IBON Foundation

EDSA@40: Reclaimed democracy or elite continuity? EDSA restored elections and civil liberties, but it did not uproot the economic and institutional forces that concentrate power.

People Power was never meant to be a single day. If Filipinos want the next 40 years to look differently, we must continue showing up. #EDSA #PeopleEconomics

ibon.org/edsa40-reclaimed-democracy-or-elite-continuity

[🧵] Two of the highest officials of the land face serious allegations for abuse of power and misuse of public funds. These issues compelled the impeachment raps currently being deliberated in Congress.

#StopKorap #KurakotManagot #PeopleEconomics

[🧵] Two of the highest officials of the land face serious allegations for abuse of power and misuse of public funds. These issues compelled the impeachment raps currently being deliberated in Congress.

#StopKorap #KurakotManagot #PeopleEconomics

[🧵] Two of the highest officials of the land face serious allegations for abuse of power and misuse of public funds. These issues compelled the impeachment raps currently being deliberated in Congress.

#StopKorap #KurakotManagot #PeopleEconomics

Why interest cuts won’t cut it [FEATURES] Until the Marcos Jr administration’s economic policies cut to the heart of the matter, interest rate cuts really just won’t cut it.

In a country where economic problems cut deep, interest rate cuts really just won't cut it.

#MalalangEkonomiya #FinanceDevelopment #PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/why-interest...

"We didn't 'see' corruption while it was happening in the 2023-2025 budgets - and until today only see what the government allows us to see."

#StopKorap #LahatManagot #PeopleEconomics

Impeachment dismissal shields President from accountability, subverts people’s right to the truth The dismissal of the impeachment complaint filed by members of the Makabayan bloc against the President raises serious concerns.

Beyond the flood control projects corruption scandal, the dismissed impeachment complaint against the President points to deeper structural problems.

ibon.org/impeachment-peoples-right-to-truth

#StopKorap #LahatngKorapDapatManagot #PeopleEconomics

2026 Education Budget: What numbers can't deliver [FEATURES] The Marcos Jr administration celebrates a 'true education budget' for 2026. Yet this declaration rings hollow.

The Marcos Jr administration celebrates a 'true education budget' for 2026. Yet this declaration rings hollow.

#Budget2026 #PeopleEconomics

ibon.org/fy26-educ-budget-cannot-deliver

2026 Health Budget: Alarming symptoms of sick governance [FEATURES] But a closer examination of the 2026 national budget reveals alarming symptoms of sick governance.

The 2026 health budget may be the largest on record, but this does not automatically translate into better health outcomes for the Filipino people.

#PeopleEconomics #Budget2026

"Can we trust a presidency and Congress that thrives on pork barrel to be concerned that their economic policies are what's best for the people?"

#PeopleEconomics

Nagsasapawang krisis, ang kawastuhan ng galit Sa pagtatapos ng taong 2025, wala nang duda na papalubog ang tahakin ng ekonomiya sa ilalim ni Marcos Jr. Mabilis na idinahilan ng kanyang economic managers ang iskandalo ng talamak na korapsyon na na...

Noong 2025, papalubog na ang ekonomiya. Nakaubos pasensya na wala pa ring nakukulong, at sa halip ay ginagamit lang ang isyu para sa 2028. Galit ang bayan, pero itinuon ito sa mas matataas na diskurso — ito ang kakaharapin sa 2026.

www.ibon.org/ibon-praymer...

GDP slowdown: Corruption is smokescreen for bad economics - IBON [NEWS] Corruption scandals weighed the economy down, but the deeper problem lies in a growth model that has been breaking ever since.

Corruption scandals weighed the economy down in the second half of 2025, but the deeper problem lies in a growth model that has been breaking since 2017.

#GrowthPH #PeopleEconomics #MalalangEkonomiya

www.ibon.org/fy25-gdp-slo...

READ: ibon.org/ph-econ-beyond-pr

Inflation reflects changes in the cost of living over time, particularly the immediate pressure households face.

However, employment quality and stability are the more decisive determinants of long-term family welfare.

#PeopleEconomics

READ: ibon.org/ph-econ-beyond-pr

There is also an important story beneath the numbers.

Looking at the structure of employment over years confirms that the economy and Filipinos are forced to rely on volatile informal, unstable, and low-productivity work.

#PeopleEconomics

Can the Marcos Jr. admin fix a faltering economy? — IBON [NEWS] Faced with impeachment complaints, how will the Marcos Jr. administration confront the economy’s structural problems?

As the country enters 2026 amid political unrest and persistent corruption, public attention has largely focused on holding officials to account.

Issues will be taken up at the 2026 IBON Birdtalk Yearstarter.

#PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/pbbm-falteri...

Isn’t corruption stupid? The Philippines’ central problem isn’t simply that rules are broken. It’s that the economy produces too little of what Filipinos need, that jobs and incomes are inadequate, and that this is all becaus...

The Marcos Jr administration and its economic managers blame corruption for the growth slowdown.

All the country lacks it seems, is “good governance”. The argument seems compelling, but are decency and good intentions really all we need?

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/isnt-corrupt...

Harvesting pork, not rural development: The 2026 agriculture budget examined [FEATURES] A closer look reveals that agricultural budget is not pork-free.

A closer look reveals that the 2026 agricultural budget is not pork-free and insufficient to meaningfully improve food security and rural livelihoods.

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/pork-not-rur...

Most of the Marcos Jr administration's massive borrowing did not go to development or easing people's lives.

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

Since taking office, the Marcos Jr administration's outstanding debt has ballooned by 38%. The average monthly increase in outstanding debt under Marcos surpasses that of previous administrations.

Hi-res: ibon.org/marcos-borrowing-ao-2511/

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

The national government outstanding debt under Marcos Jr is now over Php17.6 trillion, or more than Php642,000 per family.

Hi-res: ibon.org/ng-debt-ao-2511/

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

Amid the Marcos Jr government’s anti-corruption posture, public pressure influenced the 2026 budget with some reallocation. However, this was not according to any national development strategy or sustained socioeconomic transformation.

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

Weak Leadership, Worsening Economy, Rising Stakes [FEATURES] 2026 could be the year Filipinos turn frustration into action and reshape the political landscape.

The country stands at a crossroads in 2026.

#IBONBirdtalk #PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/weak-leaders...

The average nominal minimum wage across the country's 17 regions is only Php498 and it is Php742 short of the Php1,240 estimated average family living wage for a family of five.

Hi-res: ibon.org/flw-regl-2512

#SahodItaas #PeopleEconomics

Despite low inflation in December 2025, Filipinos still struggle with the low real value of wages and high food prices.

Hi-res available: www.ibon.org/prices-wages...

#PeopleEconomics #SahodItaas #PresyoIbaba

"The country's growth and development most of all depends on investing in agriculture and Filipino industry."

#FinanceDevelopment #StriveForSovereignty #PeopleEconomics

Pork barrel 2026 budget fails development Contrary to official claims, the budget does not mark a shift toward a genuinely “people-centered development agenda”. It remains oriented toward short-term political survival rather than long-term de...

ibon.org/pork-barrel-2026-budget-fails-devt

The Php6.8 trillion government budget for 2026 just signed into law by the president clearly shows that pork barrel politics remains the overriding fiscal motivation, rather than national development through real social and economic transformation.

The US has normalized brazen use of force against sovereign states as a matter of self-serving foreign policy.

Especially amid erosion of the multilateral world order, this gravely threatens peace and security not just in Latin America but in the rest of the world.

Zaldy truth bomb: Co-rruption at the very top? [FEATURES] It’s too early to say how much of what Zaldy Co said in his explosive video statement is true. They are however at least plausible. However much, this implicates Marcos Jr in gross fiscal m...

It’s too early to say how much of what former rep Zaldy Co said in his explosive video statement is true. They are however at least plausible.

However much is true, this implicates Marcos Jr in gross fiscal malpractice.

#StopKorap #KurakotManagot

www.ibon.org/zaldy-co-rru...

Inflation stayed low in October, but this hasn't eased Filipino's troubles with low real value of wages and expensive prices of food.

Hi-res available on ibon.org.

#PeopleEconomics #SahodItaas #PresyoIbaba

Overwhelmingly underfunded [BIRD FEED] "As I was being wheeled out of the hospital, I took vivid mental note of the institution's decrepit condition - details I may have overlooked while receiving care from our underpaid health...

"As I was being wheeled out of the hospital, I took vivid mental note of the institution's decrepit condition - details I may have overlooked while receiving care from our underpaid health workers."

#PeopleEconomics

www.ibon.org/overwhelming...