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Gov't spends Php5-M to contain forest fire in Albay island-town
By Rhaydz B. Barcia

RAPU-RAPU, Albay, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- Heavy rain and the Philippine Air Force's (PAF) simultaneous bucket operation in the gold-rich island-town of Rapu-Rapu in Albay saved about 10,000 people who were threatened by a five-day forest fire that had cost the government some Php5 million.

The fire was blamed to the "kaingin" (slash-and-burn) farming practice of the impoverished communities here.

Two helicopters from the 505th PAF Search and Rescue Group equipped with buckets were deployed by the government to curtail the wild fire in three separate sites -- timberland areas, alienable land and disposable land -- where 14,000 inhabitants live.

The incident took place on Friday but was reported late by barangay officials to the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office and the Office of Civil Defense-Bicol when the inferno-like fire was already about to engulf thousands of residents, including school buildings, during the five-day bush conflagration.

Lt. Col. Luisito F. Angeles Jr., commander of Tactical Operations Group 5-Philippine Air Force based here, said six PAF pilots -- Lt. Col. Robert Bitas and Majors Jay-R Macasil, Jeff Guerra, Salvador C. Dee Jr. and Christian Manglicmot, and 1st Lt. Aarjayee G. Escote -- worked together as they dropped buckets of water since Sunday to contain the forest fire.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda requested the PAF to deploy helicopters equipped with buckets to save the lives of the islanders from clear danger.

Salceda mobilized all government forces from land, sea and air defense systems to control the spread of the wild fire.

Personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were also on hand to do their share of rescue operation.

From the usual kaingin fire, it became a continuing forest conflagration that escalated rapidly due to strong winds brought by the southwest monsoon or "habagat."

On Monday night, heavy rainfall brought by bad weather disturbance poured and helped control the blaze.

“It's a miracle. Crisis is over. PAF dropped 45,000 liters of water but could not control it. We asked for cloud seeding but no plane was immediately available. So, God answered our prayers. God is good. He took care of cloud seeding. It rained hard enough,” Salceda said.

OCD Regional Director Bernardo Rafaelito “Raffy” Alejandro, Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council chair, said the government spent Php5 million in using air, land and sea assets -- including manpower -- to curtail the "inferno."

But even with heavy rain on Monday night, the blaze was still continuing, simmering down only on Tuesday morning.

The PAF helicopters are still simultaneously conducting bumpy bucket operations to totally contain the last breath of the blaze.

Salceda had earlier ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas such as in barangays Poblacion, Morocborocan, Mananao, Guadalupe and Buenavista.

Some 3,000 people were also evacuated to safer grounds.

Barangays Batan, San Ramon, Bagaobawan, Dapdap and Bogtong were designated as temporary shelters.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has sent 200 bags of rice and canned goods as relief assistance to the affected residents of Rapu-Rapu.

Salceda also directed the Provincial Health Office to look into the after-effects of the forest fire.

The provincial government is looking at the secondary anticipated health hazards brought by the forest fire like the aggravation of upper respiratory infections, especially for people with co-morbidities like asthma; the old and the young secondary victim to the smoke produced; water-borne diseases like diarrhea due to possible contamination of some of the area’s water source; vector-borne diseases brought about by mosquitoes displaced; and bites of animals like snakes, displaced by the fire, among others.

This was the second time that Albay experienced a forest fire but this last one was bigger as it happened sporadically wherein the forest dry leaves and twigs in the mountainous portion of the town easily sparked spontaneously, following the onslaught of typhoon "Glenda" which, according to Cedric Daep, APSEMO chief, aggravated the situation. (PNA)

The draw of the 2014 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Football Federation (AFF) Championship final round was held in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Tuesday.

A total of eight teams will participate in the final round, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as the two teams who lead the qualifying round scheduled for Lao capital Vientiane on October 12-20.

The eight teams are divided into two groups. Following the results of the draw on Tuesday, Group A consists of Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia and the qualifying round runner-up.

Meanwhile, Group B consists of Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the qualifying round winner.

There are six teams to take part in the qualifying round in Vientiane, namely Laos, Brunei Darussalam (two teams), Cambodia, Myanmar and Timor Leste. The six teams will play in round robin format to select two with highest scores.

The AFF Suzuki Cup is a biennial football competition organized by AFF, accredited by FIFA and contested by the national teams of Southeast Asia.

Singapore and Vietnam have been chosen as co-hosts for the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014 with the kick-off on November 22 and the final pool games on November 29.

The semi-finals and the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014 will be played on a home and away format from December 6 to 20, according to the website of AFF Cup 2014.

Singapore was the champion of the 2012 tournament. (PNA/Xinhua)

House body to invite anew Chief Justice Sereno on JDF issue
By Sammy F. Martin

MANILA, Aug. 5 (PNA) -- The House of Representatives Committee on Justice on Tuesday said it intends to invite again Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno or her official representative in its next hearing to shed light on the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF).

Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas Jr., chairman of the committee, said they just want to clarify some provisions under JDF which is directly controlled by the Chief Justice.

"In my four years as committee chairman, this was the first time that the Supreme Court ignored an invitation from the committee," Tupas told reporters in an interview after the hearing.

"We hope that the Supreme Court will understand that we are only doing our job, being elected by the people, and in the name of public accountability and transparency, no one should be untouchable."

Aside from Sereno, the committee invited her Deputy Court Administrator Raul Villanueva and SC Fiscal Management and Budget Office head Atty. Corazon Ferrer-Flores.

Tupas said they granted the request of Sereno that she be given more time to consult with other justices on the matter.

"We gave them two weeks to prepare. We are still hoping that she will attend. We will invite her again. We will have her in another hearing," he noted.

Tupas and Ilocos Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas filed House Bill 4738 and HB 4690, respectively, to repeal, replace and reform the JDF by compelling the SC justices to open their "pork barrel," stressing the constitutional grant of fiscal autonomy cannot and should not be used to frustrate the overriding constitutional principles of transparency, accountability and good governance.

For his part, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali said the Chief Justice should have attended the hearing since she has the sole authority to JDF.

Under PD 1949, the law that creates the JDF, the exclusive power and duty to approve and authorize disbursements and expenditures of the JDF is vested in the Chief Justice of the SC.

In that sense alone, the JDF is considered discretionary funds as the same is administered by a particular public official and disbursed for public purpose.

Sereno has rejected the invitation of the Lower House to attend a congressional inquiry Tuesday on the Judiciary Development Fund.

In a letter sent to Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. dated August 4, 2014, the Chief Justice said that, "asking the head of a co-equal branch of government to provide her views, comments, and recommendations on the two bills at this stage might be premature and considering the venue at which it is being proposed to be heard, inappropriate."

"My view of the manner, timing, and context in which a committee of the House is proposing to inquire into the Judiciary Development Fund as indicated in its letter, is that they leave much to be desired, and at this point, do not seem to be fully cognizant of the kind of healthy relationship that should exist between, on the one hand, the House of Representatives, and on the other, the Supreme Court," said Sereno in her letter.

Meanwhile, the committee also directed the Commission on Audit (COA) to conduct a special audit on the P1.7-billion JDF, which corresponds as the Court’s “pork barrel.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the decision of the court to convict the 12 Chinese fishermen who were jailed for poaching in Philippine waters is based on national laws.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said: “The verdict was based on applicable Philippine laws. And the place where these Chinese fishermen were apprehended in April 2013 is part of the Philippines' internal waters where it has exclusive sovereignty."

The 12 were meted imprisonment for six to 12 years, plus a fine of US$ 100,000 for poaching off the Tubattaha Reef, which has been declared by the United Nations as a world heritage site.

This is the first conviction of Chinese fishermen by a Philippine court since tensions flared anew between Manila and Beijing over disputed territories in the South China Sea in 2012.

To diffuse tensions and resolve disputes, Jose said the Philippines will seek support in an upcoming Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Myanmar for a three step proposal that would include a freeze on construction in disputed features in the South China Sea.

Manila last month revealed that China has been engaged in a rapid expansion and reclamation of at least two areas in the South China Sea that are within the Philippines’ territory.

“We believe that our framework proposal is positive, constructive and comprehensive, and will be beneficial to everyone in the region, including China,” Jose said. (PNA)

The four-week Israeli military offensive into the Gaza strip caused some 400 Palestinian children killed and over 2,700 injured, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday.

Pernille Ironside, Head of Field Office in Gaza with UNICEF, told a press briefing through telephone that the Israel's military action has inflicted 'catastrophic and tragic' impact to children and their families in Gaza.

In addition to updating the casualties of Palestinian children, Ironside noted a daunting number of about 370,000 children in Gaza who have had direct traumatic experience and were in urgent need of immediate psychological and social support.

Ironside said that the nearly-one-month-old conflict made the already-hard-life in Gaza even worse, further restricting the extremely-limited schooling and impaired the weak infrastructure.

The UN official stressed the devastating impact of damaged infrastructures, especially the dis-functioning electricity which further aggravated the scarceness of water.

The lack of electricity led to decommission of water pumping stations and water wells and of sewage pumping stations and treatment plants, as it was introduced.

People accommodated in shelters have very limited amount of drinking water and there were insufficient water for hygiene, and things were worse in communities outside of shelters, with most people have no access to potable water.

The risk of outbreak of contagious disease loomed, as she has highlighted.

"This is an urgent concern that could lead potentially to diarrhea and the further death of children, particularly those who are under age of five," Ironside warned.

"There is no doubt that the impact of this conflict with thousands of missiles that stuck Gaza over the past month far surpasses even the combined impact of the previous two escalations (respectively in 2008 and 2012), both in physical terms and infrastructure terms," the UN official stressed, adding that the cost of reconstruction would be greater than that of previous escalations.

As for the Egypt-brokered-72-hour ceasefire which went into effect from eight o'clock local time this morning, Ironside said that there was some reason for optimism with commencement of the truce and hoped it would hold.

But she appealed that the ceasefire was not enough, and it was necessary to arrive at a permanent truce and to lift the closure on Gaza, which would serve for the best of the Palestinian children and the whole population.

"What is really required in the context is that there is an investigation that looks into all dimensions of the conflict in a transparent manner, and that leads to the truth as to what has taken place, and hopefully to justice and accountability," Ironside added. (PNA/Xinhua)

Justice Secretary Leila M. de Lima on Tuesday ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate the disclosure of Atty. Nena Santos that she was allegedly offered a Php300-million bribe by the Ampatuans in connection with the Maguindanao massacre case.

The massacre claimed the lives of 58 civilians, including 15 women and 32 media practitioners in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009.

Santos, lawyer of Maguindanao Gov. Ismael "Toto" Mangudadatu, earlier divulged that the Php300-million bribe from the Ampatuans which she rejected, may have ended up in the panel of public prosecutors.

According to De Lima, the panel of prosecutors itself is also asking for an investigation.

The DOJ Secretary said the accusation being hurled against the panel is unfair because they are just doing everything they can to secure the conviction of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre case. (PNA)

Good to hear you again, Bedo! Kumusta bai? Kuala Lumpur gihapon ka?

Many bacterial epidemics in human history might be due to environmental changes rather than the evolution of virulent pathogens, a new study suggested Monday.

The finding, published in the U.S. journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was based on an analysis of 149 genomes of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A, which is a major cause of enteric fever.

Enteric fever is currently estimated at 27 million clinical cases each year, resulting in 200,000 deaths.

"When epidemics break out, many scientists suspect they have been driven by increased virulence or fitness, possibly associated with the gain of novel genes or mutations," lead author Zhemin Zhou from the University of Warwick in Britain said in a statement.

"We wanted to trace genetic changes in a prominent bacterial pathogen back to see if this was true," he said.

Using phylogenetic methods and statistical models, the researchers found Paratyphi A originated at least 450 years ago, and had not changed dramatically over the centuries.

This suggests that the pathogen had not become more efficient at causing enteric fever, they said.

"We found the pathogen formed seven distinct lineages that spread globally since the mid-19th century. Tracing the pathogen, we found there were genetic mutations that may have transiently improved drug resistance or improved the metabolic efficiency," Zhou said.

"However, most mutations were short-lived and removed by evolutionary forces."

The researchers interpreted the history of Paratyphi A as " reflecting drift rather than progressive evolution."

"Most recent increases in frequencies of bacterial diseases are due to environmental changes rather than the novel evolution of pathogenic bacteria," they wrote in their paper. (PNA/Xinhua)

Strong quake in southwestern China kills at least 398

Rescuers continued to search Monday for survivors beneath toppled buildings after a powerful earthquake in a remote area of southwestern China's Yunnan Province killed at least 398 people.

The 6.5-maginitude quake, which struck Ludian County of Zhaotong City at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, also left 1,801 others injured and led to an emergency evacuation of about 230,000, the official Xinhua News Agency quoted provincial officials as saying.

China has mobilized more than 7,000 soldiers and police, in addition to 11,000 rescuers sent from local authorities, to help about 1.08 million affected people, the agency said. (PNA/Kyodo)

Effects of interventions to raise voluntary enrollment in a social health insurance scheme : a cluster randomized trial

A cluster randomized controlled trial was undertaken, testing two sets of interventions to encourage enrollment in the Philippines' Individual Payer Program. Of 243 municipalities, 179 were randomly assigned as intervention sites and 64 as controls. In early 2011, 2,950 families were interviewed; unenrolled Individual Payer Program-eligible families in intervention sites were given an information kit and a 50 percent premium subsidy until the end of 2011. In February 2012, the "non-compliers" had their voucher extended, were re-sent the enrollment kit, and received Short Message Service (SMS) reminders. Half were told that in the upcoming end-line interview the enumerator could help complete the enrollment form, deliver it to the insurer, and have identification cards mailed. The control and intervention sites were balanced at baseline. In the control sites, 9.9 percent (32/323) of eligible individuals had enrolled by January 2012, compared with 14.9 percent (119/801) in intervention sites. In the sub-experiment, enrollment was 3.4 percent (10/290) among eligible non-compliers and who did not receive assistance but 39.7 percent (124/312) among those who did. A premium subsidy combined with information can increase voluntary enrollment in a social health insurance program, but less than an intervention that reduces the enrollment burden; even that leaves enrollment below 50 percent.

Source: Effects of interventions to raise voluntary enrollment in a social health insurance scheme : a cluster randomized trial

Episodes of unemployment reduction in rich, middle-income, and transition economies

This paper studies the incidence and determinants of episodes of drastic unemployment reduction, defined as swift, substantial, and sustained declines in unemployment. Forty-three episodes are identified over a period of nearly three decades in 94 rich, middle-income, and transition countries. Unemployment reductions often coincide with an acceleration of growth and an improvement in macroeconomic conditions. Episodes are much more prevalent in countries with higher levels of unemployment and, given unemployment, are more likely in countries with better regulation. An efficient legal system that enforces contracts expeditiously is particularly important for reducing unemployment. The results imply that while employment is largely related to the business cycle, better regulation reduces the likelihood of high unemployment and facilitates a more rapid recovery in the event unemployment builds up.

Source: Episodes of unemployment reduction in rich, middle-income, and transition economies

Progress toward the health MDGs : are the poor being left behind ?

This paper looks at differential progress on the health Millennium Development Goals between the poor and better-off within countries. The findings are based on original analysis of 235 Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, spanning 64 developing countries over the period 1990-2011. Five health status indicators and seven intervention indicators are tracked for all the health Millennium Development Goals. In most countries, the poorest 40 percent have made faster progress than the richest 60 percent. On average, relative inequality in the Millennium Development Goal indicators has been falling. However, the opposite is true in a sizable minority of countries, especially on child health status indicators (40-50 percent in the cases of child malnutrition and mortality), and on some intervention indicators (almost 40 percent in the case of immunizations). Absolute inequality has been rising in a larger fraction of countries and in around one-quarter of countries, the poorest 40 percent have been slipping backward in absolute terms. Despite reductions in most countries, relative inequalities in the Millennium Development Goal health indicators are still appreciable, with the poor facing higher risks of malnutrition and death in childhood and lower odds of receiving key health interventions.

Source: Progress toward the health MDGs : are the poor being left behind ?

The impact of a pay-for-performance scheme on prescription quality in rural China : an impact evaluation

In China, health care providers have traditionally been paid fee-for-service and overprescribing and high out-of-pocket spending are common. In this study, township health centers in two counties were assigned almost randomly to two groups: in one, fee-for-service was replaced by a global capitated budget; in the other, by a mix of global capitated budget and pay-for-performance. Performance captured inter alia "irrational" drug prescribing; 20 percent of the global capitated budget was withheld each quarter, points were deducted for failure to meet targets, and some of the withheld budget was returned in line with the points deducted. Outcomes included appropriate prescribing and prescription cost, data on which were obtained by digitizing prescriptions from a month just before the reform and from the same month a year later. Impacts were assessed via multivariate differences-in-differences with township health center fixed effects. To reduce bias from non-randomness in assignment, the sample was trimmed by coarsened exact matching. Pay-for-performance reduced inappropriate prescribing significantly and substantially in the county where the initial level was above the penalty threshold, but end-line rates were still appreciable; no effects were seen in the county where initial levels were around or below the threshold, or on out-of-pocket spending in either county.

Source: The impact of a pay-for-performance scheme on prescription quality in rural China : an impact evaluation

Immigrant versus natives ? displacement and job creation

The impact of immigration on native workers is driven by two countervailing forces: the degree of substitutability between natives and immigrants, and the increased demand for native workers as immigrants reduce the cost of production and output expands. The literature so far has focused on the former substitution effect, while ignoring the latter scale effect. This paper estimates both of these effects using labor force survey data from Malaysia (1990-2010), a country uniquely suited for understanding the impact of low-skilled immigration. The instrumental variable estimates imply that the elasticity of labor demand (3.4) is greater than the elasticity of substitution between natives and immigrants (2.5). On average the scale effect outweighs the substitution effect. For every ten additional immigrants, employment of native workers increases by 4.1 in a local labor market. These large reallocation effects are accompanied by negligible relative wage changes. At the national level, a 10 percent increase in immigrants, equivalent to 1 percent increase in labor force, has a small positive effect on native wages (0.14 percent). The impact of immigration is highly heterogeneous for natives with different levels of education, resulting in substantial changes in skill premiums and hence inequality. Immigrants on net displace natives with at most primary education; while primarily benefiting those with a little more education, lower secondary or completed secondary education.

Source: Immigrant versus natives ? displacement and job creation

Strengthening Malaria service delivery through supportive supervision and community mobilization in an endemic Indian setting : an evaluation of nested delivery models

Malaria continues to be a prominent global public health challenge, in part because of the slow population adoption of recommended preventive and curative behaviors. This paper tests the effectiveness of two service delivery models designed to promote recommended behaviors, including prompt treatment seeking for febrile illness, in Odisha India. The tested modules include supportive supervision of community health workers and community mobilization promoting appropriate health seeking. Program effects were identified through a randomized cluster trial comprising 120 villages from two purposively chosen malaria-endemic districts. Significant improvements were measured in the reported utilization of bed nets in both intervention arms vis-à-vis the control. Although overall rates of treatment seeking were equal across the study arms, treatment seeking from community health workers was higher in both intervention arms and care seeking from trained providers also increased with a substitution away from untrained providers. Further, fever cases in both treatments were more likely to have received timely medical treatment (within 24 hours) from a skilled provider. The study arm with supportive supervision was particularly effective in shifting care seeking to community health workers and ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment. A community-based intervention combining the supportive supervision of community health workers with intensive community mobilization can be effective in shifting care seeking and increasing preventive behavior, and thus may be used to strengthen the national malaria control program.

Source: Strengthening Malaria service delivery through supportive supervision and community mobilization in an endemic Indian setting : an evaluation of nested delivery models

Encouraging health insurance for the informal sector : a cluster randomized trial

Subsidized voluntary enrollment in government-run health insurance schemes is often proposed as a way of increasing coverage among informal sector workers and their families. This paper reports the results of a cluster randomized control trial in which 3,000 households in 20 communes in Vietnam were randomly assigned at baseline to a control group or one of three treatments: an information leaflet about VietnamÂ's government-run scheme and the benefits of health insurance; a voucher entitling eligible household members to 25 percent off their annual premium; and both. The four groups were balanced at baseline. In the control group, 6.3 percent (82/1296) of individuals were enrolled in the endline, compared with 6.3 percent (79/1257), 7.2 percent (96/1327), and 7.0 percent (87/1245) in the information, subsidy, and combined intervention groups; the adjusted odds ratios were 0.94, 1.12, and 1.15, respectively. Only among those reporting poor health were any significant intervention effects found, and only for the combined intervention: an enrollment rate of 16.3 percent (33/202) compared with 8.3 percent (18/218) in the control group, and an adjusted odds ratio of 2.50. The results suggest limited opportunities to raise voluntary health insurance enrollment through information campaigns and subsidies, and that these interventions exacerbate adverse selection.

Source: Encouraging health insurance for the informal sector : a cluster randomized trial

The long-awaited rise of the middle class in Latin America is finally happening

In many developing countries, the supply of skilled workers is likely to continue to be stronger than demand, and this should drive down the skill premium and reduce inequality. Within the limitations of any exercise based on simulations, this paper finds that the recently observed reduction in inequality in Latin America may continue. Building on counterfactual scenarios projecting economic and demographic (including age and education) growth, the paper also highlights that by 2030 the long-awaited rise of the middle class in Latin America will be in full swing, as its share will be 43 percent of the total population, twice the value in 2005. This achievement is not guaranteed, as countries with large initial inequalities will have to achieve very high rates of inclusive growth. At the same time, a larger middle class is likely to exert a stronger influence on international and domestic policy making.

Source: The long-awaited rise of the middle class in Latin America is finally happening

50 years of urbanization in Africa : examining the role of climate change

This paper documents a significant impact of climate variation on urbanization in Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily in more arid countries. By lowering farm incomes, reduced moisture availability encourages migration to nearby cities, while wetter conditions slow migration. The paper also provides evidence for rural-urban income links. In countries with a larger industrial base, reduced moisture shrinks the agricultural sector and raises total incomes in nearby cities. However, if local cities are entirely dependent on servicing agriculture so their fortunes move with those of agriculture, reduced moisture tends to reduce local urban incomes. Finally, the paper shows that climate induces employment changes within the rural sector itself. Drier conditions induce a shift out of farm activities, especially for women, into non-farm activities, and especially out of the workforce. Overall, these findings imply a strong link between climate and urbanization in Africa.

Source: 50 years of urbanization in Africa : examining the role of climate change

Poverty reduction and shared prosperity in Tajikistan : a diagnostic

Tajikistan was one of the fastest growing countries in the Europe and Central Asia region during the last decade. The economic growth was widely shared by the population and as a result poverty (measured by the national poverty line) declined from 73 percent in 2003 to 47 percent in 2009 accompanied by falling inequality. Consumption growth of the bottom 40 percent of the population -- a measure of shared prosperity proposed by the World Bank- was positive, pointing out that the growth was shared among the less well off. This work presents a diagnostic of shared prosperity and poverty reduction in Tajikistan during 2003-2009. The paper also focuses on quantifying the main drivers of poverty reduction, shared prosperity, and intra-generational mobility (class transitions). Some of the mechanisms of poverty reduction are explored in detail. Finally, main impediments to inter-generational mobility are discussed.

Source: Poverty reduction and shared prosperity in Tajikistan : a diagnostic

Economic development and female labor participation in the Middle East and North Africa : a test of the u-shape hypothesis

The Middle East and North Africa region is known for having low female labor market participation rates as compared with its level of economic development. A possible explanation is that these countries find themselves at the turning point of the U-shape hypothesis when countries transition from declining to rising female participation rates. This paper tests the U-shape hypothesis in countries in the Middle East and North Africa. It finds that the region has outperformed other world regions in terms of the main drivers of the U-shape hypothesis, including gross domestic product per capita, economic transformation away from the agricultural sector, female education, and fertility rates. These facts are consistent with nonparametric evidence that shows countries in the region are distributed over a U-shaped curve. However, parametric tests of the hypothesis point in a different direction. The region shows an inverted U-shape overall and great heterogeneity across countries and age cohorts that defies any law on the relation between gross domestic product and female participation rate. The explanation behind these findings may be economic and cultural. Jobless growth and the lack of growth in employment sectors such as manufacturing and services, which proved critical for female employment in other countries, weaken labor demand and strengthen the role of institutions that may discourage female participation, such as marriage, legislation, and gender norms.

Source: Economic development and female labor participation in the Middle East and North Africa : a test of the u-shape hypothesis

Comparative advantage, international trade, and fertility

This paper analyzes theoretically and empirically the impact of comparative advantage in international trade on fertility. It builds a model in which industries differ in the extent to which they use female relative to male labor and countries are characterized by Ricardian comparative advantage in either female labor or male labor intensive goods. The main prediction of the model is that countries with comparative advantage in female labor intensive goods are characterized by lower fertility. This is because female wages and therefore the opportunity cost of children are higher in those countries. The paper demonstrates empirically that countries with comparative advantage in industries employing primarily women exhibit lower fertility. The analysis uses a geography-based instrument for trade patterns to isolate the causal effect of comparative advantage on fertility.

Source: Comparative advantage, international trade, and fertility

Does involvement of local NGOs enhance public service delivery ? cautionary evidence from a Malaria-prevention evaluation in India

Using data from an experimental supportive intervention to India's malaria control program, this paper studies the impact of leveraging local non-state capacity to promote mosquito net usage and recommended fever care-seeking patterns. The supportive activities were conducted simultaneously by three nongovernmental organizations in two endemic districts in the state of Orissa. The study finds that program impact varied significantly by location. Examining three potential sources of this variation (differential population characteristics, differential health worker characteristics, and differential implementer characteristics), the analysis provides evidence that both population and nongovernmental organization characteristics significantly affected the success of the program. The paper discusses these findings as they relate to the external validity of development policy evaluations and, specifically, for the ability of the health system to benefit from limited non-state capacity in under-resourced areas.

Source: Does involvement of local NGOs enhance public service delivery ? cautionary evidence from a Malaria-prevention evaluation in India

Radio's impact on preferences for patronage benefits

Citizens in developing countries support politicians who provide patronage or clientelist benefits, such as government jobs and gifts at the time of elections. Can access to mass media that broadcasts public interest messages shift citizens' preferences for such benefits? This paper examines the impact of community radio on responses to novel survey vignettes that make an explicit trade-off between political promises of jobs for a few versus public services for all. The impact of community radio is identified through a natural experiment in the media market in northern Benin, which yields exogenous variation in access across villages. Respondents in villages with greater radio access are less likely to express support for patronage jobs that come at the expense of public health or education. Gift-giving is not necessarily traded off against public services; correspondingly, radio access does not reduce preferences for candidates who give gifts. The pattern of results is consistent with a particular mechanism for radio's impact: increasing citizens' demand for broadly delivered health and education and thereby shaping their preferences for clientelist candidates.

Source: Radio's impact on preferences for patronage benefits

Welfare dynamics measurement : two definitions of a vulnerability line and their empirical application

Little research currently exists on a vulnerability line that distinguishes the poor population from the population that is not poor but that still faces significant risk of falling back into poverty. This paper attempts to fill this gap by proposing vulnerability lines that can be straightforwardly estimated with panel or cross-sectional household survey data, in rich- and poor-country settings. These vulnerability lines offer a means to broaden traditional poverty analysis and can also assist with the identification of the middle class or resilient population groups. Empirical illustrations are provided using panel data from the United States (Panel Study of Income Dynamics) and Vietnam (Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey) for the period 2004-2008 and cross-sectional data from India (National Sample Survey) for the period 2004-2009. The estimation results indicate that in Vietnam and India during this time period, the population living in poverty and the middle class have been falling and expanding, respectively, while the opposite has been occurring in the United States.

Source: Welfare dynamics measurement : two definitions of a vulnerability line and their empirical application

Bridging the gap : identifying what is holding self-employed women back in Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda



Source: Bridging the gap : identifying what is holding self-employed women back in Ghana, Rwanda, Tanzania, the Republic of Congo, and Uganda

Parallel systems and human resource management in India's public health services : a view from the front lines

There is building evidence in India that the delivery of health services suffers from an actual shortfall in trained health professionals, but also from unsatisfactory results of existing service providers working in the public and private sectors. This study focusses on the public sector and examines de facto institutional and governance arrangements that may give rise to well-documented provider behaviors such as absenteeism, which can adversely affect service delivery processes and outcomes. The paper considers four human resource management subsystems: postings, transfers, promotions, and disciplinary practices. The four subsystems are analyzed from the perspective of front line workers, that is, physicians working in rural health care facilities operated by two state governments. Physicians were sampled in one post-reform state that has instituted human resource management reforms and one pre-reform state that has not. The findings are based on quantitative and qualitative measurement. The results show that formal rules are undermined by a parallel modus operandi in which desirable posts are often determined by political connections and side payments. The evidence suggests an institutional environment in which formal rules of accountability are trumped by a parallel set of accountabilities. These systems appear so entrenched that reforms have borne no significant effect.

Source: Parallel systems and human resource management in India's public health services : a view from the front lines

The Brasilia experiment : road access and the spatial pattern of long-term local development in Brazil

This paper studies the impact of the rapid expansion of the Brazilian road network, which occurred from the 1960s to the 2000s, on the growth and spatial allocation of population and economic activity across the country's municipalities. It addresses the problem of endogeneity in infrastructure location by using an original empirical strategy, based on the "historical natural experiment" constituted by the creation of the new federal capital city Brasília in 1960. The results reveal a dual pattern, with improved transport connections increasing concentration of economic activity and population around the main centers in the South of the country, while spurring the emergence of secondary economic centers in the less developed North, in line with predictions in terms of agglomeration economies. Over the period, roads are shown to account for half of pcGDP growth and to spur a significant decrease in spatial inequality.

Source: The Brasilia experiment : road access and the spatial pattern of long-term local development in Brazil

How useful is inequality of opportunity as a policy construct ?

The academic literature on equality of opportunity has burgeoned. The concepts and measures have begun to be used by policy institutions, including in specific sectors such as health and education. It is argued that one advantage of focusing on equality of opportunity is that policy makers are more responsive to that discourse than to equality of outcomes per se. This paper presents a critique of equality of opportunity in the policy context. Although the empirical analysis to which the literature has given rise is useful and is to be welcomed, current methods for quantifying and implementing the concept with a view to informing the policy discourse face a series of fundamental questions that remain unanswered. Without a full appreciation of these difficulties, the methods may prove to be misleading in the policy context.

Source: How useful is inequality of opportunity as a policy construct ?

International remittances and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper uses World Bank survey data, including about 10,000 households in five countries -- Burkina Faso, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda -- to investigate the link between international remittances and households' financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa.  The paper finds that receiving international remittances increases the probability that the household opens a bank account in all the five countries. This result is robust to controlling for the potential endogeneity of remittances, using as instruments indicators of the migrants' economic conditions in the destination countries.

Source: International remittances and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa

If a member is using a hotmail.com email address, he/she should email me and I would manually change his/her email address. My email address is info @ mikeligalig.com (remove the space in between).

All members with hotmail.com emails will be deleted.

Dear Friends of TubagBohol,

Greetings!

TubagBohol.com, the only Boholano online forum that survives after all other sites have shut down in the wake of Facebook's presence, is committed to continue serving the public through news discussion and information dissemination. So far, we are approaching 700,000 posts and we remain dedicated to sharing information that matters most to the Boholano and Filipino people.

In this connection, the site will review the existing list of members recorded since TubagBohol was founded by Mike Ortega Ligalig in 2007 in Bangkok, Thailand. Inactive accounts may be deleted to free up server space.

If you have forgotten your password, there is a link in the member login box that allows you to receive your password in the email registered in our site.

Thank you for being a part of our online community.

At your service,

Michael Ortega Ligalig
Founder/Administrator - TUBAGBOHOL.COM
http://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php

NAPUSILAN matud pa sa lubot ang usa ka lalaki nga nangawat sa balay sa inahan ni boxing idol ug Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao sa barangay Labangal ning dakbayan, Huwebes.

Ang napusilan ug kauban niining nasikop ang puros usab kabanay ni Mommy Dionesia.
Giila ang duha nga silang Ranil Bendoy, 19-anyos, ulitawo ug   Richard Chato, hamtong ang pangidaron nga pulos residente sa Purok Acharon, barangay Labangal.

Matud ni Police Inspector Romulo Villarta, officer in charge sa Makar Police Station, nga sayo sa buntag nasapon sa akto ni Sarhento Jerson Estopona, driver-bodyguard ni Mommy Dionesia, silang Bendoy ug Chato sulod sa balay nga adunay gikuhang butang.

Si Chato ang misulay sa pagkatkat sa pader aron moikyas apan napusilan sa maong bodyguard.
Samtang, nadakpan usab si Bendoy nga nabalhog na sa selda sa Makar Police Station. Si Chato nagpabilin pa sa General Santos City Hospital.

Nangayo og pasaylo si Bendoy sa pamilyang Pacquiao bisan pa man andam kini nga atubangon ang ipasakang kaso batok kaniya.

Sa imbestigasyon sa kapulisan, nabawi gikan kang Bendoy ug Chato ang mga gripo, circuit breakers ug fire extinguisher.

Nasayran nga ang gikawatan nga mansiyon ang ga-ibaligya ni Mommy Dionesia human kini nagpatukod og bag-ong balay sa may barangay San Isidro, ning dakbayan. (Merry Grace Cortez)

basin pud ug gibalibaran kay molad-ok pero utangon man ang tuba.

lebron james

Many NBA players are acting like Maori Warriors.

pure self-defense. kung maayo ang abogado, dili mapriso ang suspetsado.

73 anyos na wa gihapon mahipno ang buot. pastilan. di mosabot nga wala nay tungog.

Acting Ombudsman Orlando C. Casimiro ordered the filing of criminal charges against two former governors and six others before the Sandiganbayan.

          Ordered charged before the Sandiganbayan for two counts each for violation of Sec.3 (e) and (g) of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-graft and Corrupt and Practices Act) is former governor Tomas N. Joson III while Amelia A. Gamilla, incumbent mayor of Bongabon town and Eduardo Basilio M. Joson, former municipal mayor of Quezon, both of Nueva Ecija provincial government, were both charged for violation of Sec.3 (e) and (g) of RA 3019.

          The case stemmed from the criminal complaint filed by Dr. Raymund G. Sarmiento, head/ officer-in-charge of the Public Affairs Monitoring Office (PAMO) of the province which alleged that on January 22, 2007, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution to donate heavy equipment to the local governments of Quezon, San Leonardo, Bongabon, Guimba, Talugtug and other municipalities.

          In direct contravention of the Board Resolution, aside from heavy equipment units, two luxury vehicles were included in the donation to Bongabon town, while the provincial mobile clinic, a Toyota Revo, a Ford F150 and a Nissan Urvan were donated to the municipality of Quezon whose local chief executives are alleged to be “allies” of Joson.

          In its Resolution, the anti-graft office stated that, “It is undisputed that the above-donations made by respondent Joson III constitutes the act of giving said municipalities unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference in the discharge of his function to the prejudice of the provincial government of Nueva Ecija.”

          In a separate case, Acting Ombudsman Casimiro ordered the filing of Informations for Falsification of Public Documents (Art. 171 of the Revised Penal Code) and Sec. 3(e) of RA 3019 against former Camarines Norte Governor Jesus Typoco, Jr.; Provincial Health Officer Arnulfo Salagoste; OIC, General Services Office, Noel Reyes; Buyer II, General Services Office, Aida Pandeagua; and Angelina Cabrera, Owner-Representative of Cabrera’s Drugstore and Medical supply in Daet, Camarines Norte.

          The case stemmed from the ghost and overpriced purchase of medicines made by the provincial government of Camarines Norte using public funds amounting to more than P1.6M.

          Records revealed that on April 21, 2005, a Purchase Order (PO) for the

purchase of said medicines was placed in favor of Cabrera’s drugstore and Medical Supply even before the opening of bids conducted one month later, on May 18, 2005. A Notice of Award was issued in favor of Cabrera’s Drugstore on May 20, 2005.

          The 22-page Resolution stated that “Clearly from the foregoing circumstances the complainant established the fact that unwarranted benefits, advantage or preference had been extended to Cabrera’s Drugstore and Medical Supply.”

          It said the Provincial Government of Camarines Norte at the onset of the

transaction had already made Cabrera’s Drugstore and Medical Supply as the preferred supplier and the respondent public officials were acting in accordance with such preference.

          Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed the criminal complaints for Violation of Art 171 of the RPC in relation to Sec. 8 of RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and

Sec. 8 in relation to Sec. 9 of RA 3019 and for institution of forfeiture proceedings in accordance with RA 1379 against Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, Jr.

           A complaint was filed against Binay for allegedly amassing unexplained wealth.

           In its Joint Resolution, Acting Ombudsman Casimiro said the Office did not find probable cause to indict Binay for the said offenses.

          He said “The increase in income appears steady and unremarkable except in 2004 and 2006 which rise is largely attributable to the respondent’s cash items.”

          The Resolution explained that the rise in cash items largely came from campaign contributions when Binay ran for City Councilor and gifts he received when he got married including the union of his assets with his wife.

2011 Archive from the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman secured the conviction of two ranking local officials of the municipality of Batuan, Bohol who unlawfully disbursed public funds in the amount of more than P250,000 from 1993 to 1997.

          In a 56-page decision, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Necitas Dumagan Jr., former mayor of Batuan, Bohol and his co-accused, former municipal treasurer Primitivo Digamon from six years and one month to 10 years imprisonment and six months for each of the nine counts of Violation of RA 3019 ( Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)  and an indeterminate sentence of 12 years to 20 years imprisonment for two counts of Malversation of Public Funds (Art. 217 of the Revised Penal Code).

          They were also ordered to pay jointly and severally a total of P256,823 in actual damages, fine of P34,612.95 with perpetual special disqualification.

          In addition, Digamon  was sentenced from six years and one month to 10 years imprisonment and six months for another count of Violation of RA 3019 due to a check he fraudulently released where he was the single signatory. He was also ordered to jointly and severally pay the amount of P50,000 as actual damages.

          A letter-complaint was earlier filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas requesting for an “immediate investigation of check disbursements” which were allegedly issued without vouchers for the said period.         

         During investigation, the municipal treasurer did not submit vouchers or payrolls to support the fund releases despite demand letters forwarded to him in 2001.         

          He also failed to account for why none of the released checks were recorded in the General Fund ledger.

          In the decision penned by Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo, the Anti-Graft Court’s Fifth Division said “being public officers, they are aware that their signatures in the said checks were indispensable before any disbursement and release of public funds.”

          The Court said that instead of presenting supporting evidence, “Digamon simply resorted to general statements that the checks were drawn to defray salaries of employees, supplies and materials and various projects of the municipality while Dumagan plainly maintained that the checks were properly supported by vouchers when they were presented for his signature.”

          Thus, according to the Anti-Graft Court, the Office of the Ombudsman’s Prosecution Team led by Assistant Special Prosecutor III Froilan Dayco “has established a valid inference of misappropriation for the failure of [the two] accused to account for the disbursement of said checks.”

          Concurring with the decision were Associate Justices Roland Jurado and Napoleon Inoturan.

The Sanbiganbayan convicted former Mayor Felino Pantaleon, Jr. of Lianga, Surigao Del Sur for violation of Article 244 ( Unlawful Appointment) of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).

Article 244 of the RPC declares it unlawful for any public officer who shall knowingly nominate or appoint to any public office any person lacking legal qualifications.

The Office of the Ombudsman was able to prove that in February 2007, Pantaleon illegally appointed Ian Reigh Elimanco to the position of Local Civil Registrar despite lacking the qualification of three (3) years of relevant experience.

The Sandiganbayan Decision found that by Resolution No. 28-07, the Sanggunian disapproved the appointment on the ground, among others, that he failed to meet the required three (3) year relevant experience, and yet despite the disapproval, Mayor Pantaleon upheld the appointment of Elimanco.

In convicting Pantaleon, the Court noted that “in ascertaining the legal qualifications of a particular appointee to a public office, there must be a law providing for the qualifications of a person to be nominated or appointed.”

Section 749, Article X of the Local Government Code provides as one of the qualifications for the position of Municipal Civil Registrar that the applicant must have experience in civil registry work for at least three (3) years.

“There is no doubt that Mayor Pantaleon was fully aware that Elimanco is not qualified for the position at the time the appointment was issued due to the latter’s want of experience in civil registry works,” the Decision reads.

Taking into account the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender, the Sandiganbayan sentenced Pantaleon to imprisonment ranging from one (1) month to two (2) months and a fine of P1,000.00.

source: Ombudsman Press Release

Ombudsman suspends Compostela Valley & Davao del Norte officials

Local officials from Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte were found guilty of violating Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, for having violated lawful orders of competent authority.

Suspended for six months without pay were Compostela Valley Assistant Provincial Assessor Abenir Labja; School District Supervisor Ramon Zafra (ComVal); Davao del Norte Budget Officer Dean Briz (Tagum City);  and Asuncion Sangguniang Bayan Secretary Eugenio Ramonida. Fined in an amount equivalent to his six months’ salary was  Nabunturan Barangay Councilor Miguel Fermil who no longer holds public office.

Case records show that on 30 April 2012, said officials (except for Labja) were removed by the National Electrification Administration (NEA) from their positions as members of the board of directors of Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DANECO).  The Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) also directed them to cease and desist from further exercising their powers and functions as board members of DANECO pending resolution of the dispute in court.

The Office of the Ombudsman for Mindanao found that the local officials willfully disregarded lawful orders and decisions of the NEA, CDA, Regional Trial Court and Court of Appeals, as they continued to exercise their functions as members of the board of directors, even continuing with the conduct of a referendum when they were already ordered to hold the same in abeyance.

“By disregarding and circumventing the lawful orders of competent authorities, the respondents have violated R.A. 6713,” the Decision stated, adding that respondents likewise “forgot that they are bringing with them the image of their public office; and by defying lawful orders, they tainted the integrity of their public positions.”

Benefits of Deregulation           
       
Deregulation has brought in, as of FY 2005, about 367 new players in the downstream oil industry, engaged in one or more activities, with actual investments totalling P 28.35 billion. Market share of new players from year 2002 were sustained at 15.3%.

Today’s market reflects more competitiveness. Presence of New Players is felt more in the LPG business earning a high market share of about 44.5% of the total LPG demand. New players in the LPG trade are all over the country, with players getting higher market shares in areas where they have import terminals. The entry of many independent refillers and marketers has resulted in malpractices in the industry and the proliferation of poor quality cylinders (not conforming to the standards for manufacture, requalification/maintenance or repair required by the BPS). Congress is now crafting a bill to also consider LPG cylinders and other ancillary equipment such as hoses and valves as critical to safety, thus as significant as the LPG product itself.

Promotion of Free Market Atmosphere           
       
Adequate safeguards are provided under the law to ensure that healthy competition would govern pricing, that fair competition is promoted and that cartels and monopolies in the industry are prevented. Among these is the creation of a DOE-DOJ Task Force to address unreasonable rise in prices.

RA 8479 promotes a free market atmosphere in the local oil industry similar to the pre-1973 condition. It has liberalized the downstream oil industry; established uniform tariff duties on both imported crude oil and refined petroleum products; promoted fair trade practices and free competition; encouraged entry of the new players in the industry; and promoted retail competition.

The deregulation of the oil industry had encouraged the entry of over 601 new players, bringing in a total of P28.4 billion worth of investments in various downstream oil projects. These players include both local and foreign investors engaged in varied activities such as retailing, bulk marketing and distribution of fuels and LPG, as well as operation of depots and storage facilities. In a span of eight years, the new players now have already posted a market share of 15.3% by the end of 2005.

It must be emphasized that deregulation does not guarantee lower prices but fair prices. Domestic oil prices are increasing because world market prices are increasing. Domestic prices are generally based on international prices with Dubai as benchmark crude for Asia and the mean of Platts (MOPS) in Singapore as basis for finished products. Hence, adjustments in domestic oil prices are simply reflective of crude costs and foreign exchange rates. For new players, who are generally, importers of finished products, the MOPS is a key indicator for oil prices.

It may be recalled that during the transition phase, prior to full deregulation, the Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) adopted an automatic pricing mechanism (APM) in determining domestic oil prices. Had the APM been applied today, prices in the domestic market would have been much higher.

As mandated, the DOE monitors prices of both the raw material crude oil and the refined petroleum products in the international market and provides daily summaries to both print and broadcast media, as well as to concerned government agencies. Domestic prices, both at the wholesale and retail levels, are also monitored. Moreover, the supply (importation/production), demand (sales/exports) and the inventory of the oil companies are being monitored with importers, refiners and marketers are being required by law to report on their activities.

Industry Structure           
       
The downstream oil industry activities include: a) importation of crude oil; b) processing and storing of intermediate and refined products at the refineries; c) product distribution to different bulk plants/depots through tankers/barges for Petron and new players and the Batangas-Manila pipeline for Caltex and Shell; and d) delivery of refined / finished products through tank trucks from the depots to the retail outlets and industrial consumers. In the case of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the product is transported in specialized bulk tankers/lorries to refilling plant where LPG is filled into cylinders and delivered to dealers/retail outlets for household/commercial use.

The Philippines downstream oil industry had been deregulated since1998 and is currently dominated by two (2) major oil refining and marketing companies; Petron and Pilipinas Shell. A third oil refiner and marketer, Caltex Philippines Inc. converted its 86,500 bbl/d refinery into an import terminal in 2003 and now operates as a plain marketing and distributing company under the name “Chevron”, but maintains its Caltex brand. Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC), a state-owned company, and Saudi Aramco jointly own Petron; each with a 40 percent stake while the public holds the remaining 20 percent share. Petron operates a 180,000 bbl/d refinery and over 1,200 gasoline stations nationwide; Pilipinas Shell has a 110,000 bbl/d refinery and about 800 gasoline stations; and Caltex/Chevron has 2 import terminals, and around 850 retail gas stations nationwide. Caltex built the first petroleum refinery in 1954. Followed by Stanvac in 1960, with the construction of what is now the biggest oil refinery in the country â€"the Bataan Refining Corporation. Shell Refinery started operations in July 1962 while a local player, Filoil Refinery, began operations in September 1962. Currently there are 3,472 registered gasoline dispensing stations ,182 LPG refilling plants, 28.30 MB of storage capacity and 16.62 MMB depots (import and export terminals). A 135 km white-oil and 100 km black-oil pipelines are used to transport oil from the refineries in Batangas to Manila and vice versa.

Presidential sister Kris Aquino asks for continued support for brother

Presidential sister, television host and actress Kris Aquino on Friday asked the public to continue supporting President Benigno S. Aquino III and his administration.

President Aquino joined his family, friends, supporters and members of the Cabinet in attending a mass at the Manila Memorial Park to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of his mother, former president Corazon “Cory” Aquino.

In her message after the mass, Kris asked President Aquino’s supporters to continue to stand by him.

“He can't do it on his own. We need to stand by him and give him strength. And please pray with us also that he stays alive,” she said. “Gusto namin talaga good health, wisdom, strength, courage and he has the fortitude to last.”

The television host said that their mother, Cory, would have been proud of his brother.

“Mom, I know you are so proud of your son and in the same way, all of us here right now, we are so proud talaga of everything he is and you know naâ€"we know na, we are what we are because of our parents,” she said.

Kris also thanked those who joined them at Friday’s event, as well as the supporters of the Aquino administration.

“To everybody here right now, thank you for making time to be here with us,” she said.

Also present during the mass were President Aquino’s sisters Maria Elena “Ballsy” Aquino-Cruz, and Victoria Elisa “Viel” Aquino-Dee.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Health Secretary Enrique Ona, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr., and Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery Panfilo Lacson were also in attendance.

Democracy icon and former President Cory Aquino died on August 1, 2009 due to colon cancer. The former leader was buried beside her husband, the late senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. (PNA)

From Happy Hour to Happy Minute

DPWH vs Mandaluyong City Government

Bed for Sale with Poem - unsa daw?

World Peace Starts with a Cat

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Please Be Specific

The State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Benigno S. Aquino III on the Monday has earned praises from the president of the Tacloban Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. (TFCCCI) here.

I believe this is the best SONA of the President. No promises, only telling the truth about accomplishments,” said Go Tic Ching.

Among others, the business group was focused on listening to the President talk about the government’s accomplishments and plans on the rehabilitation of communities affected by typhoon Yolanda.

The Filipino-Chinese group under TFCCCI is very aggressive in the rehabilitation of Yolanda-stricken areas.

Already, it has donated 40 classrooms in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte and 500 disaster-resilient houses at the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Village in Palo, aside from food relief.

They also donated 100 fishing boats and implements in Guiuan, Mercedes and Guinapondan in Eastern Samar and Marabut in Western Samar. (PNA)

Jail Facility in the Philippines

CA upholds OP's dismissal of special prosecutor

MANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the ruling of the Office of the President (OP) dismissing from the service Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit.

This, after the CA dismissed the appeal filed by Sulit questioning an OP investigation which later on ruled and dismissed her from the service because of the controversial plea bargaining agreement they have entered between government prosecutors and former military comptroller retired Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Maj. Gen. Carlos F. Garcia.

In a six-page resolution written by Associate Justice Agnes Reyes-Carpio, the CA Eighth Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Sulit for lack of merit.

"Wherefore, the motion for reconsideration is Denied. Our Decision dated August 27, 2013 stands," the CA ruling said.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Ramon Garcia and Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla.

Sulit sought to annul and set aside the OP orders dated July 26, 2012 and Sept. 17, 2012.

In her supplemental petition, she also sought the annulment of the OP order dated Oct. 15, 2012 in the same case which orders the investigation against her and eventually dismissing her from the service.

"We have pointed out that we cannot legally and technically ask the Execute Branch to observe judicial courtesy but observing the same will not make those involved in administrative proceedings lesser persons, if they, by their own volition, observe the reason for the principle of judicial courtesy--respect of law and legal processes," the CA said.

Prior to her dismissal, Sulit is the chief of the Office of the Ombudsman's prosecutorial arm, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), that handles cases against high-ranking public officials filed before the Sandiganbayan.

Sulit argued that she was charged during the time she was not yet a presidential appointee, hence, the OP has no jurisdiction to investigate her.

However, the CA said that Sulit is not similarly situated with that of the the Ombudsman who can only be charged with impeachment.

"In here, it is a lot easier as there was no transfer of agency. It was a matter of promotion within the same agency. Petitioner's present position at the time of the charge is Special Prosecutor, making her clearly under the disciplinary power of the Office of the President," the CA ruling said.

The Sandiganbayan Special 2nd Division approved the plea bargaining agreement later but was disapproved by the Supreme Court (SC).

In the ruling, the CA reminded Sulit and "those who are sitting as members of a formal investigating committee to observe procedural and substantive due process, regardless of their personal views and convictions." (PNA)

The Monetary Board (MB) placed the Rural Bank of Oroquieta (Misamis Occidental), Inc. under the receivership of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) by virtue of MB Resolution No. 1143 dated July 21, 2014.

As Receiver, PDIC took over the bank on July 22, 2014.

Rural Bank of Oroquieta is a two-unit rural bank with Head Office located at Barrientos corner Revil Streets, Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental. Its lone branch is located in Calamba, Misamis Occidental.

Latest available records show that as of March 31, 2014, Rural Bank of Oroquieta had 6,622 accounts with total deposit liabilities of P206.9 million.

A total of 6,542 deposit accounts or 98.8 percent of the accounts have balances of P500,000 or less and are fully covered by deposit insurance. Estimated total insured deposits amounted to P152 million or 73.5 percent of the total deposits.

PDIC said that upon takeover, all bank records shall be gathered, verified and validated.

The state deposit insurer assured depositors that all valid deposits shall be paid up to the maximum deposit insurance coverage of P500,000.

The PDIC also announced that it will conduct Depositors-Borrowers Forums on July 29, 2014 to inform depositors of the requirements and procedures for filing deposit insurance claims.

Claim forms will be distributed during the Forum. The schedules and venues of the Forums will be posted on the bank premises and in the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph.

The claim forms and the requirements and procedures for filing are likewise available for downloading from the PDIC website.

Depositors may update their addresses with the PDIC representatives at the bank premises using the Mailing Address Update Forms to be furnished by PDIC representatives. Duly accomplished Mailing Address Update Forms should be submitted to PDIC representatives accompanied by a photo-bearing ID with signature of the depositor. Depositors may update their addresses until July 29, 2014.

Depositors with valid deposit accounts with balances of P50,000 and below need not file deposit insurance claims. But depositors who have outstanding obligations with Rural Bank of Oroquieta including co-makers of the obligations, or have incomplete and/or have not updated their addresses with the bank, regardless of amount, should file deposit insurance claims.

For depositors that do not need to file deposit insurance claims, PDIC will start sending payments by mail to their addresses based on bank records by the first week of August.

For depositors that are required to file deposit insurance claims, the PDIC will start claims settlement operations for these accounts on the third week of August.

The schedule of the claims settlement operations will be announced through notices to be posted in the bank premises and other public places as well as through the PDIC website, www.pdic.gov.ph.

According to the latest Bank Information Sheet (BIS) as of December 31, 2013 filed by the Rural Bank of Oroquieta with the PDIC, the bank is owned by Mila G. Montesa (24.23%), the heirs of Francisco German, Jr. (17.27%), the heirs of Trudon German (16.58%), Rosario G. Leopoldo (6.97%), Philip O. Casing (5.61%), Segundino A. Caliao (5.16%), Maximo W. Bigol (3.3%), Julito W. Bigol (3.3%), Julita B. Prasnik (3.3%), the heirs of Emeterio Ocaya (3.1%), Angelina L. German (2.73%) and Victor W. Bigol (2.03%). Its Chairman and President is Mila G. Montesa.

For more information, depositors may communicate with PDIC Public Assistance personnel stationed at the bank premises or call the PDIC Public Assistance Hotlines at (02) 841-4630 to (02) 841-4631, or send their e-mail to pad@pdic.gov.ph. Depositors outside Metro Manila may call the PDIC Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-1-888-PDIC (7342). (PNA)

President Aquino names new Monetary Board members

MANILA, July 23 (PNA) -- President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed two new members of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Citing appointment letters signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Herminio Coloma Jr. said the new appointees are: Juan D. de Zuniga Jr. and Valentin A. Araneta, who will each serve a six-year term of office.

De Zuniga had been designated as Monetary Board Member last May to serve the unexpired term of Ignacio R. Bunye, who advanced his retirement.

He served previously as BSP Deputy Governor, Assistant Governor and General Counsel.

Meanwhile, Araneta replaces Peter B. Favila, who retired recently.

Prior to his appointment, Araneta was President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). (PNA)

Eid’l Fitr Festival features Muslim and Christian artists in Culture and Art exhibit
By Lily O Ramos
MANILA, July 23 (PNA)â€" This year, Eid’l Fitr Festival formally ends on July 28 for the Ramadan for Muslims around the world .

This means the culmination of Ramadan fasting to give way to activities such as visiting family and friends, partaking on traditional sweet dishes,giving gifts, using perfume, wearing new clothes and musical performances or cultural and art activities.

In Metro Manila, Muslims and Christians celebrate together the festival with the theme of “Unitas: Muslim and Christian Artists in One Exhibit” at the Galerie Joaquin Podium and the Podium Mall at Mandaluyong City.

”This is an upbeat chance for artists to work together in matters of culture and the arts. It should be a bonding event among brothers and sisters of Islam and Christianity in observance of faith and in the spirit of unity,” said Tito Umali of the Philippines, Europe & the Americas Department Tourism Promotions Board.

Umali added that the exhibit started on July 21 and will end on July 27 at the Galerie Joaquin Podium and the Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City.

The Eid’l Fitr Festival celebration is also one reason why the Magbassa Kita Foundation, Inc., will feature art works that use not only Islamic but ecumenical and universal motifs and themes from the likes of National Artists Abdulmari Imao, Arturo Luz, and Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, as well as noted artists Toym Imao, Rameer Tawasil, Jamila Tamano, Dominic Rubio, Jovan Benito, and Aljo Pingol, according to Umali.

Popular and established fashion designers Len Cabili, Amir Sali Aluk, Patis Tesoro and Cora Manimbo are also featured with the Pangalay Dance from Tawi-Tawi.

National Artist Abdulmari Imao takes motifs from the traditions of the Islamic community with bold colorings, figures such as sarimanoks, gongs, and sails abstracted into geometric shapes and creative compositions reminiscent of long-established weaving and textile techniques.

Rameer Tawasil takes human figures through abstracts of a unique swirl of dynamic colors with Islamic patterns seen in the background in a unique meld of styles.

Prominent among those on display are those of National Artist Arturo Luz who abstracts the mosques and temples he saw in visits to ancient cities of Southeast and East Asia highlighted by his iconic “Cities of the Past” series where monuments of symbolic Christianity, Muslim, Hinduism, and even orthodox faiths are depicted.

Works by National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz are primarily in shades of green, a color most associated with Islam.

”This collaborative exhibition is an apt and fitting way to join the Muslim community in observing one of the most important days in the calendar.

"It is also a path to experience how Islamic and Christian culture can co-exist in an art forum,” said Umali. (PNA)

kung stupid ang mga Ukrainian rebels, mas pakno ang mga Amerkano nga nagtira sa Iran Air.

wala nalang pud unta tagai ug pangload para dili na magtext-text

PHILIPPINES:Clovis Nazareno, poet and journalist

Amnesty International continues to be concerned for the safety of Clovis Nazareno, who was attacked by a civilian, in the presence of a police officer, on 14 June 1993 and subsequently ill-treated by the police officer. Amnesty International has just learned that the complaint Nazareno filed against the two men was dismissed in late July 1993 after two of the witnesses refused to testify on Nazareno's behalf for fear of their lives. Nazareno now fears for his life, and for the lives of the witnesses who signed affidavits in support of him. His fear is increased because the request he sent for protection to the National Bureau of Investigation has not yet been answered.

This latest attack on Clovis Nazareno occurred at about 5.30pm on 14 June in Poblacion, a barangay (local administrative unit) of Loon, Bohol province. The attack was carried out by a local businessman in the presence of a police inspector, who is also the municipal chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Following the attack, rather than arresting the businessman, the police inspector arrested Clovis Nazareno. In the course of the arrest Nazareno was ill-treated. After being brought to the local jail Nazareno asked to be given medical attention, and two hours later he was taken to hospital in Tagbilaran City and told that he was no longer under arrest. Nazareno stayed in hospital for several days to be treated for his injuries, which included a broken shoulder blade.

On 22 June Clovis Nazareno filed a complaint for serious physical injuries against the businessman and the police inspector with the Provincial Prosecutor's Office. However, his case was dismissed in late July after two of his witnesses refused to testify for fear of reprisals if they did so. After signing an affidavit in favour of Nazareno a third witness left the province, apparently because he too feared for his safety if he stayed in Bohol. A request made by Clovis Nazareno to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for protection has yet to be answered and he is fearful that his life, and those of the witnesses to the 14 June attack, is in danger.

This is not the first occasion on which Clovis Nazareno has been threatened. In 1991 military authorities reportedly accused him of involvement with the New People's Army (NPA), the armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). During 1992 he was threatened on a number of occasions. The most serious incident was a shooting attack carried out by a number of men, at least one of whom is believed to have been from the military. After the shooting incident Nazareno requested protection from the military authorities, but this was turned down.

Clovis Nazareno is a 33-year-old poet and newspaper columnist whose articles are frequently critical of government policies. Such articles have exposed government abuses in Bohol province where he lives, in particular illegal logging which is widely believed to continue because of backing from influential civilian and military officials. He is also a founder member of a local farmers' group called Friends of Farmers (FOF).

Amnesty International believes that the threats and harassment of Clovis Nazareno are connected to his lawful political activities. It is calling on the authorities to immediately take all steps necessary to ensure his safety. It is also calling on them to conduct an investigation into the threats made against Nazareno and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
BACKGROUND INFORMATIONPage 2 of FU 192/92

Bohol province is one of a number of regions in the Philippines where the military is engaged in armed conflict with the New People's Army (NPA). The military's "total approach" to counter-insurgency has involved the killing and harassment of individuals and members of civilian organizations. Individuals and members of lawful organizations are frequently accused of membership of, or support for, the NPA. Once labelled as communist supporters such people become particularly vulnerable to human rights violations including arbitrary arrest and detention, "disappearance" and extrajudicial execution.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express and airmail letters in English or your own language:

- expressing concern for the safety of Clovis Nazareno, following his harassment on 14 June 1993 by a civilian and a police inspector in barangay Poblacion, Loon, Bohol province;

- also expressing concern for the safety of those who witnessed the incident and who now fear reprisals as a result;

- asking the authorities to take appropriate measures to guarantee the safety of Nazareno and the witnesses;

- urging the government to conduct an immediate investigation into the attack on Nazareno and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

APPEALS TO:

1) President Fidel RamosSalutation: Dear President Ramos
Malacañang Palace
Manila
Philippines
Telegrams: President Ramos, Manila, Philippines

2) General Raul ImperialSalutation: Dear General Imperial
Director Genera
Philippine National Police
Camp Crame, Quezon City
Manila
Philippines
Telegrams: Gen Imperial, PNP Camp Crame, Manila, Philippines

3) Honourable David TirolSalutation: Dear Governor Tirol
Bohol Provincial Governor
Tagbilaran City
Bohol province
Philippines
Telegrams: Provincial Governor, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines

4) Honourable Alfredo CaresosaSalutation: Dear Mayor Caresosa
Municipal Mayor
Loon
Bohol province
Philippines
Telegrams: Municipal Mayor, Loon, Bohol, Philippines

hapit na makita ang utok
img]http://www.cvltnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/xritual-body-modification-facial-scarification.jpeg.pagespeed.ic_.HxsU9jzLMx-550x641.jpg[/img]

NAIHAW sa bana ang iyang asawa gumikan matud pa sa sige og text text sa barangay Balhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.

Sa pa unang pag-imbestiga sa San Miguel Police Station, giluba patay sa bana nga si Gerardo Betinol ang misis nga si Susanna, 42-anyos.

Nagselos matud pa ang suspek gumikan wala na kini panahon kaniya ug dugangan pa sa gikaingong dunay laing karelasyon ang biktima.

Unang nagkalalis ang magtiayon apan kalit mikuha matud pa og kutsilyo ang bana ug misangko sa kremin. (Nel Registos)
-source: Brigada

gusto mahimong iring

too much acupuncture?

How Much Sleep Do We Really Need?

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Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista concluded his farewell visits to major military headquarters in the country Monday, afew days before his retirement on July 18.

The last leg of Bautista’s tour Monday included a visit to the Southern Luzon Command Headquarters in Lucena City, where he was welcomed by its commander Lt.Gen. Caesar Ronnie F. Ordoyo.

He also visited the Philippine Navy’s Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City, Philippine Air Force Headquarters in Pasay City, and Philippine Army Headquarters also in Taguig City.

“The reason I’m here is to express my gratitude and compel you to sustain the momentum achieved by our 'Bayanihan'. I thank you for the services you rendered, the heroism you exhibited, and your sacrifices for the country,” Bautista said in his speech in Villamor Air Base.

“Our tasks going forward are challenging, but we only need to stand united as one organization loyal to our mandate as defender of our people and our nation. I am confident that the AFP will carry on with its accomplishments whoever the next chief-of-staff is,” he stressed.

Bautista was given a warm welcome in his tour at the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force.

Army chief Lt.Gen. Hernando DCA Iriberri presented Bautista with a plaque of his Command Duties.

Iriberri also praised the AFP chief's leadership in the implementation of IPSP Bayanihan, Army Transformation Roadmap and the AFP Transformation Roadmap.

“We acknowledge not only his dedication and discipline, but more importantly we acknowledge the legacy of excellence and patriotism that has made his tour of duty a time of growth for the AFP,” Iriberri said.

Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Jesus C Millan also expressed his gratitude to the chief-of-staff, who received a replica of BRP Alcaraz (PF-16) as memento, for his support to the Navy’s Strategic Sail Plan 2020 in connection with the AFP Transformation Roadmap.

Bautista was also welcomed by Air Force vice commander Major Gen. Wilfredo O. Ona, where the chief-of-staff thanked the officers and personnel of the Air Force for their role in defending Philippine territory, in assisting survivors of super typhoon Yolanda, and in supporting the operations in Zamboanga City.

Aside from his tour of Southern Luzon Command and Major Services Monday, Bautista also visited the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on July 12; Northern Luzon Command in Tarlac on July 11; and Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City and Eastern Mindanao Command in Davao City on July 10.

He started his tour in Western Command in Palawan and Central Command in Cebu on July 9, where he also expressed his gratitude on the two units' commitment and dedication in fulfilling vital roles

The Central Command was at the center of humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations of the AFP in the aftermath of the Visayas earthquake and Supertyphoon "Yolanda".

Meanwhile, Western Command is currently at the forefront in defending Philippine territories in the South China Sea.

“Our nation and the whole world witnessed the service and heroism we exhibited in Visayas. They saw us in Bohol, Leyte, and Panay ravaged by 'Yolanda'. It is there that we wholeheartedly and skilfully showed the dedication of our soldiery. With that, I thank all of you," Bautista said. (PNA)

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Standing With A Friend

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Where are now the donations from abroad? Reports have indicated that no much had changed since Yolanda struck Tacloban on Nov. 8, 2013.

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e·thos [ thòss]
noun
shared fundamental traits: the fundamental and distinctive character of a group, social context, or period of time, typically expressed in attitudes, habits, and beliefs

[Mid-19th century. < Greek Ä"thos "custom, disposition" < Indo-European, "self"]

by Vency D. Bulayungan

Kiangan, Ifugao (31 October) -- The Self Employment Association Sa Kaunlaran (SEAK) program of the government improved the lives of members of the association here.

This was bared by Felisa Dimog, President of the Poblacion, Kiangan SEAK.. "We are now lending a maximum of P30,000 to our members," she said.

A pilot project of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the association which started in 1994 has 16 members who own sari-sari stores and some are market vendors. According to Edna Duhan of the PSWDO, this is one of the most successful groups in the province so far.

Dimog said that the members are paying their loans on a weekly basis during their meetings. With a 1% interest a month, the members were able to pay their loans because they are not hard up since the payment is done on a staggered basis and that the interest is very low.

She also said that the scheme is successful because the members can give any amount every week for as long as at the end of the month their dues are paid up. "Some associations are trying to imitate our scheme because out of the many SEAK organizations in the province, our association is the only one which still exists with the said project.

The association has now a capital share of about P150,000 which was accumulated from their savings and interest of loans since its organization in 1994. Mrs. Teresita Pawid, a member of the association said that the money which she borrowed aided her a lot in her business which helped in the education of their children.

Aside from the lending project, the association is also engaged in the selling of National Food Authority rice. We used the money of the association in purchasing 60 sacks of NFA rice on a weekly basis, Dimog said.

The association is also involved in the clean and green program of the local government unit by spearheading the beautification and cleaning campaign at the market area. (PIA-Ifugao)

In an effort to minimize domestic violence and to give alternative source of income to active and returning Overseas Foreign Workers (OFWs) in the province, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Provincial Government conducted recently a training for said sector.

Cecile Ungihon, Social Welfare Officer III said that overseas employment creates so much social and family problems which affect family relationships. Although overseas employment surely answers economic aspect of the family, the welfare of the children and the family as a whole is affected leading to broken families and unprotected children, she added.

Records of the PSWDO show that most of the crimes committed are due to the absence of a parent or both parents especially the mother who is working abroad. Most of the rape cases done to children are attributed to the absence of the mother who is an OFW.

"Thru series of skills trainings, OFWs will opt to stay home than work abroad and sacrifice their families," Ungihon said.

Freda Tayaban also of the PSWDO said that the Entrepreneurial Development Training on techno transfer on food, beverage and catering services and financial literacy was conducted to about 50 active or returnees and dependents of OFWs.

"This activity will help them be employed, additional source of income or when into business, they will no longer go back overseas," Tayaban said.

Ms. Loreta Vergara, OWWA Activity Coordinator said that she will monitor implementation of the trainings so that resources will not be put to waste. (PIA-Ifugao)

Babes of Bacolod, a Los Angeles-based fund raising group, recently donated more than P170,000 worth of medical supplies and equipment to the Department of Internal Medicine of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

The "Babes" have been hosting annual fund raisers in Los Angeles since 2004 with the Tapulanga Foundation as their main beneficiary.

The Tapulanga Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to uplift the lives of those who were born with less through educational scholarships, healthcare assistance and micro-credit loans.

The Tapulanga's main thrust is to provide tuition, including books and lunch to the students of St. Francis of Assisi School in Silay City.

Mic Mic Abello-Golez, Tapulanga Foundation executive director said that they added the hospital as a benefactor last year with the donation of 50 mattresses and two suction machines. This year, they were able to donate much more â€" six suction machines, nine nebulizers, over 200 ET and tracheostomy tubes, sterile gloves, valve masks, a diagnostic set and a laryngoscope blade-due to the overwhelming success of their fundraiser, Abello added.
The Babes of Bacolod is composed of women all originally from Bacolod City. (PIA-cad)

under de saya ang tag-iya sa cat, nagpalaban ug 911.

Sakto pud.

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boy vs girl maka-cause ug competition. diha magsugod ang garbo.

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