Record debt not due to COVID-19 response

Marso 5, 2022

The Duterte administration did not change its priorities despite urgent pandemic needs and, if anything, only used COVID-19 response to cover up massive borrowings for continued debt servicing and infrastructure.

Scar-crossed Labors

Enero 17, 2022

We will likely hear claims of strong economic performance, early recovery, and returning to a path of rapid and inclusive growth. But labor force and poverty figures for 2021 already show how any claims like that will just be bluster or, worse, blind to the daily experience of millions of Filipinos.

IBON Executive Director on govt’s heightened alert levels and COVID strategy shift

Enero 12, 2022

IBON Executive Director on gov’t COVID strategy shift

Jobless, sluggish growth persists contrary to gov’t hype — IBON

Nobyembre 10, 2021

Economic managers shouldn’t celebrate too soon over seemingly positive third quarter growth as more and more Filipinos lose jobs and increasingly make do with informal work. Economic growth is also still slowing with many sectors years from recovery.

Job losses despite quarantine easing may be early sign of economic contraction – IBON

Nobyembre 5, 2021

The Duterte administration should not be dismissive of the significant drop in employment and rise in unemployment in September 2021. These are signs that the economy is still floundering despite quarantine restrictions easing and vaccinations increasing.

Ayuda will ease burden of rising prices

Oktubre 12, 2021

Railroading 2022 national budget without ayuda confirms Duterte govt’s apathy

Oktubre 2, 2021

Important pandemic emergency aid programs implemented in 2020 were discontinued in 2021 and are also not in the proposed 2022 budget. The budget and social welfare departments should bat for this in the 2022 expenditure plan in Senate and bicameral deliberations

Worsening joblessness and informal work can be fixed with immediate ayuda, stimulus

Setyembre 30, 2021

Latest labor force data of high unemployment and increasing informal workers should be a wake-up call for government to immediately undertake stimulus measures.

Tax the billionaires

Setyembre 29, 2021