Ricky A. Cabunyag's Page

The Philippines’ record-high unemployment is considered among the greatest failures of the Arroyo administration and is seen to even worsen this year, according to research group IBON Foundation.
Estimates made by IBON put the number of unemployed and underemployed Filipinos at 10.7 million in 2008. This was computed using the original National Statistics Office (NSO) definition of employment and assuming a labor force participation rate of 66.1% in 2008. The estimate tries to correct for offici… Continue

As questions on the funding sources of government’s stimulus package persist, research group IBON Foundation said that the plan itself is a repackaging of existing allocations, and is a mere public relations gimmickry to create the impression that something is being done to address the crisis.

Part of the reported P330-billion stimulus plan includes the P160-billion increase in the 2009 national budget, the P100-billion off-budget infrastructure fund, the P40-billion corporate/individual tax br… Continue

Cha-cha proponents argue that removing the Constitution's nationalist provisions is key to reviving foreign investment flows into the country. Yet this is a weak argument for an effort that is also about Pres. Arroyo's extension in power beyond 2010.

IBON Features—Amid lack of public consultation and accusations of railroading legislative processes, the committee on constitutional amendments in the House of Representatives approved this week the resolution filed by Speaker Prospero Nograles to… Continue

Katatapos lamang ng isang ’special seminar’ na dinaluhan ng mga kilalang mga personalidad sa pagkilos para sa ikakaunlad ng Maralitang Tagalunsod. Ito ay ang “Amending UDHA: Human Rights and Access to Justice for the Poor” na ginanap nitong Agusto 4, 2008 sa Audio Visual Room nang SDC , Ateneo de Manila. Ang mga pangunahing tagapagsalita na dumalo ay sina Senator Noynoy Aquino, CHR Chairperson Leila de Lima at Atty Jose Marquez, na chief of staff ni Chief Justice Puno. Mga kilalang person… Continue

The reclassification of lands for tourism means only one thing for rural families: the large-scale physical and economic displacement of farmers and fisherfolk communities.
IBON Features—Malacañang is set to sign next week the new Tourism Act of 2009, which will reclassify lands, including productive farmlands and coastal areas, into tourism zones. It is feared that, with this law, land use conversion of farmlands and privatization of coastal areas will intensify. The reclassification of lands f… Continue