Joomla! site syndication http://www.aer.ph Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:29:36 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.aer.ph/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png http://www.aer.ph Joomla! site syndication http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1150&Itemid=63 In the aftermath of Monday's (August 23, 2010) hostage-taking tragedy, a TV station asked its viewers the question: should there be a media blackout during hostage crises? The question grossly oversimplifies the issue. The public outcry is not for a total news blackout, but for media outfits to exercise greater restraint in choosing which details to air and when to air them. The best way, in fact, for media organizations to avoid further legislated media regulation, is for them to prove to the public that their self-regulatory mechanisms are sufficient. Commentaries - Yellow Pad Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1148&Itemid=63 Yes, the Philippine government is ultimately accountable for the death of eight Chinese tourists in the bungled operations to rescue the hostages. Exacting accountability means heads must roll. Yes, the Philippine President failed to immediately answer the urgent call of Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang. Yes, some Filipinos displayed insensitivity by having souvenir photos taken, with the bullet-riddled bus where the hostages were killed as background. Or by having the Philippine flag draped over the coffin of the hostage taker. Commentaries - Yellow Pad Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1141&Itemid=63 What is in for Ayala Avenue (my version of America's Wall Street) and for JP Rizal Avenue (my version of America's Main Street) in the first 100 days of P-Noy Aquino's administration? In terms of economic growth, a period of 100 days is too short, and there is not much one can do to speed up or slow down the gross domestic product (GDP). Consider my time series and real business cycle (RBC) metaphor of a car running 100 kilometers per hour (kph) on flat land. No act of man that can put the car in full stop or speed it up to 200 kph in three seconds’ time. If one does not step on the gas or the brake and let the car be, the car keeps its natural speed. The natural speed might be less than 100 kph, but no way drastically different from 100. Commentaries - Yellow Pad Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:09:52 +0100 http://www.aer.ph/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1138&Itemid=63 Political capital is precious, and it must be used well. The Philippine Daily Inquirer (14 August 2010) reports that the P-Noy administration is “ready to sacrifice political capital” in implementing the imposition of the value-added tax (VAT) on road tolls. It is not just about the application of the VAT on the increased tolls of the South Luzon expressway (SLEx) but on the tolls of other expressways as well. The news item quoted presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda: “In the short term, we’d rather be unpopular because in the long term we know that the [value-added tax] that will be collected will be used for the social services that we have promised.” Commentaries - Yellow Pad Sun, 15 Aug 2010 19:10:13 +0100