Upper middle-income, Lower-end reality

The UMIC overhype shows how the government’s presentation of the economy gives disproportionate emphasis to a favorable statistical reclassification while giving comparatively little attention to the country’s persistent structural weaknesses.

News

EPIRA has delivered profits for a few, not affordable power to Filipinos

July 3, 2026

Transport, consumer and rights groups call for people-centered mass transport ahead of SONA

July 1, 2026

Wage hike urgent as Filipino families struggle with high prices

June 30, 2026

Wrong diagnosis and policies won’t fix PH stagflation

June 29, 2026

WPN hits private firms’ impunity, backs growing calls to terminate PrimeWater deals

June 26, 2026

Falling employment, rising underemployment confirm worsening joblessness

June 9, 2026

HB 9465 will stop economic truths from being told

June 4, 2026

US demand for higher PH military spending threatens dev’t priorities

June 3, 2026

Features

The World Bank’s UMIC label should not be mistaken for proof that the country has achieved genuine development.

PH is upper middle-income, Filipinos aren’t

July 5, 2026

Mabigatan kaya si Rizal sa mga terminong ginagamit ko? Sasabihin kaya niya na masyado akong mateorya, puro slogan at jargon, at aktibistang parang polyeto magsalita? O susubukan niyang unawain ang mga sinabi ko para higit pang mapopularisa at maihatid sa mas malawak na masa?

Lumang Moda, Bagong Pagpapalala

Isang pag-uusap kay Rizal tungkol sa moda ng produksyon ng Pilipinas*

July 3, 2026

Pax Silica taunts the calamity that will come: how many Filipinos will remain barely afloat on rotting wooden pieces of part-time manufacturing work while foreign billionaires spectate on glimmering yachts?

Jobs and Pax Silica: The song remains the same

June 27, 2026

FEATURES

Local oligarchs in partnership with foreign companies gain gargantuan profits from plundering the environment, with government protection.

Not Just Trees

June 9, 2026

FEATURES

An urban poor community may be razed to the ground. But the urban poor’s long history of relentless struggle almost always ignites a flame that carries on until people’s development is realized.

Where does the fire come from?

June 5, 2026

FEATURES

The real threat confronting Filipinos today is not simply the spread of disinformation and fake news, but how the state is working so hard to conceal the deepening economic crisis.

Policing Truth, Hiding the Crisis

June 5, 2026

Resources

Controlling the Cure

June 30, 2026

Download the File

Birdtalk Briefing Paper

2026 Yearstarter: From frustration to action

February 24, 2026

Download the File

Nagsasapawang krisis, ang kawastuhan ng galit

February 3, 2026

Download the File

Urban Stories Ch2

January 7, 2026

Download the File

IBON on budget transparency

November 17, 2025

Download the File

Pagpupunyagi

November 5, 2025

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Infographics

Low real wages, more expensive food (May 2026)

Infoposts

The 2027 budget: Austerity for Filipinos, billions for patronage

Photoquotes

IBON Executive Director on PH reaching upper middle-income status

Topics

2026 National Budget

2026 National Budget

People Economics

People Economics

Build Build Build

Build Build Build

International

PH-China Relations

PH-China Relations

Environment

Networks

Water for the People

Water for the People

Stop TRAIN Network

Stop TRAIN Network

SUKI Network

NO to KKLD

CPDG

POWER

Green Action Philippines

Green Action Philippines

AidWatch Philippines

AidWatch Philippines

Consumers International

Consumers International

Bantay Bigas

IPED EFD

AlterMidya Network

AlterMidya Network