The Villar family is one of the largest property developers in the country. Because of this, IBON points out, it is among the biggest beneficiaries of soaring land values from transport projects under the Duterte administration’s flagship Build, Build, Build (BBB) infrastructure program.
Dirty Duterte admin: More coal energy than ever
The government is increasingly reliant on coal for power generation. Department of Energy (DOE) data shows that, under the Duterte administration, power generated from coal rose from 43,303 gigawatt hours (Gwh) in 2016 to 57,890 Gwh which is over half of total power generated (106,041 Gwh) in 2019. Only 22,044 Gwh of power was generated from renewable energy.
Transport budget for infra but none for affected jeepney drivers
The COVID pandemic has led to massive income losses for Filipinos. The Duterte administration suspended mass transport, including jeepneys, when the enhanced community quarantines (ECQ) in Luzon and other parts of the country were declared in March. Quarantine measures have eased in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas and public transport has resumed in phases.
Fighting for our rights to food, a healthy environment and development
The Philippine government’s food threshold is very low and set at a measly Php50 per person per day. But the Philippines should not have to be counted among the top countries with moderate to severe food insecurity and high levels of malnutrition as per the food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) had the government not abandoned and liberalized agriculture, IBON Research Head Rosario Guzman said.
Duterte’s SALNs secret; PCIJ makes public wealth disclosures of all presidents since Cory
For the past year, repeated requests by the PCIJ for the President’s wealth statement have been tossed back and forth between the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the President. The issuance of the Ombudsman’s circular now essentially makes Duterte’s SALNs secret.
Four reasons why the Kaliwa Dam Project loan is onerous
The loan agreement for the New Centennial Water Source-Kaliwa Low Dam Project (NCWS-Kaliwa Low Dam) is onerous and should be cancelled. President Duterte has reportedly ordered a review of loan agreements to determine if any are onerous and disadvantageous to the Filipino people. Yet the Kaliwa Dam project which has come under fire for its unfavorable Chinese loan agreement has already started.
De Lima, rights defenders warn UN on Duterte’s ‘snake oil salesman of a government’
By adopting a more diplomatic tone in its resolution on the state of human rights in the Philippines, did the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) expect the Rodrigo Duterte government to suddenly behave? Senator Leila de Lima asked.
UN urges Duterte gov’t to investigate, prosecute rights abusers anew
The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) again urged the Rodrigo Duterte government to conduct “independent, full, and transparent” investigations to ensure accountability for rights violations and abuses in the Philippines.
‘Battle of the bastards’: House squabble, budget railroading irk farmers group
“Just to remind these two ‘bastards’, the national budget is not their personal money and Congress is not their playground. They ought to be legislating pro-people measures and reforms,” KMP said.
COVID-19/SARSCOV2
Ngunit ano itong ginawa ng gobyerno?! / sa kaka-lockdown, kabuhayan nami’y gumuho / nawalan ng trabaho ay libo-libo
at mga empresa’y nagsasarado /
sa aming mga bahay, kami’y ibinilanggo