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 :)

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 :)

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/ 

COMELEC Stuff…onli in the Pilipins…..

Bonjour. Mabuhay.
While it is still hot…like fuming hot…I really don’t know what else to say.
Only in the Philippines? Wow talaga.

Comelec exec: Nothing to pack
By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:22:00 10/28/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Delivery of voting materials by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to a number of regions for the October 25 polls were delayed because at a certain point there was nothing to transport, the poll body’s packing and shipping committee (PSC) said Wednesday.

The delays and other glitches led to the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in 2,418 villages (about 6 percent of the total) across the country.

“There was a delay in the packing because we had nothing to pack … the ballots were incomplete,” PSC head Rey Doma said, defending his committee against accusations that it delayed the delivery of voting supplies for monetary gain.

A Comelec insider, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak on the matter, told the Inquirer on Tuesday that some employees and officials of the poll body intentionally caused delays because they wanted to get a share of the P230-million budget for delivering voting materials.
(So what else is new???)


Controlled chaos
The source said it was controlled chaos. “They delayed it until the last minute,” he said.

The Comelec has formed a fact-finding panel to determine the delays in the delivery of election paraphernalia and those who should be held accountable.

Doma said it was unfair for Comelec officials to put the blame on the PSC when it was merely enduring the “domino effect” of late preparations.
(Domino effect? Bakit hindi kaya natin sila lagay under giant dominoes and see how well they run…)


He said the fact-finding panel “must look at the whole gamut of the delay.”

“There are a lot of factors that contributed to the delay… I just hope that the investigation will be fair and impartial and that the fact-finding committee sees the whole gamut of the delay,” Doma told reporters.

Bids committee
Commissioner Armando Velasco, the head of the fact-finding panel, said his group would also review the timetable for the barangay and SK elections followed by the bids and awards committee (BAC), the National Printing Office (NPO) and the PSC.

Dilly-dallying
“We would check how many days the BAC consumed before it issued the notice of awards to the winning bidders,” Velasco said. “We would also look into the schedule of the printing.”

Doma said his office could not immediately perform its functions, mainly to pack and ship ballots and other voting supplies, because there was “dilly-dallying” in the preparations and setbacks in the printing of ballots.

If the schedule had been faithfully followed, the shipping of election supplies could have started on October 18, a week before the nationwide polling in 42,025 barangays, Doma said.

But the NPO did not even complete the printing of ballots on that day, he said. Two days before the elections, some of the ballots were still at the NPO reception committee and had yet to be turned over to the PSC, he added.

Packing began October 15
Doma said the PSC started receiving election forms and supplies for packaging on October 15 and completed its work a week after or on October 23.

“We finished packing in one week,” he said. “We should have even been commended for this because we finished a job that is usually completed in one or two months in just one week.”
(We commend you….condemn seems to be a spelling mix up of commend don’t you agree?)


The shipment of ballots to far-flung areas like the Socsksargen and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao began only on October 19 and the following day in nearer regions.

This was after the Comelec allowed the PSC to carry out partial delivery of ballots after seeking its permission, Doma said.

“Of course we are the last phase of the preparation, so we look as if we are the ones who caused the delay,” he said.

He also denied that the delays were caused by his office so his men could get a share of the P230-million budget for delivering voting materials.

Forwarding companies
Doma said the packing and shipping committee had to designate deputized drivers from other government agencies to carry out the deliveries in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Ilocos as it would take more time if it were carried out by forwarding companies.

“We limited the personal deliveries to these two regions to make sure that the ballots would reach the areas on time,” he said.

Personal deliveries or those carried out by Comelec personnel were allowed only when bundles of the printed ballots had been inadvertently left behind by the forwarding companies, he added.

A list obtained by reporters on Wednesday showed that 17 Comelec personnel personally delivered official ballots and election returns to various parts of the country, including Sorsogon, Misamis Oriental, Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Quezon, Bohol and Sultan Kudarat.
The personnel were from the Comelec’s planning department, administrative service department, electoral contest and adjudication department, personnel department and election records and statistics department.

Drivers
Eight drivers from other government agencies were deputized by the PSC to deliver the materials to Mt. Province, Abra, Quirino, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Vizcaya, Apayao, Benguet, Isabela and Laguna.
Doma acknowledged that during election time, the Comelec staff would bug him to make the deliveries out of town. “In fact last Sunday at the NPO, there were some people there waiting to be given trips like vultures,” he said.

The maximum budget provided to a Comelec employee making the delivery was P50,000. He also stood to receive a per diem of P800 and a stipend for gasoline expenses, he said.

Panalo talaga….

MMDA Anti-Littering Law (PART 2)

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

MMDA anti-littering law? You will find the continuations here. Section 2 of the revised law.

SECTION 2.
[PROHIBITED ACTS] of MMDA Regulation No. 96-009 is hereby amended as follows:

a) Delete the word “DUMP” in Sec. 2, paragraph (a) of MMDA Regulation 96-009.
b) Add the phrase “THE REMOVAL OF FALLEN TREE BRANCHES ON THE SIDEWALKS AND STREET GUTTERS FRONTING THEIR PREMISES AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1 OF MMDA REGULATION NO.96-009”after the word “including” in Section 2, paragraph (b) of MMDA Regulation 96-009.”
c) Change the word “plastic” to the word „APPROPRIATE” in Sec. 2, paragraph (c) of MMDA Regulation 96-009 d)

Amend Sec. 2, paragraph (d) of MMDA Regulation 96-009 to read as follows:
It is unlawful for any person to place construction materials without first securing a permit from MMDA or LGU concerned or dump construction wastes or debris , junk or under repair vehicles, dilapidated appliances and other immovable objects or any kind of materials in any part of the road, street or avenue or in any sidewalk which may obstruct or impede the vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Owners of junk/ abandoned vehicles shall be given ten (10) days to remove said vehicle. Such vehicles may be towed/ removed by MMDA and sold in public bidding on “as is where is” basis if the owner failed to remove the same after ten (10) day grace period has expired. The proceeds of the sale shall cover all the expenses incurred on the removal/ towing of said vehicle.
x x x
i. Add Section 2, paragraph (i) after Sec.2, par. (h) to read as follows:
It is unlawful for any person, owner, resident, lessee or occupant of covered places and its immediate surroundings, including cars or vehicles, to throw or empty-out or unload refuse/ waste of more than 1 cubic foot in a heap or mass.

j. Add Section 2, paragraph (j) to read as follows:
It is unlawful for any person, owner, operator, proprietor, manager, administrator of covered public places not to clean and maintain cleanliness of their respective places at all times, not to provide appropriate receptacles inside or within their premises and see to it that pest and vermin control is regularly undertaken to prevent and eradicate vector of diseases.

It pays to know more…..
Part 3 coming soon…:)

MMDA Anti-Littering Law (PART 1)

Bonjour. Mabuhay.

Here is a copy of the Memorandum regarding the new anti-littering law implemented by the MMDA.
It is better to know than to be in the bliss of ignorance .
Read on.

METRO MANILA COUNCIL
MMDA Regulation No. 99-006
AMENDING MMDA REGULATION NO. 96-009 ENTITLED REGULATION PROHIBITING LITTERING/DUMPING/THROWING OF GARBAGE, RUBBISH OR ANY KIND OF WASTE IN OPEN OR PUBLIC PLACES, AND REQUIRING ALL OWNERS, LESSEES, OCCUPANTS OF RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, WHETHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC, TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE CLEANLINESS OF THEIR FRONTAGE AND IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION THEREOF

WHEREAS, the Metro Manila Council enacted in September 15, 1996 MMDA Regulation No. 96-009 prohibiting, among other things, littering, dumping and throwing of any kind of waste in open or public places;
WHEREAS, there is a need to amend MMDA Regulation No. 96-009 in order to differentiate dumping from littering to determine the appropriate imposable penalties thereof and address the problem on how to immediately dispose the junk vehicles which have been causing traffic congestion in many roads in the metropolis;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 6 of RA 7924, this Amendatory Regulation is hereby promulgated and adopted by the Council, that:

SECTION 1. Section 1 [DEFINITION OF TERMS] of MMDA Regulation No. 96-009 is hereby amended to add in the list the definitions of “Dumping” and “Littering“ to read as follows:

xxx
k) DUMPING means to indiscriminately throw or empty-out or unload refuse/waste of more than 1 cubic foot from a dwelling unit, commercial building or office, whether public or private institution, car or vehicle in heap or mass into a place or location not designated as waste collection point or outside of the duly designated containers.

l) LITTERING means to make a place untidy by throwing or scattering in a careless manner small pieces of waste or refuse such as cigarette butts, candy wrappers, fruit and vegetable peelings and the like.

More info to come.

COMELEC oh COMELEC

Bonjour. Mabuhay.


As if you don’t already know, the salt that grinds on the injuries of our nation somehow is rooted on the incompetence of some people whom we have entrusted with the facilitation of our systems.

Kelan pa kaya tayo makakuha ng mga leaders na one step ahead kung mag isip? Kahit hindi na three years ahead, kahit na 3 months ahead lang. Is that too much to ask?

As usual, it’s pass the blame game season once again. Read on my fellow country men…….

COMELEC blames National Printing Office for delivery delays
By Philip Tubeza Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 17:13:00 10/25/2010

MANILA, Philippines—Delays. Delays. Delays.

Saying that it was also dissatisfied with how the barangay elections were held, the Commission on Elections on Monday blamed the delay in the delivery of election materials for the postponement of the elections in many areas of the country, particularly in the Bicol region.

Comelec chairman Jose Melo said the delivery of election supplies was delayed in turn due to earlier delays in the printing of ballots by the National Printing Office and the delays in the bidding for the election materials.

He added that areas that did not hold elections on Monday will still be on public holiday Tuesday so that voters could still cast their ballots.

Even President Aquino has said he was also dissatisfied with how the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls were conducted.

“He’s not alone,” Melo said in a press briefing. “It’s not 100 percent so we are not … We want of course to have 100 percent but (still) as it is, it is not failure [of elections].

“We are not satisfied in the sense that the bidding was a little delayed and then the NPO did not perform up to par because their printing presses are not very modern,” Melo said.

“[The President's opinion] is personal. That is up to him but we may share that dissatisfaction,” he added.

Melo said the bidding was delayed because Congress was not able to immediately decide whether the barangay and SK polls should push though this year.