Features

President Ivan Duque of Colombia (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines (right) have come under greater scrutiny over COVID-19 policies that leave rural peoples ever more vulnerable. Both countries have registered the highest number of land-related human rights violations during the pandemic, according to PANAP’s monitoring (Photos from New Straits Times and Business…

Construction workers take a rest. Government infrastructure projects continue amid the pandemic. Independent think-tank Ibon Foundation maintains such projects do not stimulate the economy and favor big business and foreign investors. (File photo by Raymund B. Villanueva) “The Duterte administration’s plans for economic recovery revolve around continuing infrastructure projects as the main source of economic…

Bulatlat.com COVID-19 hastens PH economic decay As COVID-19 wipes out whatever is left of the limited opportunities for Filipinos to earn a living, the Duterte administration’s lacking response, combined with an oppressive political environment, creates conditions for a perfect storm of social unrest. Duterte’s double treason Under the guise of ‘freedom of navigation’ and ‘commitment…