MikeLigalig.com

Cleric elected head of new Syrian opposition bloc

DOHA?Syrian opposition factions which agreed on Sunday in Qatar to form a new coalition to fight President Bashar al-Assad have elected cleric Ahmed al-Khatib to head the bloc, dissidents said.

 

Khatib, a moderate originally from Damascus who quit Syria three months ago, will lead the National Coalition of Forces of the Syrian Revolution and Opposition, formed after the Syrian National Council agreed to the new group.

 

Prominent dissident Riad Seif, who had tabled an initiative to unite the opposition, and female opponent Suhair al-Atassi, were elected as two vice presidents of the coalition.

 

The SNC had come under intense Arab and Western press...Keep on reading: Cleric elected head of new Syrian opposition bloc

Source: Cleric elected head of new Syrian opposition bloc

DepEd exec gets 8 years for graft

The Sandiganbayan recently found a former Department of Education (DepEd) official guilty of graft in the overprice by P2.8 million of the cost of construction materials that were never delivered and labor that was not rendered for a school building in 1991.

The antigraft court sentenced former DepEd Region XI Director Venancio Nava to from six years and one month to eight years in prison and perpetual disqualification from public office.

The court also found Nava and Aquilina Granada, administrative officer and chair of the acceptance and inspection committee of the school building project, guilty of two other graft charges and sentenced them to the same penalt...Keep on reading: DepEd exec gets 8 years for graft

Source: DepEd exec gets 8 years for graft

Santiago suggests termination of VFA

The Philippines should consider terminating its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States because US military forces are the actual sources of hazardous waste being dumped in local waters, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago suggested Sunday.

 

Santiago offered the idea after noting that the new US military strategy of ?pivoting? to Asia would mean ?the marked frequency of the visits of US aircraft carriers, nuclear-powered submarines and increased presence of US naval forces in the Philippines.?

 

The way things would go, it could mean ?the VFA (is) on the way to becoming by itself, a toxic waste phenomenon,? she said.

 

A Malaysia...Keep on reading: Santiago suggests termination of VFA

Source: Santiago suggests termination of VFA

Pacquiao gets a ?10?

Coach Alex Ariza couldn?t hide his elation over Manny Pacquiao?s performance after two weeks of training in preparation for his fourth showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Source: Pacquiao gets a ?10?

City to retake Gotesco mall

The Court of Appeals has paved the way for the Caloocan City government to repossess a mall belonging to Gotesco Investments Inc.

Source: City to retake Gotesco mall

Education infrastructure



Source: Education infrastructure

Manila Standard Today  Monday Print Edition (11/12/2012)

Manila Standard Today Monday Print Edition (11/12/2012)

Source: Manila Standard Today  Monday Print Edition (11/12/2012)

Toll highway

Toll highway. Picture shows a smooth ride on the Star Tollway in Batangas during the Undas. Inset shows well-lighted entrance and exits.

Source: Toll highway

ASUS  unveils touch-enabled Windows8 devices; bares premium pricing

Taiwanese computer maker ASUS reached another significant milestone on its journey ?In Search of Incredible? with the recent launch of new mobile and desktop computers powered by Microsoft Windows 8.

Source: ASUS  unveils touch-enabled Windows8 devices; bares premium pricing

A coddler of criminals

Despite its ?straight path? policy, the Aquino administration continues to be seen as being inept in law enforcement or, worse, as a coddler of criminals.

Source: A coddler of criminals

Frankie Minoza and Jay Bayron, fresh from victories in various fronts, have confirmed participation in the International Container Terminal Services Inc. Canlubang Golf Invitational beginning Wednesday (Nov. 14), guaranteeing a shootout for top honors at Cangolf?s north course in Canlubang, Laguna.

Source:

Public has 30 days to review list ? DAR

The Agrarian Reform Department said the public has 30 days to review and question the list of beneficiaries of Hacienda Luisita.

Source: Public has 30 days to review list ? DAR

Azkals Prevail

The Philippine Azkals blanked United Football League club Green Archers United Globe, 5-0, in a tune-up match held Saturday afternoon at the University of Makati Field.
Fil-German Patrick Reichelt and team captain Chieffy Caligdong scored two goals each to help the Azkals win their tune-up match as part of their preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup group stage in Bangkok, Thailand.
Azkals coach Michael Weiss said their match against a UFL team will determine the final lineup for the Suzuki Cup.

Source: Azkals Prevail

Zambo Bets Rule Batang Pinoy

DAPITAN CITY — Gen. Santos City and Davao del Norte lorded it over in taekwondo but Zamboanga City won the overall championship in the Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Batang Pinoy 2012 Mindanao leg here.
Gen. Santos City, which also won seven golds in athletics, struck again in taekwondo by winning six gold medals to beat out Davao del Norte in the event held at the New Government Lobby. Davao won three golds.

Source: Zambo Bets Rule Batang Pinoy

PH-Smart Jins Clinch Five Golds

The Philippine/SMART taekwondo team boosted its preparation for the Southeast Asian Games by bagging five gold, seven silver and 14 bronze medals in kyorugi (sparring) and poomsae (forms) events of the recent Korea Open international championships in Gyeongju, Korea.
The PH/SMART jins won gold in the junior sparring competition through Aaron James Galita, Keno Anthony Mendoza, Francios Aaron Agojo, Patricia Francesca Gonzalez and Inna Izabella Dionisio.

Source: PH-Smart Jins Clinch Five Golds

Nerza Finally Wins Davao Marathon

Anthony Nerza poured on the heat in the last five kilometers to finally beat Brian Lupio and rule the Davao leg of the 36th National Milo Marathon series yesterday that started and ended in front of Ateneo de Davao University. 
Running almost trouble free, Nerza, runner-up in the last two editions, fiercely fought two-time winner Lupio right from the starting gun before breaking away in the last five kilometers to rule the 21-kilometer foot race in 1 one hour, 12 mimnutes and 34 seconds.
He pocketed the P10,000 top purse. 

Source: Nerza Finally Wins Davao Marathon

Echauz Humbles Tri United Rivals

Fifteen-year-old Magali Echauz reasserted her dominance in her age group even as siblings Emilaine, Jayline and Ann Maris Balatibat won three medals at the close of the 3-leg Tri United Series yesterday at the Narra Park inside the posh Ayala Alabang Village in Muntinlupa City.
Echauz proved too classy for Isabella Kapunan and Hannah Angelika De Guzman   as she clocked 30 minutes and one second in winning the 13-15 year old in the sprint event (300m swim, 7.6k bike ad 1.7k run).
Kapunan managed only 34:36 while de Guzman was a far third with a time of 36:49.

Source: Echauz Humbles Tri United Rivals

Fore Invitational At Eagle Ridge

Two Toyota Vios cars will be raffled off as the grand prizes in the Fore By Four Invitational, the member-guest golf tournament of the giant Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club on Friday and Saturday in Gen. Trias, Cavite.
Two hundred member-guest teams are set to answer the shotgun teeoffs for both days at the four championship courses of Eagle Ridge designed by golf greats Nick Faldo, Isao Aoki, Greg Norman and Andy Dye.

Source: Fore Invitational At Eagle Ridge

Germans Triumph

REIMERS
ANGELES CITY – Frédéric von Osten and Sophia Marie Reimers put up swashbuckling performances in their second runs to bring the coveted Open men and open ladies wakeboard titles to Germany yesterday in the exciting conclusion of the World Cable Wakeboard Championships at Deca Wake Park here.
Not letting a sloppy 20.67-performance in the Run 1 pull him down, von Osten bounced back with a gigantic 80.33 effort in Run 2 to rule the roost in the men's competitions, replacing crash-struck Nick Davies of Britain as the new world men Open champ.

Source: Germans Triumph

JUVIC MELTDOWN

Juvic Pagunsan
Juvic Pagunsan had appeared headed to another big payday in the Singapore Open. 
He shot a hole in one during the second round Saturday and was five under for the tournament after a third birdie on the 11th hole during Sunday’s third round, putting him within range of the leaders. 
Then it all unravelled for the Filipino. 
He bogeyed the 13th hole and two more bogeys followed on the 16th and 17th, putting him even par for the day and two under for the tournament. 
But the worst had yet to come. 

Source: JUVIC MELTDOWN

Highlands Ups Ante For Aces

A round-trip ticket to the US and a brand-new Club Car golf cart have been added as hole-in-one prizes in the seventh Highlands Ladies Cup which gets under way Nov. 16 at Tagaytay Midlands Golf Course in Tagaytay.
The latest prizes add up to the two earlier bounties put up by the organizing Tagaytay Highlands Ladies Chapter for aces in the 18-hole tournament backed by Mercedes Benz as Diamond sponsor with Security Bank, W Group Inc., Pacific Online and San Miguel Corp. as Platinum backers and Pilipinas Shell as Gold sponsor.

Source: Highlands Ups Ante For Aces

Sun.Star Bacolod's front page for November 13, 2012



Source: Sun.Star Bacolod's front page for November 13, 2012

Local party ?recommends? withdrawal of lawmaker?s nomination

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NEGROS Occidental Representative Mercedes Alvarez (6th district) said the decision made by the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) withdrawing the party's Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (Cona) of Representative Jeffrey Ferrer (4th district) might be a result of the party's local monitoring and consultation.
Alvarez admitted, however, that she is not privy to the real reason why NPC withdrew its nomination and acceptance of Ferrer.
read more

Source: Local party ?recommends? withdrawal of lawmaker?s nomination

Ceneco heist suspect nabbed in Cagayan de Oro

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ONE of the suspects in the P3.6 million heist at the Central Negros Electric Cooperatives (Ceneco) last March was arrested while being treated at the Sabal Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City Thursday evening.
Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz said Gerardo Saniel, alias "Gagang," was arrested at Sabal Hospital after he sustained multiple gunshot wounds in different parts of his body when he and others robbed one of the pawnshops in Butuan City last week.
read more

Source: Ceneco heist suspect nabbed in Cagayan de Oro

1,381 Silaynons receive health cards



Source: 1,381 Silaynons receive health cards

Police office welcomes possible raps vs cops over OFW?s death

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BACOLOD City Police Office (BCPO) Director Ricardo De la Paz said Friday that they will welcome possible complaints the family of the overseas Filipino worker who jumped to his death last week at the Bacolod Hall of Justice will file against police officers.
De la Paz said he received information that the family of Hector Villarosa, 54, of Purok Cabugwason, Barangay Mansilingan, claimed that the victim sustained burns on both his hands before he jumped from the third floor of the Hall of Justice, based on the autopsy report conducted by City Medico Legal Ely Cong.
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Source: Police office welcomes possible raps vs cops over OFW?s death

Task group denies taking valuables from drug pusher?s residence

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CITY Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Group (CAIDSOTG) head Santiago Rapiz denied Friday the claims of the family of a suspected drug pusher that they took almost P30,000 worth of jewelry from the residence of the suspect during the buy-bust operation in Barangay Bata, Bacolod City, last Tuesday.
Rapiz said the family of Bobby Alvarez alias "Maw," 47, of Purok Bayabasan, Barangay Bata, claimed in a television interview that their jewelry worth P30,000 was lost after the operation of the CAIDSOTG operatives.
read more

Source: Task group denies taking valuables from drug pusher?s residence

Veterinary office told: Implement anti-rabies ordinance

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BACOLOD City Councilor Sonya Verdeflor has urged the Bacolod City Veterinary Office (CVO) to strictly implement City Ordinance (CO) 184, Series of 1997 and CO 554, Series of 2011.
CO 184 is an ordinance approving the rabies eradication, prevention and control program of Bacolod City, while CO 554 is an ordinance establishing dog owners' responsibility, requiring enclosures or fenced-in yard for pet dogs as preventive measure against occurrence of rabies injury, damage and other hazards.
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Source: Veterinary office told: Implement anti-rabies ordinance

Power firm pens new collection center

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POWER consumers will now feel the convenience and added safety of the new collection center of the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) that was blessed and inaugurated on Friday.
Ceneco president Arnel Lapore said they opened the new collection center as an offshoot triggered by the robbery-holdup incident at the Ceneco office in March this year.
read more

Source: Power firm pens new collection center

Vice mayor submits position paper for nuisance charge vs relative

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BACOLOD City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson already submitted his memoranda or position paper as required by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) First Division regarding the case he filed against his relative Julius Sayson, to declare him as a nuisance mayoralty candidate.
Crystal Vega, the vice mayor?s lawyer, said they submitted the position paper last week in compliance with the Comelec order for them to submit their memoranda 10 days after the preliminary conference in Manila on October 22.
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Source: Vice mayor submits position paper for nuisance charge vs relative

Councilor to attend World Bank workshop on IPOP Project

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ASSOCIATION of Barangay Captains president Mona Dia Jardin will attend a workshop hosted by World Bank on the IPOP project of Bacolod City.
She will avail of a grant of US$600,000 in relation to the closure of the open dumpsite in Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City.
The Workshop on Financial Management and Procurement for Environment Management Bureau Regions and Local Government Units participating in the Activity 2.3 Component 2 of the IPOPs Management Project will be held on November 12-15 in Tanza, Cavite.
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Source: Councilor to attend World Bank workshop on IPOP Project

The Final Journey

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?ASHES to ashes, dust to dust.? So goes the song by Dennis Lambert that dates back to my grade school days at UNO-R. This is the song on YouTube that fills my ears as I compose this article about making that final journey when the end is finally at hand.
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Source: The Final Journey

Stat analysis wiz

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STATISTICAL analysis. OMG, Mimi, the term?s so highly technical. But it?s not something to be afraid of, right?  Well, to expound on it, Wikipedia expounds the term statistical analysis to refer to ?a wide range of techniques to describe, explore, understand, prove, and predict based on sample datasets collected from populations, using some sampling strategy.?
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Source: Stat analysis wiz

Negros Occidental tourism, seriously

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TOURISM may evoke fond and fun memories of beach excursions, splashing in a stream in a mountain resort, exhilarating rides, mouth-watering cuisine, magnetic destinations, and the stimulating adventure of discovering a place for the first time.  Everything is light and exciting.
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Source: Negros Occidental tourism, seriously

Sun.Star Bacolod front page for November 10, 2012



Source: Sun.Star Bacolod front page for November 10, 2012

It?s all in the sole

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THE next time you find yourself in a public place with lots of people, try this -- look at your shoes, then look at the shoes of the person next to you. Then begin judging. How old is the dude with the Converse Chucks? What do you think he does for a living, hmm? Call center agent perhaps? Maybe he?s a student? He?s almost definitely not a doctor.
Take a look at the shoe itself -- what color is it? Is it bright green or blue, or maybe it?s black or white.
read more

Source: It?s all in the sole

The autumn leaves in Nami Island

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A FIVE-MINUTE ferry ride brought us to a forest of verdant trees with open grassy areas where ostriches, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, ducks and peacocks warmly welcomed us in the midst of wild flowers.
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Source: The autumn leaves in Nami Island

Guv: NPC action vs Ferrer will strengthen UNA



Source: Guv: NPC action vs Ferrer will strengthen UNA

Zayco reassures mayors of NPC support

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KABANKALAN City Mayor Isidro Zayco reassured the mayors belonging to the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) in Negros Occidental of the party's support despite the recent development at the fourth district.
Zayco, who is the provincial chair of NPC, made the assurance amid reports that some mayors who are running under the NPC are worrying after the party?s national directorate recalled the Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (Cona) of fourth district Representative Jeffrey Ferrer.
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Source: Zayco reassures mayors of NPC support

Northern Negros village officials ?supporting rebels?

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COLONEL Oscar Lactao, commander of the 303rd Brigade, expressed concern on the alleged ?clandestine activities? of barangay officials with the New People's Army (NPA) in some barangays in northern Negros.
Lactao said they have in their possession a video showing a barangay kagawad (village councilman) purportedly taking part in a program conducted by the NPA rebels in one of the barangays in Escalante City.
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Source: Northern Negros village officials ?supporting rebels?

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Is it what you inherited or what you learnt ? Intergenerational linkage and interpersonal inequality in Senegal

Institutional features of the African setting -- large extended families and imperfect credit and land markets -- matter to the equity and efficiency roles played by intergenerational linkages. Using original survey data on Senegal that include an individualized measure of consumption, this paper studies the role played by land inheritance, other bequests and parental background as influences on an adult's economic welfare and economic activities. Although intergenerational linkages are evident, the analysis finds a seemingly high degree of mobility across generations, associated with the shift from farm to non-farm sectors and the greater economic activity of women. Male-dominated bequests of land and housing bring little gain to mean consumption and play little role in explaining inequality, although they have effects on the sector of activity. Inheritance of non-land assets and the education and occupation of parents (especially the mother) and their choices about children's schooling are more important to adult welfare than property inheritance. Significant gender inequality in consumption is evident, although it is almost entirely explicable in terms of factors such as education and (non-land) inheritance. There are a number of other pronounced gender differences, with intergenerational linkages coming through the mother rather than the father.

Source: Is it what you inherited or what you learnt ? Intergenerational linkage and interpersonal inequality in Senegal

Maize revolutions in Sub-Saharan Africa

There have been numerous episodes of widespread adoption of improved seed and long-term achievements in the development of the maize seed industry in Sub-Saharan Africa. This summary takes a circumspect view of technical change in maize production. Adoption of improved seed has continued to rise gradually, now representing an estimated 44 percent of maize area in Eastern and Southern Africa (outside South Africa), and 60 percent of maize area in West and Central Africa. Use of fertilizer and restorative crop management practices remains relatively low and inefficient. An array of extension models has been tested and a combination of approaches will be needed to reach maize producers in heterogeneous agricultural environments. Yield growth overall has been 1 percent over the past half-century, although this figure masks the high variability in maize yields, as well as improvements in resistance to disease and abiotic pressures that would have caused yield decline in the absence of maize breeding progress. The authors argue that conducive policies are equally, if not more, important for maize productivity in the region than the development of new technology and techniques. Currently popular, voucher-based subsidies can "crowd out" the private sector and could be fiscally unsustainable.

Source: Maize revolutions in Sub-Saharan Africa

Cotton subsidies, the WTO, and the 'cotton problem'

Following an 8-year long dispute over cotton subsidies, Brazil and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on April 21, 2010, effectively paving the way for settling the dispute. This paper argues that cotton subsidies are just the tip of the iceberg while a number of other, perhaps more important, issues require attention and, indeed, political will. Chief among them is the persistent divergence between cotton prices and the prices of other agricultural commodities, which reflects, for the most part, the large supply response by China and India, a direct consequence of con-version to biotech cotton varieties in these (and other) countries. Such response -- which kept cotton prices low, compared with other commodities -- imposes a competitive disadvantage to non-users of biotech cotton. The paper also highlights two additional constraints faced by the cotton producing countries of West and Central Africa, namely, the structural inefficiencies of their primary processing industries (also known as ginning) and the appreciation of the CFA franc against the US dollar. Without downplaying the importance of subsidy elimination, the paper concludes that these impediments should receive high priority in the policy agenda.

Source: Cotton subsidies, the WTO, and the 'cotton problem'

Reliability of recall in agricultural data

Despite the importance of agriculture to economic development, and a vast accompanying literature on the subject, little research has been done on the quality of the underlying data. Due to survey logistics, agricultural data are usually collected by asking respondents to recall the details of events occurring during past agricultural seasons that took place a number of months prior to the interview. This gap can lead to recall bias in reported data on agricultural activities. The problem is further complicated when interviews are conducted over the course of several months, thus leading to recall of variable length. To test for such recall bias, the length of time between harvest and interview is examined for three African countries with respect to several common agricultural input and harvest measures. The analysis shows little evidence of recall bias impacting data quality. There is some indication that more salient events are less subject to recall decay. Overall, the results allay some concerns about the quality of some types of agricultural data collected through recall over lengthy periods.

Source: Reliability of recall in agricultural data

Implications of the Doha market access proposals for developing countries



Source: Implications of the Doha market access proposals for developing countries

Together we will : experimental evidence on female voting behavior in Pakistan

In many emerging democracies women are less likely to vote than men and, when they do vote, are more likely to follow the wishes of household males. The authors assess the impact of a voter awareness campaign on female turnout and candidate choice. Geographic clusters within villages were randomly assigned to treatment or control, and within treated clusters, some households were left untreated. Compared with women in control clusters, both treated and untreated women in treated clusters are 12 percentage points more likely to vote, and are also more likely to exercise independence in candidate choice, indicating large spillovers. Data from polling stations suggest that treating 10 women increased turnout by about 9 votes, resulting in a cost per vote of US$ 2.3. Finally, a 10 percent increase in the share of treated women at the polling station led to a 6 percent decrease in the share of votes of the winning party.

Source: Together we will : experimental evidence on female voting behavior in Pakistan

Can diaries help improve agricultural production statistics ? Evidence from Uganda

Although good and timely information on agricultural production is critical for policy-decisions, the quality of underlying data is often low and improving data quality could have a high payoff. This paper uses data from a production diary, administered concurrently with a standard household survey in Uganda to analyze the nature and incidence of responses, the magnitude of differences in reported outcomes, and factors that systematically affect these. Despite limited central supervision, diaries elicited a strong response, complemented standard surveys in a number of respects, and were less affected by problems of respondent fatigue than expected. The diary-based estimates of output value consistently exceeded that from the recall-based production survey, in line with reported disposition. Implications for policy and practical administration of surveys are drawn out.

Source: Can diaries help improve agricultural production statistics ? Evidence from Uganda

Entrepreneurship capital and technical efficiency : the role of new business / firms as a conduit of knowledge spillovers



Source: Entrepreneurship capital and technical efficiency : the role of new business / firms as a conduit of knowledge spillovers

Who is benefiting from fertilizer subsidies in Indonesia ?

Using the Agricultural Census 2003 and the Rice Household Survey 2008 for Indonesia, this paper analyzes the distribution of benefits from fertilizer subsidies and their impact on rice production. The findings suggest that most farmers benefit from fertilizer subsidies; however, the 40 percent largest farmers capture up to 60 percent of the subsidy. The regressive nature of the fertilizer subsidies is in line with research carried out in other countries, the result of larger farms using a larger volume of fertilizer. This paper confirms that fertilizer used in adequate quantities has a positive and significant impact on rice yields, but it also provides evidence that over-using fertilizer has an adverse impact on yields (an inverted U-curve relationship).

Source: Who is benefiting from fertilizer subsidies in Indonesia ?

Consensus, institutions, and supply response : the political economy of agricultural reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa

During the late 1980s and the 1990s, most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa implemented agricultural policy reforms, along with national political and economic reforms. The agricultural reforms focused on opening up processing and marketing activities to increased competition and eliminating export taxes and restrictions to improve producer incentives. In eight of nine country/commodity case studies analyzed in this paper, output responded positively in the short run to the reforms. In many cases, however, the initial supply response was not sustained in the face of subsequent shocks. The studies suggest that stakeholder consensus on the distribution of sector-specific rents is a key variable affecting the sustainability of supply responses. Agricultural sector reforms lead to large changes in income distribution. The greater the acceptance of the distribution of rents following the reforms, the better sectors are able to accommodate subsequent shocks. In cases where the initial consensus on the distribution of rents is weak, shocks lead to reform reversals in some cases or an inability to design necessary support institutions in others. The diversity in outcomes across similar products and countries suggests it is possible to achieve sector and local level results that differ from national ones.

Source: Consensus, institutions, and supply response : the political economy of agricultural reforms in Sub-Saharan Africa

The impact of economics blogs

There is a proliferation of economics blogs, with increasing numbers of economists attracting large numbers of readers, yet little is known about the impact of this new medium. Using a variety of experimental and non-experimental techniques, this study quantifies some of their effects. First, links from blogs cause a striking increase in the number of abstract views and downloads of economics papers. Second, blogging raises the profile of the blogger (and his or her institution) and boosts their reputation above economists with similar publication records. Finally, a blog can transform attitudes about some of the topics it covers.

Source: The impact of economics blogs

Cotton, biotechnology, and economic development

During the past decade, cotton prices remained considerably below other agricultural prices (although they recovered toward the end of 2010). Yet, between 2000-04 and 2005-09 world cotton production increased 13 percent. This paper conjectures that biotechnology-induced productivity improvements increased supplies by China and India, which, in addition to keeping cotton prices low, aided these countries to cap-ture market share from (and cause losses to) non-users of biotechnology. By contrast, with a single exception, Africa has not adopted biotechnology and, not coincidentally, its cotton output declined by more than 20 percent between the first and second half of the past decade. The paper concludes that the development implications of biotechnology go beyond cotton and Africa. High energy prices have been an important driver of the recent commodity price boom. Therefore, investment and policy strategy responses to a cost-driven boom should be consistent with cost-saving alternatives. Biotechnology clearly meets this challenge.

Source: Cotton, biotechnology, and economic development

Knowledgeable bankers ? the demand for research in World Bank operations

Development impact calls for knowledgeable development practitioners. How then do the operational staff of the largest development agency value and use its research? Is there an incentive to learn and does it translate into useful knowledge? A new survey reveals that the bulk of the World Bank's senior staff value the Bank's research for their work, and most come to know it well, although a sizable minority have difficulty accessing research to serve their needs. Another group sees little value to research for their work and does not bother to find out about it. Higher perceived value is reflected in greater knowledge about research, though there are frictions in this process. Staff working on poverty, human development and economic policy tend to value and use research more than staff in the more traditional sectors of Bank lending -- agriculture and rural development, energy and mining, transport and urban development; the latter sectors account for 45 percent of lending but only 15 percent of staff highly familiar with Bank research. Without stronger incentives for learning and more relevant and accessible research products, it appears likely that this lag in demand for research by the traditional sectors will persist.

Source: Knowledgeable bankers ? the demand for research in World Bank operations

Soil endowments, production technologies and missing women in India

The female population deficit in India has been explained in a number of ways, but the great heterogeneity in the deficit across districts within India still remains an open question. This paper argues that across India, a largely agrarian economy, soil texture varies exogenously and determines the workability of the soil and the technology used in land preparation. Deep tillage, possible only in lighter and looser loamy soils, reduces the use of labor in cultivation tasks performed by women and has a negative impact on the relative value of girls to a household. The analysis finds that soil texture explains a large part of the variation in women's relative participation in agriculture and in infant sex ratios across districts in India.

Source: Soil endowments, production technologies and missing women in India

Agriculture public spending and growth in Indonesia

This paper analyzes the trends and evolution of public spending in the agriculture sector in Indonesia, as well as the impact of public spending on agricultural growth. It finds that, in line with empirical work undertaken in other countries, public spending on agriculture and irrigation during the period 1976-2006 had a positive impact on agricultural growth, while public spending on fertilizer subsidies had the opposite effect. The composition of spending patterns in Indonesia over the past decade can partly explain why significant increases in public spending for agriculture have not resulted in a commensurate increase of agricultural production. The paper is structured as follows. Section I presents analytical and empirical findings about the impact of overall public spending on growth, with a particular focus on Indonesia, followed by an analysis of the government's role in agriculture. More precisely, it discusses how public spending can contribute to higher productivity and faster growth in the sector. The section draws lessons from the empirical literature and country examples worldwide, exploring the implications of some of these findings in the Indonesia context. Section II presents the results of an empirical analysis of the impact of agriculture public spending on agriculture gross domestic product per capita growth in Indonesia, using time series analysis with both ordinary least squares and generalized method of moments econometric techniques. Section III analyzes in detail agriculture public spending trends in Indonesia over the period 2000-08, highlighting that a large and increasing share of the spending is being allocated to subsidies (fertilizer, credit, seeds) and to fund transfers to farmers and farmers' groups.

Source: Agriculture public spending and growth in Indonesia

How vulnerable are Arab countries to global food price shocks ?

This paper presents new estimates of pass-through coefficients from international to domestic food prices by country in the Middle East and North Africa. The estimates indicate that, despite the use of food price subsidies and other government interventions, a rise in global food prices is transmitted to a significant degree into domestic food prices in many countries in the Middle East and North Africa, although cross-country variation is significant. In nearly all countries, domestic food prices are highly downwardly rigid. The finding of asymmetric price transmission suggests that not only international food price levels matter, but also food price volatility. High food pass-through tends to increase inflation pressures, where food consumption shares are high. Domestic factors, often linked to storage, logistics, and procurement, have also played a major role in explaining high food inflation in the majority of countries in the region.

Source: How vulnerable are Arab countries to global food price shocks ?

Biotechnology innovation for inclusive growth : a study of Indian policies to foster accelerated technology adaptation for affordable development

This paper describes and analyzes a series of complementary policy initiatives in India to adapt and commercialize existing global biotechnologies to meet local needs in healthcare, agriculture, industry and the environment in a more affordable manner. This evolving approach has been implemented through six complementary elements, namely (1) translational research; (2) technology access through global consortia; (3) commercialization supported by public-private partnerships, broadly interpreted; (4) skills development; (5) regulation; and (6) institutional governance, including special purpose vehicles, for effective project management. The paper focuses on two public-private partnership initiatives, the Small Business Innovation Research Initiative and the Biotechnology Industry Partnership Program, which together have allocated more than US$70 million in public funding to almost 150 projects, contributing to a total public-private investment of more than $170 million over the past five years. The authors' key recommendation, to ensure effective resource use and better policy impact, is for these innovation-support initiatives to adopt more continuous monitoring with quicker feedback from learning to implementation, and more rigorous impact evaluation including approaches that allow the results of firms benefiting from support to be compared with an appropriate group of firms not benefiting from support.

Source: Biotechnology innovation for inclusive growth : a study of Indian policies to foster accelerated technology adaptation for affordable development

Quality contingent contracts : evidence from Tanzania's coffee market

The literature on product quality in markets where product attributes are not readily observable indicates that information asymmetries and incentive problems may lead to the under-provision of quality. This paper contributes to this literature by estimating the effects of village-level contractual arrangements on producer incomes and on quality enhancing production practices. Three contract types are studied: spot contracts, contingent contracts with product grading and contingent contracts without product grading. To do this, the study uses original data from a survey of 450 coffee producers in Tanzania's coffee market that take advantage of contractual variation in the Kilimanjaro region. The results indicate that coffee contracts that include village-based product grading have a large positive effect on producer incomes, and that the grading effect is associated with production practices that enhance quality. The results also indicate that cooperative membership has no significant effect on producer incomes.

Source: Quality contingent contracts : evidence from Tanzania's coffee market

Should African rural development strategies depend on smallholder farms ? an exploration of the inverse productivity hypothesis

In Africa, most development strategies include efforts to improve the productivity of staple crops grown on smallholder farms. An underlying premise is that small farms are productive in the African context and that smallholders do not forgo economies of scale -- a premise supported by the often observed phenomenon that staple cereal yields decline as the scale of production increases. This paper explores a research design conundrum that encourages researchers who study the relationship between productivity and scale to use surveys with a narrow geographic reach, when policy would be better served with studies based on wide and heterogeneous settings. Using a model of endogenous technology choice, the authors explore the relationship between maize yields and scale using alternative data. Since rich descriptions of the decision environments that farmers face are needed to identify the applied technologies that generate the data, improvements in the location specificity of the data should reduce the likelihood of identification errors and biased estimates. However, the analysis finds that the inverse productivity hypothesis holds up well across a broad platform of data, despite obvious shortcomings with some components. It also finds surprising consistency in the estimated scale elasticities.

Source: Should African rural development strategies depend on smallholder farms ? an exploration of the inverse productivity hypothesis

World Development Indicators 2012 Released



Source: World Development Indicators 2012 Released

Doing business in a more transparent world 2012 - economy profile : Bahrain - comparing regulation for domestic firms in 183 economies

Doing Business sheds light on how easy or difficult it is for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to medium-size business when complying with relevant regulations. It measures and tracks changes in regulations affecting 10 areas in the life cycle of a business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. In a series of annual reports Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This economy profile presents the Doing Business indicators for Bahrain. To allow useful comparison, it also provides data for other selected economies (comparator economies) for each indicator. The data in this report are current as of June 1, 2011 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which cover the period January- December 2010). The data not only highlight the extent of obstacles to doing business; they also help identify the source of those obstacles, supporting policy makers in designing regulatory reform.

Source: Doing business in a more transparent world 2012 - economy profile : Bahrain - comparing regulation for domestic firms in 183 economies

Doing business 2011 : Bahrain - making a difference for entrepreneurs : comparing business regulation in 183 economies

Doing Business 2011: making a difference for entrepreneurs is the eighth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. A set of regulations affecting 9 stages of a business's life are measured: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and closing a business. Data in Doing Business 2011 are current as of June 1, 2010. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where, and why. The paper includes the following headings: overview, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.

Source: Doing business 2011 : Bahrain - making a difference for entrepreneurs : comparing business regulation in 183 economies

Doing business 2010 : Bahrain - comparing regulation in 183 economies

Doing Business 2010 is the seventh in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Bahrain. The paper includes the following headings: introduction and aggregate rankings, starting a business, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, closing a business, and Doing Business 2010 reform.

Source: Doing business 2010 : Bahrain - comparing regulation in 183 economies

Doing business 2009 : country profile for Bahrain - comparing regulation in 181 economies

Doing Business 2009 is the sixth in a series of annual reports investigating regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 181 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, over time. This paper presents the summary Doing Business indicators for Bahrain. The paper includes the following headings: introduction, starting a business, dealing with licenses, employing workers, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and closing a business.

Source: Doing business 2009 : country profile for Bahrain - comparing regulation in 181 economies

South Korean banks saw their combined net profit from overseas operations fall 13.5 percent in the first half of this year from a year earlier due mainly to an increase in loan-loss provisions, the financial regulator said Monday.

Net income by 134 overseas units and branches managed by 11 local banks reached US$ 371.6 million in the January-June period, compared with $ 429.4 million a year earlier, according to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS).

The weaker bottom line came as they set aside more reserves to brace for possible loan losses in the jittery global climate, the FSS said. Their combined loan loss reserves stood at $ 107.7 million as of end-June, up 71.2 percent from the previous year.

Their non-interest income tumbled 51.5 percent to $ 8.1 million over the cited period on securities investment losses, contributing to the profit decline, it added.

In contrast, the overseas outlets' combined interest earnings rose 8.3 percent to $ 694.7 million, as borrowing costs dropped, thanks to a lower benchmark rate in the offshore market.

Their average net interest margin, a key gauge of profitability, came in at 1.69 percent, down 0.44 percentage point from the first half of 2011. - PNA

Looking For a House Design?

In Portland, Oregon

Modern Architecture Building

Believe It or Not: Inside Paranaque National High School Classroom

Gusto Ko Happy Ka

Typical Filipino Classroom
Overcrowding is the main feature.

Either Indoor or Outdoor Classroom?

Indoor Classroom: Philippine Setting

Indoor Alternative

Explain To Me

How China Educate Chinese Kids

On their way to a Philippine public school.

A classroom in the Philippines. How can we help?

global education program

During the early months of WWII, Japanese intelligence experts broke every code the US forces devised. They were able to anticipate American actions at an alarming rate. With plenty of fluent English speakers at their disposal, they sabotaged messages and issued false commands to ambush Allied troops. To combat this, increasingly complex codes were initiated. At Guadalcanal, military leaders finally complained that sending and receiving these codes required hours of encryption and decryptionâ€"up to two and a half hours for a single message. They rightly argued the military needed a better way to communicate.

When Phillip Johnston, a civilian living in California learned of the crisis, he had the answer. As the son of a Protestant missionary, Johnston had grown up on the Navajo reservation and was one of less than 30 outsiders fluent in their difficult language. He realized that since it had no alphabet and was almost impossible to master without early exposure, the Navajo language had great potential as an indecipherable code. After an impressive demonstration to top commanders, he was given permission to begin a Navajo Code Talker test program.

Their elite unit was formed in early 1942 when the first 29 Navajo Code Talkers were recruited by Johnston. Although the code was modified and expanded throughout the war, this first group was the one to conceive it. Accordingly, they are often referred to reverently as the "original 29". Many of these enlistees were just boys; most had never been away from home before. Often lacking birth certificates, it was impossible to verify ages. After the war it was discovered that recruits as young as 15 and as old as 35 had enlisted. Age notwithstanding, they easily bore the rigors of basic training, thanks to their upbringing in the southwestern desert. - courtesy of http://www.navajocodetalkers.org

Na-inflitrate diay ta sa China through Trillanes. Tagsa ra gyuy mapili nga tarong nga senador. Okay, Sotto, file a libel case for that statement.

Glock 17 Generation 4 Pistol

from glock.com

The GLOCK 17 Gen4, in 9x19, introduces revolutionary design changes to the world's most popular pistol. The Modular Back Strap design lets you instantly customize its grip to adapt to an individual shooter's hand size. The surface of the frame employs the new scientifically designed, real-world-tested, Gen4 rough textured technology. Internally, the new GLOCK dual recoil spring assembly substantially increases the life of the system. A reversible enlarged magazine catch, changeable in seconds, accommodates left or right-handed operators. The G17 Gen4 also retains the GLOCK accessory rail for your attachments.

By Priam Nepomuceno

Aside from acquiring modern handguns for its police officers, the Philippine National Police claims to have saved P200 million when it approved the P1.2 billion supply contract for 59,904 units of Glock 17 Generation 4 pistols.

Deputy Director General Emelito Sarmiento, PNP deputy chief for administration, said the P200 million will allow them to fund a re-order of an additional 12,000 handgun units.

While Director Arnulfo Perez, PNP director for logistics, said this procurement program allowed them to acquire a handgun similar to short firearms used by 60 percent of all police forces in America, Europe and Asia.

"Police units in the field are assured of uniformity and interchangeability of parts of their issued handguns under any type of operating condition," he said.

The PNP currently has an assortment of 85,689 handguns issued to 143,104 personnel.

It expects to amass a total of 172,289 handguns in its inventory upon completion of all ongoing and forthcoming procurement programs to include 14,696 more handguns to be procured from an unused 2010 appropriation and 12,000 more to be acquired thru the P200 million savings generated from the 2011-2012 Capability Enhancement Program.

"There will be enough handguns to arm all 148,000 active-duty personnel and new police recruits joining the force in the next couple of years, with enough reserves to compensate for breakage and losses," Perez stressed.

PNP head Director General Nicanor Bartolome has approved a P1.2 billion supply contract that will provide modern handguns to all 148,000 members of his command.

This is funded by a combined 2011-2012 CEP appropriations.

Bartolome extended the commendation of President Benigno S Aquino III and DILG Sec. Mar Roxas to the PNP Bids and Awards Committee, including the proponents and participating bidders that made this landmark procurement possible, consistent with provisions of the revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act, contained in the Handbook on Philippine Government Procurement.

"This particular procurement program, the biggest in recent years and most advantageous for government, shall henceforth set the standard for transparency and accountability in future procurement programs," Bartolome said.

The Philippine National Police, in cooperation with the Zonta Club Makati-Paseo de Roxas and Arms Corporation of the Philippines, formally named the winners of the 2011 "Ten Outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines" (TOPWP) on Thursday.

The awarding ceremonies were held at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Named 2011 TOPWP awardees were:

* Supt. Mary Leocy J. Mag-Abo, Provincial Chief, Crime Laboratory, Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, Iligan City, Police Regional Office 10.

* Chief Insp. Claire B. Cudal, Police Community Precinct Commander, Don Bosco, Police Station 1 â€" Manila Police District, National Capital Region Police Office.

* Senior Insp. Arlene T. Abastillas, Station Commander, Station 2, Baguio City Police Office, Police Provincial Office, Cordillera Administrative Region.

* Senior Insp. Cheryll P. Balderama, Chief, Women Children Protection Desk, Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office, Police Region Office 10.

* Senior Insp. Charity S. Galvez, Chief, Family Juvenile Gender and Development (FJGAD, Police Region Office 13.

* Senior Insp. Maria Theresa T. Macatangay, Regional Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, Regional Intelligence Division, Police Region Office 7.

* Senior Police Officer 3 Rhia B. Sotomil, Women and Children Protection Desk, PNCO, Pavia Police Station, Iloilo Provincial Police Office, Police Region Office 6.

* Senior Police Officer 1 Geraldine G. Oriondo, Chief Admin/Women Children Protection Desk, Nasugbu Municipal Police Station, Batangas Provincial Police Office, Police Region Office 4A.

* Police Officer 3 Rochelle G. Bakingkito, Investigation, Police Non-Commissioned Officer (PNCO), Maritime Group.

* Police Officer 2 Liza P. Maldo, PCR PNCO, General Santos City Police Office, Police Region Office 12.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero presided over the awarding ceremonies.

He was assisted by PNP chief Director-General Nicanor A. Bartolome, TOPWP Zonta Club of Makati-Paseo de Roxas founder Mary Lynn L. Domondon; TOPWP president Cecilia C. Razon; ARMSCOR chairman Demetrio R. Tuason; and Police Community Relations Director Lina C. Sarmiento.

Since 2001, the TOPWP has recognized and honored policewomen who have shown exceptional accomplishments in the different fields of police work like police community relations, intelligence, investigation, and special operations by providing their utmost dedication and commitment.

More students now choose to take a technical-vocational course, Technical and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva said Wednesday.

At the 1st Technical Education and Skills Development Congress in Pasay City, Villanueva said the enrolment of students in various TESDA courses is on a rise.

"When we launched the TESDA Online Program, we never thought it would spread quickly across cyberspace, confirming our belief that more Filipinos are choosing the path to tech-voc training," Villanueva said.

The online program was launched in May and allows students here and abroad to take tech-voc courses online.

He said this upward trend prompted them to develop new training regulations on emerging skills as there is also a high demand for skilled workers.

"In monitoring the employment demand from various job portals and through our very own labor market intelligence reports, it goes almost without saying that the demand for skilled workers beat the demand for professionals," he said.

Villanueva said at least 37,000 students are enrolled in the online program as of August.

Villanueva said TESDA is slowly changing the Filipino mindset of having a college degree as better than taking up technical and vocational courses.

"The biggest challenge is changing the mindset of Filipinos towards the value of work. But we have accomplished big things in small steps â€" many of us now look at work not as manual and menial but an exercise of the hands, the brain, and the heart," he said.

Villanueva cited a recent survey which showed that employer satisfaction was high when it comes to work performance of tech-voc graduates.

The survey, conducted in more than 5,000 establishments, revealed that a high percentage of the establishment (86.1 percent) said that they are either “very satisfied” (43.3 percent) or “somewhat satisfied” (42.8 percent) with the work and performance of the graduates.

Villanueva said tech-voc education is one of the best investments of a country in attaining inclusive growth.

“We need to muster the support from all stakeholders, particularly the employers sector, to ensure that the TVET system responds to the needs of the economy and in providing new knowledge, skills and attitudes required for today’s market,” he said.

TESDA will also play a key role in the K to 12 program of the Department of Education because of the introduction of tech-voc education training (TVET) programs in senior high school.

Two personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 3 were ordered relieved in connection with the departure of Joseph Lim Pe, allegedly the name used by former Palawan governor Joel Reyes.

Atty. Maria Antonette Mangrobang, BI Spokesperson, said Immigration Officer (IO) Westley Gutierrez and Orodelio Udarbe had been ordered to report to the BI main office on Thursday.

“I assume they already received the recall order today, They are expected not to report to NAIA 3 tomorrow but report to main office,” she said.

The BI official said the two would be investigated as Gutierrez was the one who cleared Lim Pe, while Odarbe was the one who investigated reports that the former facilitated the departure of passport holders Lim Pe, and companion, Mario Reyes.

However, Mangrobang clarified that the recall order was not issued to confirm that the former Palawan official was able to flee the country.

“As far as the BI is concerned, we could only confirm the departure of a certain Joseph Lim Pe. Likewise, coordinate with counterpart immigration who secured biometric records of the arrival of these persons and the cctv footages if available so we could countercheck and ascertain if Joel Reyes and Joseph Lim Pe is the same person based on the record,” she said.

She added that BI Commissioner Ricardo David ordered the duo's relief.

BI records showed that Lim Pe and his companion left the country on May 18, 2012 bound for Saigon, Vietnam via a Cebu Pacific flight.

By Cielito M. Reganit

Leaders in both the majority and minority parties in the House of Representatives on Wednesday expressed their support for the possibility of naming Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya as head of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The untimely death of former DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo in a plane crash off Masbate on Aug. 18 made the post vacant.

House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said Abaya had the qualifications needed to fill the gap left by Robredo.

“Rep. Abaya has the administrative skills to run the DILG and like the late Secretary is a silent worker who rises above politics to get the job done,” Gonzales said.

The Mandaluyong lawmaker and Liberal Party (LP) stalwart also said that he preferred that the DILG post be given to an LP member, like Robredo.

Abaya is the secretary-general of LP, the party of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said that Abaya would be a good fit for the DILG.

The Quezon lawmaker said that besides being a lawyer, Abaya also possesses a military background that would serve him well if he is chosen by President Aquino to replace Robredo.

Abaya graduated at the United States Naval Academy (USNA) where he earned a degree in Mathematics in 1998.

Prior to that, he topped the entrance examination for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) before he was sent by the government to the USNA in Annapolis, Maryland.

“This background would be of help since the DILG also supervises the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Suarez said.

For his part, Congressman Abaya said that he was willing to accept the post if offered to him by the President.

“I will do whatever I can to help the President. If he requests or offers me to help him in any capacity, I will do his bidding as a good soldier,” he said but quickly added that “there was no offer coming from President Aquino.”

Philippine boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is one of the highest paid celebrities in the world for 2012, the Forbes Magazine said.

According to the magazine, which annually comes out with the elite list, the Filipino lawmaker and professional boxer is ranked 16th from among the 100 highest paid celebrities in the list with an estimated USD 67 million â€" about P2.8 billion - in earnings from title bouts and endorsements this year.

As a boxer, Pacquiao has become a pay-per-view (PPV) phenomenon, with five fights each generating at least one million PPV buys during the past four years.

The Filipino boxing idol has also earned USD 25 million in 2011, USD 42 million in 2010 and USD 40 million in 2009, according to Forbes.

At the same time, Pacman has expanded his endorsement reach by signing deals with Monster Energy and Hennessy.

His longtime partners include Nike and Hewlett-Packard, besides other local products.

A testament to his popularity in the Philippines is that when Pacquiao fights, the entire nation literally watches.

Police authorities report a drastic drop in crime incidence during his fights.

Meanwhile, TV host Oprah Winfrey remains at No. 1 in the list with USD165 million earned from her syndicated show, among others.

Also in the list are film producers and directors Michael Bay (USD 160-M); Steven Spielberg (USD 130-M); Jerry Bruckheimer (USD 115-M); and George Lucas (USD 90-M).

Likewise included are Simon Cowell (USD 90-M); Elton John (USD 80-M); Tom Cruise (USD 75-M); Donald Trump (USD 63-M); Ryan Seacrest (USD 59-M); Britney Spears (USD 58-M) and Tiger Woods (USD 58-M).

The operation of the Line 1 of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) has been hampered Thursday morning after a woman committed suicide inside the LRT EDSA station.

According to LRTA spokesperson Hernando Cabrera, the woman jumped to the railway while a train was approaching, killing her on the spot.

Cabrera said the suicide incident took place at 7:50 a.m., affecting the operations of both the south and north bound lines of LRT 1.

”Operations from Central to Roosevelt and back only. No trips from Baclaran to Central and back,” Cabrera stressed.

Cabrera said police is now investigating the incident.

The EDSA stop is the busiest station of the LRT1 as it connects to the Metro Rail Transit

The Philippines and South Korea recently signed an arrangement for the enhancement of the occupational safety and health system in the country.

Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz on Thursday said the new arrangement is in furtherance of the Arrangement for Technical Cooperation between the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) of the Republic of Korea and the Philippines’s Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“The new agreement is in consonance with the desire of both countries to continue their cooperation, with a view to enhancing the OSH system in the Philippines within the framework of its national standards and regulations,” said Baldoz.

A delegation from South Korea, headed by Lee Jae Kap, Vice Minister of the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, has met with DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes Trasmonte, Labor Standards and Social Protection cluster head, last week of July to sign the agreement. Undersecretary Trasmonte signed on behalf of the DOLE.

“The agreement aims to establish a framework of cooperation between the DOLE and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) of Korea in order to provide assistance for the enhancement of the Philippines’s OSH policy and systems by sharing Korea’s OSH laws, systems, and policy experiences with the DOLE,” Baldoz explained.

Under the agreement, Korea’s MOEL will provide financial and technical support to DOLE in carrying out the following activities:

(a) analyze the Philippines’s policies on industrial accident prevention, workplace improvement, and industrial accident compensation, and provide advice and guidelines for the enhancement of OSH policies in the Philippines;

(b) send experts to the Philippines to provide assistance for the enhancement of OSH policies, especially with regard to industrial accident prevention, workplace improvement, and industrial accident compensation;

(c) provide training to the Philippines’s policy makers/implementers in Korea so that they can learn about Korea’s experiences, including the implementation of policies on industrial accident prevention, workplace improvement, and industrial accident compensation and the management of relevant institutions.

For its part, the DOLE will cooperate with, and provide financial, technical, and administrative support to, MOEL as follows:

(a) assist MOEL in undertaking its advisory activities.

(b) provide administrative support to the Korean experts during their stay in the Philippines.

(c) provide the financial and administrative support agreed upon between MOEL and DOLE to the Philippines’s policymakers/implementers for their participation in the training courses in Korea and seminars in the Philippines.

The parties have also agreed to conduct other activities proposed by either MOEL or DOLE, if deemed necessary.

The MOEL has designated its International Cooperation Bureau, while the DOLE has designated its Bureau of Working Conditions, as the two governments’ respective offices in charge of implementing the arrangement.

The responsible bureaus will oversee, support, and evaluate the implementation of the activities outlined in the arrangement.

“The specific activities in each area of cooperation will be determined through consultation between the responsible bureaus of MOEL and DOLE, between the responsible bureau of MOEL and a policy advisory agency designated by MOEL, or between the responsible bureau of DOLE and the policy advisory agency designated by MOEL,” explained Baldoz.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) tax evasion charges worth P150.68 million against former Supreme Court (SC) Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, his daughter Ma. Carla Beatriz C. Castillo, and son-in-law, Constantino T. Castillo III.

In a press conference, BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said criminal charges were filed against Corona for violating Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) from 2003 to 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Corona, a registered taxpayer of Revenue District Office No. 32 that covers Sampaloc, Sta Mesa and San Miguel, served as former President and now Pampanga (2nd District) Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Chief of Staff, Presidential Spokesman and Acting Executive Secretary before she appointed him as Associate Justice in the SC and as Chief Justice.

Henares said as a public official from 2002 to 2010, Corona is required to submit under oath his statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) annually, including that of his spouse and children under 18 years of age.

In his SALNs, Corona's networth ranged between P7 million to P22 million in the nine-year period.

Investigation showed that Corona did not declare all his assets in his SALNs.

Aside from the bank deposits, he also did not declare two real properties he acquired during his stint in government such as a condominium unit at the Columns, along Ayala Avenue, Makati City that he bought for P3.6 million in 2004, and a property in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City that he bought for P9.16 million in 2005.

The BIR also looked at Corona's bank records and compared it with his networth.

It also discovered a substantial disparity between the acquisition cost of the properties declared in his SALNs with that in the certificates authorizing registrations (CARs).

Henares said they computed Corona's deficiency income tax liability at P120.5 million for the nine-year period.

The BIR computed his tax liability using the expenditure method which is based on the theory that if a taxpayer's expenditure in a given year exceeds his reported income, the excess spending represents unreported income.

Henares said that they charged Corona's daughter for violating Section 254 of the NIRC or attempting to evade or defeat taxes in 2010, and violating Section 255 or failing to file an income tax return for the same year.

Mr. Castillo was charged for violating Section 254 of the NIRC or attempting to evade taxes in 2003 and 2009 and violating Section 255 of the NIRC or failing to file a return in 2003.

Henares said Mr. Castillo registered with the BIR in 1998 but filed his income tax returns only from 2005 to 2009.

Mr. Castillo declared a total income of only P1.933 million for the five-year period.

On the other hand, Castillo's wife only filed income tax returns for 2008 and 2009 where she declared a total income of only P228,040.00.

While the Castillo couple's declared income amounted to less than P3 million, they were able to acquire three properties such as a P10.5-million property in Proj. 3, Quezon City, a P15-million commercial property in Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City and an P18-million mansion in La Vista, Quezon City.

Henares said using the expenditure method, the BIR computed the deficiency income tax liability of Mr. Castillo at P20.25 million.

Four plumbers drowned after the septic tank where they were doing plumbing and piping work in Ali Mall, Cubao, Quezon City suddenly overflowed before dawn Thursday.

Police Officer 2 Alvin Quisumbing of the Quezon City Police District said the incident transpired at around 3 a.m.when the water inside the septic tank suddenly rose, trapping and drowning the four workers.

He identified the victims as Romy Suarez, his sons Rodel and Rommel, and Marvin Aleman. Their bodies were retrieved at around 6 a.m.

Quisumbing said they are still investigating the incident.

A top military officer has designated one platoon of soldiers for every battalion as the first responders during calamities in Davao Region and in the provinces of Sarangani and South Cotabato.

Brig. General Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th Infantry Division, disclosed the move is aimed to immediately address emergency situations brought about by abnormal weather conditions due to climate change.

He affirmed that risk reduction and management is one of the missions of the military in its peace and development effort characterized by linking up with all stakeholders in local government units and the private sector.

“We are training our soldiers to be first responders. And part of the first responder training is the establishment of the incident command system where all information about the disaster at hand is put in place before turning it over to the local government unit in a given area,” Bernardo said.

He said the information covers the type and extent of the calamity, initial appreciation of the number of victims, search and rescue and relief operations.

Bernardo said as first responders, the military will immediately assume as incident commander to ensure that the needs of affected communities are attended to immediately.

“Based on the hazard map provided for by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, we designate one platoon for every battalion in a given area to dispatch immediately when calamities either natural or man-made occur,” he said.

Bernardo said Davao Region is prone to landslides and they are also identifying the fault lines in their respective areas to prepare themselves whenever earthquakes occur.

Egypt's President Mohamed Morsi appointed on Sunday Abdel Fatah el Seisy as defense minister and chief of the supreme council of the armed forces, presidential spokesman Yasser Ali announced.

Tantawi and Chief of Staff of the armed forces Sami Enan were ordered to retire, with Sediqi Sobhi appointed as new chief of staff. Both Tantawi and Enan were appointed as advisers to the president.

Former judge Mahmoud Mahmoud Mohammed Mekki was appointed as vice president.

The President also issued a new constitutional declaration and cancelled the supplementary declaration issued in mid-June by the army.

According to the new declaration, if the constituent assembly could not achieve its work in 15 days, the president should form a new one which represents all the society spectra, after consulting all the national movements to prepare a constitution draft within three months of its formation.

The draft has to be put on referendum within 30 days after finishing it. And legislative procedures will begin in two months after the people's approval of the new constitution.

Tropical Depression “Helen” will bring rains over Luzon and the Visayas as it continues to move closer to Northern Luzon, the state weather bureau said Monday.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that as of 5 a.m. Monday, the center of Tropical Depression Helen was located based on satellite and surface data at 625 km East Northeast of Casiguran, Aurora (17.0°N, 128.8°E) with maximum sustained winds of 55 kms per hour (kph) near the center.

PAGASA said "Helen" carries about 10 to 20 mm per hour (heavy - intense) of rainfall within its 350-km diameter coverage.

The weather agency expects "Helen" to enhance the southwest monsoon that will bring rains over Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, especially the western section.

PAGASA said the tropical depression is moving west northwest at 9 kph and it is forecast to be 590 km east northeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan by Monday evening; 420 km east northeast of Aparri, Cagayan by Tuesday; and 220 km northeast of Basco, Batanes by Wednesday.

There are no public storm warning signals raised in any area of the country yet, the weather agency said.

In its advisory, PAGASA said Luzon and Visayas will have mostly cloudy to cloudy skies with scattered rain or thunderstorms, becoming cloudy with widespread rain over the eastern section, which could trigger flashfloods and landslides.

“Residents living in low lying areas and along mountain slopes are advised to be on alert for possible occurrence of flash floods and landslides,” PAGASA said.

The rest of the country will have partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain or thunderstorms.

Winds over Luzon will be moderate to strong coming from the southwest, with coastal waters moderate to rough. The rest of the country will experience light to moderate winds from the southwest.

Metro Manila will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rain or thunderstorms. Temperatures will range between 24-31 degrees Celsius, the weather bureau said.

PAGASA also issued gale warning as strong to gale force wind is expected to affect the Northern and Eastern seaboards of Luzon and the Eastern seaboard of Visayas. -pna

something is wrong with our educational system. those stupid questions deserve not to be answered.

Then do we understand that a man may live on sin, just so he has faith?
"Faith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:20) "How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?" (Rom. 6:2).

Have  our good deeds anything to do with our salvation?
"Not of works, lest any man  should boast"(Eph. 2:9)