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Bonjour. Mabuhay.

This blog site is designed to provide facts, opinions, information, and other pertinent material regarding services that every Filipino can enjoy. We can share opinions, deduce information, and decide on the best possible options available to us. Hope you enjoy the things we will share here. :)


Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Philippine Population Count...the demographic advantage

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Found an interesting topic regarding the increasing population count of the country as per NSO's census activities.

It seems that there are pros and cons to ponder on...
This article may be a good read if you have time to spare.

Giving up the demographic advantage
A LAW EACH DAY (Keeps Trouble Away) By Jose C. Sison (The Philippine Star)
Updated November 29, 2010 12:00 AM

The proponents and supporters of the RH bill repeatedly point out and continue to harp on our alleged overpopulation problem as the main reason why the bill should be enacted into law. They cite the fact that our population continues to increase as there are now 90 million Filipinos and still counting, so that by 2025 they project that there will be 120 million Filipinos already. But is there really a population explosion in the Philippines?

To answer this question, our Congressmen and Senators, and even the President should not just rely on the current state of our population as commonly perceived. They should examine the facts and figures compiled by the National Statistics Office (NSO) on our population growth rate over the decades. Statistics show that over the past 50 years starting 1960 up to the present, there is a continuing decline in the growth rate of our population. From 3.01% in 1960-70, it became 2.75% in 1970-80, then 2.35% in 1980-90, 2.34% in 1990-2000, 2.04% in 2000-2007 and 1.95% in 2005-2010. 
This record of decline over the past 50 years is the best and most reliable proof that there is no population explosion in our country and that the population growth rate will continue to decline in the decades to come.

Of course our population is still increasing because we have not yet reached zero or negative growth rate. But it is not high anymore at 1.95% as to cause alarm that the RH bill supporters and proponents are raising. For a clearer perspective of our present population growth and the inevitable consequences if the RH bill is passed, let me quote again from the article, “RH bill Revisited” of ex-Senator Tatad. He said:

“This growth rate is not high, but the real numbers continue to grow because people finally ‘stopped dying like flies’. The average worker in the Philippines is much younger than his counterpart in most of the world, giving us a long term edge that has been lost forever in so many countries. Population controllers and their propagandists, however, continue to alarm us about our supposedly ‘exploding’ numbers, without looking at the age structure, which puts us above most everybody else, when the world’s most serious problem is irreversible ageing, ‘de-fertilization’, ‘depopulation’ and ‘dechristianization’ now changing the face of Europe.

Writing in the November/December 2010 issue of the prestigious US quarterly journal, Foreign Affairs, Nicholas Eberstadt, one of the world’s most respected demographers, reports that ‘almost all of the world’s developed countries have sub-replacement fertility, with overall birth rates more than 20 percent below the level required for long term population stability. But developed countries account for less than a fifth of the world’s population; the great majority of the world’s population with sub-replacement fertility in fact reside in the low income societies…Between now and 2020, the global supply of potential workers is set to grow more slowly than in the previous two decades. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, the absolute increase in the world’s working age population(15- 64) between 2010 and 2030 will be around 900 million, 400 million fewer than over the past two decades. The projected average rate of global manpower growth for the coming decades is 0.9 per year, only half the rate for the period between 1990 and 2010…It is not alarmist to warn that there is no time to lose in recognizing — and adopting to — the enormity of the world’s unavoidable demographic challenges.

Our situation in the Philippines is tragic and perverse. We are being asked to renounce our enormous natural demographic advantage as a great liability and to embrace the costly and ruinous population policies of the West that have long failed”.

So only the proponents and supporters of the RH bill say that the Philippine population is growing too fast. Statistics say otherwise. Raising the alarm of overpopulation all the more proves that the bill’s real and ultimate objective is population control. They are just hiding this real objective by adopting the western sponsored family planning programs supposedly in the exercise of “responsible parenthood” by the couple, and in promoting “reproductive health” of women by giving them the right to an “informed choice” between the method of using contraceptive and the natural family planning. The objective here is to reduce the size of the population in developing countries like the Philippines considering the overall effects of population growth in developing countries on the economic and security interest of the U.S. (1974 Kissinger report or the National Social Security Memorandum, NSSM 200).

In this connection, let me share another interesting angle on this western population policy written by a Canadian analyst Abid Ullah Jan (http://albalagh.net.population/brutal.shtml). He says that it is the “most populous nations who will dominate the world in the next century” particularly “23 countries with the largest populations’ that includes the Philippines. This is what was written about the Philippines:

“Fully 71 percent of the males in the Philippines between the age of 15 and 49 are fit for combat with over 700,000 more expected to join their number annually. It explains the eagerness of western countries to encourage births at home, while demanding at the very same time to take outrageous steps to prevent fertility in developing world to avoid a shift in the balance of power at some time in the future. This also explains the otherwise inexplicably cruel programs of structural adjustment, the conversion of agriculture to export production, and other policies that impoverish the developing nations. The ‘overpopulation’ propaganda may be simple. And it may have been freely circulated around the world for so long that it has come to be taken for granted. Its contradictions are not invisible. And suspicions of evil motivation do not die. Rather they grow in proportion to the pressures from overseas”.

Legislators, please take note.

Maybe we should all take note :)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

DFA Warns the Public Against Passport Fixers

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Just to reiterate so you won't get victimized by fixers. here's the full article.
Last June 2010 The Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of Consular Affairs (DFA-OCA)warned the public against unscrupulous and enterprising individuals who charge exorbitant fees in exchange for a passport appointment.

DFA-OCA wishes to clarify that getting an appointment for passport processing is FREE and may be done in two ways:

1.    By calling telephone number 737-1000, or
2.    By logging on to www.passport.com.ph

DFA-OCA does not authorize any of its personnel to offer passport-related services (particularly appointments) to the public inside or outside of its premises.

The public is further advised not to deal or transact any business with any of these people or even offices near the DFA offering passport-related services to avoid being victimized.

Any inquiries or urgent concerns or requests may be directed to any of the DFA-OCA Public Assistance personnel.

DFA-OCA can provide assistance to applicants with urgent passport requirements provided that sufficient proof of urgency is submitted.

Finally, the cooperation of the public is requested by reporting any suspicious and anomalous offers regarding passports to the Office of the Passport Director.



 Bear in mind, na walang manloloko sa taong disiplinado :)

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

DFA Passport Experience : on photo capturing

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Finished passport application. Whew. Was a blast. Something I learned when they start getting your photo for the passport.

While inside the Passport Enrollment Section.

Here are some Guidelines to be followed:


YOUR POSE
Your frontal pose looking directly at the camera lens and showing your full face must be used. Rotation or tilting of the head either in an up/down or left/right direction must be avoided. The mid points of the mouth and the bridge of the nose should lie on an imaginary vertical line in the center of the image.

EXPRESSION
Your expression should be neutral with both eyes open and mouth closed. There should be no hair covering the eyes. Contrived expressions such as raised eyebrows, squirting or frowning are not acceptable.

SMILING
When having their photos captured, applicant may smile, but without showing their teeth and gums. The ‘Mona Lisa’ smile is recommended.

EYEGLASSES/CONTACT LENSES
Eyeglasses should always be removed before capturing the applicant’s photo.
The use of contact lenses for medical reasons is accepted, provided that the contact lenses do not change the applicant’s true eye color. Therefore, applicants are advised to take off their contact lenses before having their photos captured.

EARS SHOULD BE VISIBLE
As much as possible, both ears of the applicant should be visible.

EARRINGS/HAIR ACCESSORIES
These accessories should be removed prior to photo capturing. Frizzy/afro hairstyles should be neatly arranged showing full frontal facial image.
For men, wearing earrings is not allowed.

INFANTS
Infants or very small children who are unable to support themselves should be assisted by either parent or their guardians. Hands, arms, etc., used to support the child should not be visible. High-chair for minor applicants may be used, if needed.

Keep these in mind when you get to the DFA. You do not need to bring any photos, your photo and biometrics will be taken onsite. Bring your printed application form with the barcode printed on top. This is acquired when you get your passport appointment. :)

How to obtain an NSO Authenticated Certification?

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Now that the All Saint's Day festival is done, we get back to the basics; that is getting info and spreading the word :)

Here's a guide on how to obtain an NSO Authenticated Certification:

1. In Person - By going to NSO Serbilis Centers nationwide. Click here for outlet locations near you.

2. By Postal Service System - By sending a mail to The Civil Registrar General National Statistics Office P.O. Box 779, Manila Philippines. Check out their website at http://philpost.gov.ph

3. Through Phone - By calling NSO Birth Certificate Delivery (02) 737-1111. Check it out at Citizen Services.

4. Via Internet - By logging-on to www.birthcertificates.com.ph


Next post will be about Frequently Asked Questions and NSO certificate definitions. :)

NSO Certificates: TEN Steps to be undertaken in the correction of an entry in a civil registry document

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Some tips for the correction of entry for your civil registry document (NSO birth, marriage, death, CENOMAR certificates)

1. Contact a lawyer who will prepare the Petition for correction of entry.
2. Lawyers shall file the Petition in the Regional Trial Court. The fee for filing the Petition in the Regional Trial Court is P160.00.
3. The Petition will be raffled and assigned to a branch of the Regional Trial Court.
4. The assigned Regional Trial Court shall issue an Order for the publication of its Order in a newspaper of general circulation for three consecutive weeks. Fee for publication varies.
5. The Order contains the date of the first hearing.
6. During the first hearing, the lawyer will present compliance of the jurisdictional requirements like publication of the Order in a newspaper of general circulation.
7. After establishing compliance with jurisdictional requirements, the petitioner will be presented in Court to testify. The Court may assign the Clerk of Court to receive evidence.
8. During the hearing, it is possible that an oppositor may appear contesting the Petition. If no oppositor appears, the Clerk of Court will receive the petitioner’s evidence.
9. After presentation of evidence, the Court will rule on the Petition.
10. If the decision is favorable, the Court will order the Office of City Registrar to correct the entry in the civil registry document (birth/marriage/death certificate of the petitioner).

Source: www.citizenservices.com.ph/blog
Originally posted on www.census.gov.ph
Copy at http://mastercitizen.wordpress.com/2010/09/22/nso-correction-of-entry/