IBON Foundation

IBON Foundation is a non-stock non-profit development organization. We have been serving the Filipino people through research and education since 1978. IBON seeks to promote an understanding of socioeconomics that serves the interests and aspirations of the Filipino people. We study the most urgent social, economic and political issues confronting Philippine society and the world.

Agriculture·Economy·Institutions

Agriculture weakened despite capital inflows in sector

Charter change advocates in Congress claim changing the constitution to favor foreign direct investment (FDI) will develop the economy. Yet while foreign capital poured into the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector over the years, its share in the economy has plunged. The

March 23, 2023

Economy·Institutions

Trade deficit worsened as FDI increased

Charter change advocates hype FDI as a way to strengthen the economy, particularly the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing already overwhelmingly dominates the country’s exports. However, in the absence of Filipino industrialization, FDI dominates domestic manufacturing. Foreign manufacturers and foreign investors in general have

March 23, 2023

Economy·Employment·Institutions·Labor

Job creation weakened despite rapid FDI growth

One of the key arguments of charter change proponents is that liberalizing the economy to FDI will create more jobs. But job creation has actually weakened even as foreign direct investment inflows increased. In the past two decades, annual FDI inflows increased

March 23, 2023

Economy·Employment·Institutions·Labor

Unemployment worsened even with more foreign investment

Proponents of charter change insist that more FDI from changing the Constitution’s economic provisions will create job opportunities and decrease unemployment. Has unemployment decreased as FDI increased? Annual FDI inflows increased from an average of US$1.6 billion annually in the decade 2000-2009

March 23, 2023

Economy·Institutions·People

Millions of Filipinos still poor despite foreign investments

Some politicians claim that more FDI after charter change will reduce poverty. However, poverty has stayed high over the years of increasing FDI. Annual FDI flows have been increasing and especially rapidly after 2010 to reach historic highs. In the past two

March 23, 2023

Environment·Feature·Health·Institutions·People

The Filipino People’s Water Code

Water is life. More than anything else, people need water to survive physically. Further, people need water for a better quality of life – for sanitation, food production, production of basic needs, leisure, and more. The Philippines has abundant water resources, much

March 23, 2023

Economy·Institutions·Labor

Worker wages not keeping up with their productivity

Worker productivity constantly increases, but workers don’t feel this with higher wages. NCR worker productivity increased by 42% over 2012-2021, measured as gross regional domestic product divided by employment. But the minimum wage only went up by 18%, so the productivity increases

March 17, 2023

Economy·Foreign Relations·Institutions·Politics

Foreign investment hasn’t done much to develop the Philippine economy

The Philippines has steadily opened up to foreign investment since the Marcos dictatorship started opening it up in the 1970s. Annual foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows were negative US$4.1 million in 1970 and US$22 million in 1971. Welcoming the economic policies under

March 17, 2023

Economy·Institutions·People

The right size for development?

The use of propagandistic language to push undesirable policies is very much alive under the Marcos Jr administration – arguably even more alive than ever. The economy, for instance, is always glowingly described despite how difficult things are for the majority of

March 17, 2023

Alternative media

1.8-million loss in full-time jobs dispels gov’t claim of recovery, robust jobs market – IBON – IBON Foundation

Research group IBON said that big employment losses in January 2023, particularly in full-time work, refutes the Marcos Jr administration’s hype of a robust labor market and recovery. The group said that the jobs crisis is worsening despite the economy

March 17, 2023