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…
Research group IBON doubted that projected revenues from imposing tariffs on unlimited rice imports instead of quantitative restrictions (QRs) on the staple would be enough to support farmers’ production. The group stressed this amid worrisome agriculture decline and increasing food prices, which the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) yesterday used to justify proposals for…
Research group IBON said that faster inflation largely due to rising food prices hits poor households the worst. The group also said that the Duterte administration’s proposal to increase food imports is short-sighted, and that the best defense against rising food prices and high inflation is to increase domestic food supply through long-term solutions that…
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…
Research group IBON raised concern over the current move by the House of Representatives (HOR) to lift the quantitative restrictions (QR) on rice imports and instead apply a 35% tariff on unlimited rice importation. This will practically decrease farmgate prices, said IBON, but not necessarily lower retail rice prices as government claims. Rice prices have…
The minimum wage in Central Luzon was hiked to Php400 per day, but since there is almost no difference between the prices of goods and services in the region and in Metro Manila, the amount – as with the National Capital Region’s minimum wage of Php512 – remains insufficient for the workers and their…
Raising wages substantially remains a pressing and legitimate call that is doable and good for the economy. #NutriAsiaWorkers
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…