Last of a two-part series The government can alleviate huge suffering and save the economy if it wanted to. Contrary to government claims, the Philippines has the fiscal capacity to take the action needed to address the health crisis, household distress, and economic damage from COVID-19. The last six months since the first confirmed COVID-19…
First of a two-part series Maybe all it takes for something to become government policy is to say it thrice? Like Build, Build, Build or Plant, Plant, Plant, just Go, Go, Go! The pandemic-driven crisis demands that the government spend, spend, spend – by IBON’s estimates at least Php1.6 trillion. But unfortunately, no. When it…
The Duterte administration is to blame for the worst economic collapse in the country’s recorded history. Growth rate falling to -16.5% in the second quarter from 5.4% in the same period last year is an unprecedented 21.9 percentage point drop. All the countries in Southeast Asia recorded their first cases of COVID-19 within weeks of…
