May 16, 2017

​​The fight of Filipino peasants such as the farmworkers of Hacienda Luisita and Lapanday Foods Corporation for land, food, and justice, stands to be further undermined once the Philippine government fully accedes to the China-backed mega Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).   While the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was seemingly put […]