The Ilocos Times

To better guide the policymakers on agricultural investments, an agriculture-based model seldom used in rice economic studies is proposed by a returning scholar based at Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija. Dr. Marc Jim Mariano, who recently graduated from Monash University in Australia, said that results derived from Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model are useful for the policymakers in knowing the economy-wide effects of a policy. Holding a PhD in Economics, Mariano intends to construct an agriculture-based CGE model for the Philippines with household microsimulation and updated database – the first CGE model yet developed for PhilRice. “There are many methods used in analyzing the socioeconomic impacts of rice policies and market interventions in the Philippines. However, most of them are partial equilibrium analyses, only taking a part of the market so results are usually focused on one sector at a time. With its

“My alma mater, the UP College of Mass Communication, is celebrating its 50 th anniversary this year. It is a good time for it to pack up and reallocate taxpayer subsidy to other more useful courses,” says seasoned journalist Boo Chanco, currently columnist of the Philippine Star and School of Journalism dean of the ABS-CBN University.   On one occasion at the UP CMC, Mr. Chanco told students that “they were wasting their time trying to earn a degree in journalism, broadcasting or communication research. They would be better off studying sociology, economics or political science. Or a good course is English Literature which will at least teach them about life.” Mr. Chanco posits that “everything needed to excel in journalism or in a broadcast career can be learned on the job in less than six months if you are any good.” He expressed doubts if even half of CMC’s graduates ended up working in mass media. I share Mr. Chanco’s observation that you don't have to take a co

RA Form No. 10.1 (LCRO) Republic of the Philippines Local Civil Registry Office Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Bangui NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION             In compliance with Section 5 of RA No. 9048, a notice is hereby served to the public that PERCIVAL I. SALCEDO has filed with this Office a Petition for Change of First Name from “EFRECIBAL” to “PERCIVAL” in the birth certificate of EFRECIBAL INCILLO SALCEDO who was born on January 20, 1955 at Bangui, Ilocos Norte and whose parents are Telesporo Salcedo and Teodora Incillo.             Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office not later than June 1, 2015. (SGD) GLORIA B. AMUDO Municipal Civil Registrar May 18-24, 25-31, 2015*IT _________________________________________________________ Publication Notice R.A. 10172 Republic of the Philippines Province of Ilocos Norte Municipality of Bangui OFFICE OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL REGISTR

CHANGE, as the saying goes, is the only constant thing in this world. This, however, is dependent on the kind of change on whether it is a minor or major change. It is in this context that we now seem to find ourselves in the K-12 issue. As one of only three countries left in the world with the seemingly obsolete 10-year basic education system, our country’s college degrees are not only being ignored in other parts of the world, but more so are being taken to be nothing but a piece of paper that lacks the very weight of its claims. The European Union set its education standards with the Bologna Process while the United States set its own with the Washington Accord. Both European and United States systems call for a 12 year basic education program for recognition of students and professionals abroad. As it is, our 10-year basic education—which we now share only with Angola and Djibouti, both African nations—falls quite short of both standards. As a result, our graduates are