Committee for the Abolition of Illegitimate Debt

Rovik Obanil, Secretary General of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) in the Philippines, presented an overview of the historical evolution of debt in the country, highlighting how debt-driven development policies have caused significant disruption. This presentation took place at a conference held in Manila on June 2, 2025, organised by IIRE Manila in collaboration with CADTM. The forum was hosted at the University of the Philippines in the capital and was titled “Debt Chains and Displaced Lives: Confronting Financial Institutions’ Legacies in the Global South.”. It received endorsements from various organisations, including the UP CIDS AltDev Program on Alternative Development, the Centre for Migrant Advocacy, Focus on the Global South, the Freedom from Debt Coalition, Sumpay Mindanao, the Kaagapay OFW Resource and Service Centre, the University of the Philippines Department of Geography, and the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD).