Features
Addressing the rampage of land use conversion
Abril 27, 2017
The land-to-the-tiller clamour mounts. This, amid the recent spate of farmers’ killings and other forms of military attacks against peasant communities nationwide. These human rights violations have escalated even after both panels of the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) have acknowledged in the on-going peace talks the country’s agrarian problem […]
Earth Day 2017 | Four towns and an Apple: Mining and environmental plunder
Abril 22, 2017
By Glenis Balangue A day before Earth Day, technology giant Apple made a bold claim. Blamed time and again for its role in sustaining the highly destructive mining industry, Apple said it plans to stop using minerals and metals for its famed iPhones and Macs. In its 2017 Environmental Responsibility Report, Apple said that to […]
‘Dutertenomics’: golden age of oligarchic and foreign interests in infrastructure?
Abril 20, 2017
“Build, build, build” is said to be the foundation of the Duterte administration’s development plan, which his economic managers are packaging as “Dutertenomics”. The plan is supposed to usher in a “golden age of infrastructure”. But despite the attempt at branding, Dutertenomics is neither new nor unique. Its cornerstone of massive infrastructure development is still […]
Prepaid electricity: Neoliberal “users pay” at its worst
Pebrero 9, 2017
The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) recently said that it aims to expand its prepaid customers by 100,000 from the current 40,000 this year. Kuryente Load (KLoad), the utility giant’s prepaid electricity service, is presently available in Mandaluyong, Manila, Pasig, and parts of Rizal. Meralco now plans to offer KLoad to customers in Caloocan, Makati, Marikina, Pasay, Pateros, […]
Implement land reform and develop the rural economy!
Enero 30, 2017
The call for land reform is among the twelve points illustrated in IBON’s 2017 “Promoting pro-people economics” planner drawn from the People’s Agenda for Change. The comprehensive agenda for social, economic and political reforms fleshes out a program for nationalist and progressive change based on the Filipino people’s daily and historical plight. Hundreds of people’s […]
Meaningfully distribute income, wealth and assets
Enero 13, 2017
Growth is not felt by the poor majority. The wealth of the 10 richest Filipinos grew 220% within 2010-2015 while the real value of the average daily basic pay of wage and salary workers rose by just 5.3%. From 2015-2016, the net worth of the 40 richest Filipinos grew by almost 14% while the real […]
Substantially increase wages
Enero 13, 2017
The daily minimum wage remains insufficient for the basic needs of a family of six. The daily minimum wage in the National Capital Region (Php481), the highest in the country, is not even half of the family living wage of Php1,119. The gap between the minimum wage and the family living wage also continues to widen. […]
Create jobs by building national industry
Enero 13, 2017
The country’s worsening jobs crisis sees more and more Filipinos in poor quality work. Six of 10 are either non-regular and agency-hired workers, in private households, self-employed, own-account workers, or in unpaid family work. Quality jobs bring peace. Create jobs by building national industry. Base peace on people-centered development.
Distribute land to the tiller for free
Enero 11, 2017
Nine of 10 Filipino farmers are landless, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. Meanwhile, according to September 2015 data from the Land Bank, 75% of agrarian reform beneficiaries could not pay land amortization. Filipino farmers remain among the poorest of the population. Peace must be based on social justice. Distribute land to the tiller for free. Base […]
