Tag Archives: Akala

[In the news] Greener on the other side: Deforestation in the wake of Martial Law -GMANews.com

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Greener on the other side: Deforestation in the wake of Martial Law
by Shaira Panela,  GMA NEWS

September 21, 2012

Philippine forests were lush before Pres. Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law on Sept. 21, 1972.

Forty years after, Philippine forests are still under repair from denudation caused by massive deforestation that started in the Marcos regime:

(See graph @ http://www.gmanetwork.com)
Forest cover is improving, but it still has a long way to go.
Source: Forest Management Bureau

“Alam mo, at that time (1960s to 1974), ang forest cover natin ay even more than 50 percent. Akala natin yung forest resources natin hindi mauubos e…,” said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources‘ Forest Management Bureau (FMB) director Ricardo Calderon in an interview with GMA News Online.

But the country saw rapid deforestation after Martial Law as Marcos changed the rules on logging leases, from one year to 10-year and even 25-year terms, according to the book “The Political Economy of Growth and Impoverishment in the Marcos Era” by James K. Boyce.

Read full article @ www.gmanetwork.com

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[In the news] Review natl scholarship fund – Kabataan party-list – Nation – GMA News Online – Latest Philippine News

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Review natl scholarship fund – Kabataan party-list – Nation – GMA News Online – Latest Philippine News.

Incoming college freshman Cherry Hulgado has long dreamed of studying at the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman, Quezon City. She graduated at the top of her class in high school and qualified to enter the state university’s Sociology program, but she has a problem.

Hulgado’s first semester matriculation expenses, already net of the benefits from UP’s Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program, amount to P7,000 — way beyond her unemployed parents’ means.

In a report on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation” on Tuesday, Hulgado shared with reporter Joseph Morong her problem.

“Pinag -hirapan ko ito. Nandito na, bakit pakakawalan ko pa? Kaya lang may bagay na pumipigil sa amin. Wala na sanang problema kung may pambayad,” she said.

Hulgado is one of many UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) passers who want to study at the university but cannot afford even the heavily-subsidized fees because of financial constraints.

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino said it’s about time government updates its scholarship fund.

“Paano kung umaasa yung bata kasi iskolar ng bayan siya? Akala niya may libreng edukasyon sa UP tapos wala palang option kundi magtrabaho na lamang. Sayang naman ‘di ba?”

According to the party-list representative, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allocates P5,000 per semester to its scholars while the House of Representatives gives P10,000 per student annually. The amount, the report noted, would scarcely be enough to cover Hulgado’s expenses.

The CHED, according to its website, has various types of scholarship grants ranging from P2,500 to P15,000 per semester.

The UP University Registrar revealed that 1,011 of the 3,826 UPCAT 2010 passers did not confirm their slots. Of those that confirmed, 303 did not enroll. Some students did not push through with UP because they were offered scholarships in private universities.

“Kung magpatuloy ang trend na ito, ang UP hindi nalang siya magiging pamantasan ng mahihirap na matalino, pamantasan nalang ito ng mayayaman na matatalino,” Palatino said. — Bea Cupin/ELR/VS, GMA News

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