Poor and middle class burdened most by TRAIN’s oil taxes

October 3, 2018

The higher oil excise taxes of the Duterte administration’s Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) is a greater burden on the poor and middle class than the rich, said research group IBON. The poor and middle class, even those few with gains from personal income tax cuts, will suffer cuts in their standard of […]

Govt anti-inflation measures inadequate and anti-agriculture

October 2, 2018

Research group IBON said that the Duterte administration’s anti-inflation measures are reckless stop-gap measures that will ironically harm domestic agriculture, displace farmers and fisherfolk, and worsen food insecurity. The group also said that the government should use its vast authority to take much more decisive steps to reduce inflation. President Duterte issued Administrative Order (AO) […]

IBON: Wage hike needed as Filipino families’ incomes erode January-July due to inflation

August 31, 2018

A substantial increase in the minimum wage is necessary and doable as the country’s poorest households are losing income due to escalating inflation, said research group IBON, contrary to the recent claims of an employers’ group. IBON estimates that income losses of the poorest 60 million Filipinos ranged from Php1,276 to as much as Php3,489 […]

Institute meaningful wage hike, price control

August 27, 2018

Crisis of PH agriculture drives high inflation and economic slowdown

August 10, 2018

Research group IBON said that the recently released second quarter 2018 growth figures confirm the fundamental reason for rising food prices: underdeveloped agriculture from government neglect. While the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law is the most proximate driver of inflation within the Duterte administration’s control, the agricultural sector’s underdevelopment is the long-term […]

Poorest 60M Filipinos suffer income loss due to first 6 months inflation in 2018

August 7, 2018

Lowest-income households lost as much as Php2,700 since start of 2018 Accelerating inflation since the start of the year has eroded the incomes of the country’s poorest families. Research group IBON estimates that the poorest 60 million Filipinos have suffered income losses of anywhere from Php993 to as much as Php2,715 because of worsening inflation […]

Meat and fish tariffs, a temporary fix

August 7, 2018

Ultimately, agricultural imports could worsen the situation by displacing local producers and increasing our import bill.

Group refutes government’s defense of TRAIN

July 23, 2018

In a consumer forum held in anticipation of the third State of the Nation Address, research group IBON debunked the Duterte administration’s avid defense of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. The group said that contrary to government’s pronouncements, the tax program is not beneficial to the poor majority of Filipinos and […]

Debt-driven growth an increasing burden–IBON

July 20, 2018

Nearing the third State of the Nation address, research group IBON said that debt-driven growth under the Duterte administration is not resulting in substantial improvements in the Philippine economy. According to the group, while ballooning debt accelerated government spending and pushed the 6.8% economic growth during the past year, the agriculture and industry sectors, which […]