Does anyone know why the family based 3rd preference for the Philippines has been set back to July of 88? Back in April, it was feburary 8 of 91 and then the last couple of months it's been July of 88. I thought that the visa bullentin progresses forward not backwards. Does anyone know if it will progress in 88 or go back to 91? Has this ever happened to anyone waiting for their priority date to become current?

If the number of applicants/beneficiaries constantly progresses, while CAP is set at certain limit, then naturally you should expect the PDs to get stuck and not move forward.

I genertally interpret it (growing wait times, retrogressions, not increasing CAPs and etc.) as a sign of unwillingness by US to accept more immigrants at this time.
If it be the case, the reasonable thing to do would be to change your mind and find another place to immigrate.

Some day, when China becomes superpower (as USSR once was) all PD's will move forward with lightning speed and everyone will get a GC in a split second, until then don't expect fast processing for GCs