THE country has recently endorsed 43 applications for consideration under Japan’s FY2008 Individual Technical Cooperation Program, which extends assistance by dispatching experts and providing training and supply of medical equipment to countries in need.

Of the 43 applications, 10 were endorsed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC); six from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH); five endorsed by local government units (LGUs); three from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); two applications each from the Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), Bureau of Customs, Department of Labor and Employment  and the Department of the Interior and Local Government; and one each from the Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Agriculture, Department of Science and Technology , University of the Philippines-Los Baños  and the Tariff Commission.

The DOTC is hoping to get assistance from the program for the publication of a manual for port operations; civil-aviation planning and policy; railway planning and management; integrated transport management; maritime transportation security and communications system; telecommunications/network planning and information technology; and coast guard administration, aviation capability, and asset management.

Meanwhile, the DPWH is asking assistance for road planning and management; a training program for strengthening the planning of missing links and gaps in road network; counterpart training for flood mitigation and transportation control using information technology; and strengthening the promotion and planning of tourism development in the country.

The five projects endorsed by LGUs are for the provincial government of Cavite’s medical care and rehabilitation of drug abusers program; the Makati City government’s supply of environmental monitoring equipment; Parañaque City’s supply of equipment for a disease surveillance system; the Las Piñas government’s application for an X-ray machine; and the Bukidnon provincial government’s application for the supply of equipment for the Bukidnon Health Sector Reform project.

On the other hand, the DENR hopes to get assistance for the Philippine Reference System of 1992 project; geospatial administration; and for its training program on urban mangrove ecopark development and management.

The two applications of the DOH are for the provision of an international health policy expert and establishment of a laboratory for emerging and reemerging pathogens, while the CICT’s application were for ICT policy planning and provision of a telecommunications and ICT specialist.

The BOC is asking assistance for its program for capacity development of customs enforcement for anti-terrorism and enhancement of customs functions, while the DOLE is asking assistance for labor productivity and a maritime training program review.

The DILG is, on the other hand, asking assistance for its counterpart training program on improving the Internal Revenue Allotment system and the in-country training on strengthening the capacities of clustered LGUs on corporate governance.

Other applications include the DAR’s request for assistance on the Japanese official development assistance (ODA) system; the DA’s irrigation development planning and implementation program; DOST’s doppler weather radar training for operations and maintenance personnel; the UPLB’s capability enhancement program on integrated organic vegetable; and the Tariff Commission’s program to increase awareness of Philippine stakeholders on the rules of origin.

CONSUMERS are left with no choice but to bite the bullet and pay for expensive cooking gas this month.

Oil companies Petron Corp., Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. and Total (Philippines) on Thursday morning increased the price of cooking gas by P1.50 a kilo, which is exclusive of the value-added tax.

THE government remains committed to pursue its hybrid-rice seed subsidy program at least until 2010, despite the recommendation of the World Bank (WB) to scrap the program and trim the subsidies given to rice farming.

A REPORT from the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) within the World Bank Group concluded that the Bank must become more effective in issues surrounding income inequality, corruption, and the preservation and conservation of the environment in middle-income countries (MICs) like the Philippines.

CONTRARY to popular beliefs, migration, despite the volume of money it brings, has neither brought rural folks out of poverty nor is it a sure fire way for farm people to clamber aboard the prosperity wagon.

THE country has recently endorsed 43 applications for consideration under Japan’s FY2008 Individual Technical Cooperation Program, which extends assistance by dispatching experts and providing training and supply of medical equipment to countries in need.