BUSINESS LAW(All contractual terms are either categorised as Essay

BUSINESS LAW(All contractual terms are either categorised as conditions or warranties. How true is this statement Discuss, with reference to case law. ) - Essay Example There ought to be a consideration that will pass hands once the promises of the contract have been fulfilled. Finally, the agreement should be not violate the laws of the land. For example, it would be illegal to enter into an agreement of drug trafficking. Once these conditions have been fulfilled, the agreement becomes a contract that can be enforced by the court of law.2 As such, all contractual terms are either categorized as conditions or warranties Terms of contracts are promises or statements made by one person to another in order to encourage him to enter into a contract.3They comprise of duties and responsibilities of the parties to a contract. The terms may be express or implied. The parties themselves put down express terms, either in writing or verbally. In a written contract, any statement is an explicit term of the contract. An example is in Duffy & Ors v. Newcastle United Football Co. Ltd. (2000). The law from the actions or intentions of the parties infers implied terms of a contract. Shirlaw v Southern Foundries [1939] is a good example of a situation where terms of the contract were implied. In the case, the claimant was hired as a managing director for a term of ten years. Later the defendant altered the articles of association giving the company the power to remove directors. The firm fired the claimant before the end of his ten years contract. The court held that when signing the employment contract there was an assumption that the company would not remove the managing director from his position during the term of the contract. Another assumption was that the enterprise would not alter the articles of association to give it the right to fire the managing director. A condition is a term of a contract that goes to the root of the contract. Failure to honour a conditional term renders an agreement very different from the original one. Hence, conditions are the essential terms of a contract.4 Due to their

Holy The Firm by Annie Dillard Essay Example for Free

Holy The Firm by Annie Dillard Essay ​â€Å"Death of a Moth† is a short essay from the author, Annie Dillard, called Holy the Firm, and also one of her most personal essay that she’s ever written. It is about the burning moths, her belief in God, and acceptance of her faith to being a writer. She uses the death of the moths to tell us nature’s cycle of life. Everything is the same, human and animal, life and death. In the end, they will all end up like the moth being burned up by candle light. ​In the essay of Annie Dillard, Death of a Moth, she writes about a woman who lives alone on Northern Puget South in Washington State, with one enormous window, one cat, and one spider(2). She has a flashback about two summers ago when she tried to run away from society to read and write her book, To Mountain. She tries to find herself to becoming a writer. She wants to leave the world behind and enjoy herself alongside animal and nature. She sees a moth landing on her candle light and gets burnt. She, then, describes the moth in such realistic ways which remind the readers about nature’s cycle of life. As she looks at the moth, she falls asleep. ​In the essay, the author has mentioned in her class about â€Å"you must go at your life with a broadax† (10). In theory, a broadax is a weapon or a tool used to chop down trees. At this point, Annie wants to explain to her class if you want to be something or get something in your life, you have to be willing to overcome anything to be able to get what you want. Your life is like a battle. When in battle, you need to equip yourself with a broadax, and be prepared to fight and struggle. In addition, it also shows you are willing to hack down at anything standing in your way. In practice, students also face the same situation. They try their best to overcome obstacles teachers give them to be able to pass their classes. ​In â€Å"Death of a Moth† essay, Annie Dillard tells us about nature’s cycle of life. Everything will have the same ending, being born, living for a certain period of time, and then dying. The same as the moths or ephemera stabs by fire. George has mentioned about significance of butterfly to her moths essay by posting his post on bookcritics.org(5). I would say that butterfly is the most beautiful insect I have even known. To be obtaining this beauty, it also has suffered so many miseries. It has to endured ninety months to a year in a cocoon, then it breaks pupa without any help, and transforms to a beautiful butterfly. The pity is it only lives for 3 days or a month, depending on what type it is. From the butterfly example, effort is what we can’t lack in our life. If we live without any obstacles, we will never learn or become stronger like a butterfly’s ability to break cocoon and fly up high. ​It can be seen that Annie Dillard is focusing more about the nature’s cycle life and also, expressing her effort to being a writer. She uses the moths as an example to describe her idea about nature to the readers, which is accept faith and move on with your life. In my own opinion, I would recommend or love to hear the significance of butterfly in her moth essay than reading about the moth being burned by the candle light. It was not a waste of time to write an essay about a moth, but replacing the moth to a more gracious creature like a butterfl y would better capture the audience.

The Standardized Testing Nightmare Essay -- High-Stakes Standardized Te

As children grow up some of their frightful memories include a visit to the dentist or to the first day in elementary school. Perhaps their greatest nightmare is standardized testing. Since starting school as first graders students are taught to test in the United States. In many cases students are placed in remedial classes or even held back because of their low grades. Many do not realize that the students with low grades are mainly students who are not good test takers, and educators start to believe that these students are low achievers. When educators do this, it leads the students to have lower self-esteem and encourages them to drop out of school later on. Students are also forced to memorize information merely as facts without sparking their creativity or enhancing their knowledge. Prior to the educational reform movement of the 1970s and 1980s, standardized tests were primarily employed as measures of student achievement that could be reported to parents, and as a means of noting state and district trends. (Moon and Brighton) Educators paid little attention to these tests, which had little impact on curriculum. In the continuing quest for better schools and high achieving students, testing has become a central focus of policy and practice. Standardized test are tests that attempt to present unbiased material under the same conditions and with consistent scoring and interpretation so that students have equal opportunities to give correct answers and receive an accurate assessment. The idea behind standardized testing is that these similarities allow the highest degree of certainty in comparing results across schools, schools districts, or even the state. As the high-stakes testing becomes more popular, stan... ...ndustrial nations in the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. He reported that tests measure exposure to facts and skills not whether o (Osburn, Ritter and Suitt)r not kids can think. (Osburn, Ritter and Suitt)â€Æ' Works Cited Bachelor, Denessa. "Are These Tests Failing?" April 2006. Hearts & Minds. 2013 . Longo, Christopher. "Fostering Creativity or Teaching to the Test?" The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Stategies, Issues and Ideas (2010): 54-57. Moon, Tonya R and Catherine M Brighton. The National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. Storrs: Center, 1991. Osburn, Monica Z., et al. "Parents' Perceptions of Standardized Testing: Its Relationship and Effect on Student Achievement." 2004. University of Arkansas. 2013 .

Online Games Essay

Modernization of living has a great impact to one of us, specifically in the field of technology that introduces us to this, computer age because of its many benefits that makes our lives better and helps us do work a lot better. One evidence is the excessive of use of computers of some students, it gives us a faster access to the world and is very beneficial to our studies like doing paper works and at the same time, entertainment. But as computers became†¦ [continues]. Online games are the best but it can be an addiction. Addiction of online gaming is extreme use of computer playing games that interferes with daily life. Being addicted to online games are bad for students, because it can affect their grades and study habits. Study habits for students are very important for them so that they can graduate and achieve their goals. These online games can make you not to worry about having bad grades and makes you spend more time playing while studying. I like this topic because it is about gaming and its effects on high school students. This topic also is interesting for me because I want to know more about the effects of online games to us students. This topic is also very important to high school gamers because they need to know the effects of online gaming addiction. This topic about online gaming addiction to high school students is important so that everyone will know the bad side of playing too much computer games. I hope gamers will know that spending much time in playing games is bad especially to us high school students. I also hope that my research will be able to help these addicts to lessen their game time and focus on studying.

Concept Analysis

Concept Analysis Stephanie Hobbs NR 501: Theoretical Basis for Advanced Nursing Instructor: Dr. Patricia Fedorka September 30, 2012 Introduction According to McEwen & Wills (2011), concept analysis is an approach to clarify and define terms so that writers and readers have a common language. The process of a concept analysis is to: 1. Select a concept 2. Determine the aims or purposes of analysis 3. Identify all the uses of the concept possible 4. Determine the defining attributes 5. Indentify model case 6. Identify borderline, related, contrary, invented and illegitimate cases 7.Identify antecedents and consequences 8. Define empirical referents The concept health is referred to as the ability to function independently; adapt to life's stressors; achievement of one's full potential and unity of mind, body and soul. Jean Watson identified health as one of many concepts used to understand the theory or science of human caring (McEwen & Wills, 2011). Purpose of the Analysis The purpose of this analysis is to clarify and define the term health. Clarification of this concept is essential to the function of caregivers.Everyone responsible for providing care should be knowledgeable of what health is. Many believe they know what health is but after a closer look, it is revealed that at best, it is fleeting and partially understood. Also, it is necessary for medical personnel to understand the difference between health, care and nursing (Lee & Ross, 2008). Uses of the Health Concept According to Walker & Avant (2011), dictionaries, colleagues, thesauruses, and scholarly literature should be used to identify the uses of the concept. A search for the literature on health was done by using Medline, CINAHL and Google Scholar.An online dictionary and thesaurus was also used. Dictionary Definition The English version of this word has many meanings. Webster defines health as the condition of being sound in mind, body, or spirit; especially: freedom of physical disease or pain . Other definitions by Webster are the general condition of the body, a flourishing condition, and a general condition or state (Merriam-webster. com). Defining Attributes Attributes as described by Walker & Avant (2011) are characteristics or descriptors. These attributes will help distinguish health from nursing and care. A state of complete physical, mental and social well being * A dynamic state of functioning within the limitations of the person (Artinian, 1991) * Unity and harmony within the mind, body and soul (Watson, 1999) * The expanding of consciousness; an evolving pattern of the whole of life (Newman, 1999) Model Cases 1. A 17 year old has given birth to twins and been referred to the Following Baby Back Home Program. On the initial visit, the nurse finds the mother is withdrawn and displaying signs of depression. She knows very little about the babies behaviors and is not very concerned about what the nurse or social worker is saying.Upon further assessment, the mother reveals that she and the father are no longer together. The nurse also finds out later that mom was severely anemic at discharge and experiencing excruciating headaches. On the next visit, the nurse convinces mom to schedule her follow up appointment and she explains how anemia affects her and her ability to care for the babies. Although the client denied feeling depressed, the nurse discussed signs of post partum depression and got the client to sign a contract saying she would call for help if she felt like urting herself or the babies. After returning to the office, the nurse called the physician’s office to make him aware of her involvement with the client and her assessment. The nurse also refers the client to a program called ACCESS. This program provides parenting classes as well as counseling for teen parents and emergency help with diapers and formula. After visiting the client for a few months there is a noticeable difference in the way she interacts with the babie s as well as her overall appearance and energy level.The client is also attentive and interested in what the home visitors are talking about. The client states that she is taking medication for the anemia and on birth control. She is getting counseling and taking a parenting class through the ACCESS program. She also says she enjoys the program because she interacts with other teenager going through the same thing she is. This model reflects health because it contains many of the defining concepts. Any of the concepts missing could cause the client to not be in good health.It also demonstrates why the nurse must have good assessment skills and address as many areas as possible that affect the client’s health. 2. An elderly lady diagnosed with Hypertension and Type II Diabetes presents to a Community Health Center for a follow up appointment. During triage, the client’s blood sugar is 357mg/dl and her blood pressure is 180/206. After speaking with the nurse, it is revea led that the client has been evicted from her home, has little to no food to get her through the month and did not purchase her medication due to a lack of money.The nurse shares this information with the physician and the social worker. After the physician gets the blood sugar and blood pressure under control, the social worker enrolls the client into some med assistant programs and calls the nearest women’s shelter to secure her a bed. The nurse gives her enough samples to last until her meds come in. The client states she will follow the regimen prescribed by her physician. This model clearly demonstrates how social issues affect overall health. After the clients social needs were met, she was able to focus on taking care of her physical health.This model also reflects many of the defining concepts. Borderline Case A borderline case gives another example of the concept’s use, but some of the defining attributes are excluded. Borderline cases give readers an idea of what the concept is not (Speros, 2005). A 55 year old male attorney presents to PCP complaining of chest pain, fever and shortness of breath for 3 days. He is told that he has to be hospitalized for a cardiac workout because a myocardial infarction is suspected. He is also told that he will have to have a cardiac catheterization.The patient reads the consent and refuses to sign it because he does not understand the medical jargon. He leaves against medical advice but is told to take 2 propranolol 80mg and see his physician in 2 weeks. He takes 2 pills once a day and does not return to see his doctor. Contrary Case The following case is contrary to health because it does not reflect the defining concepts. A 26 year old mother from a very small rural community brings her 6 year old to clinic wheezing and short of breath. The mother smokes about 30 cigarettes a day, is very soft spoken, has a limited vocabulary and reads on a fifth grade level.Mom also has problems spelling words corre ctly, prints when writing and reverses some of the letters. The child is diagnosed with Asthma and sent home with a nebulizer with albuterol and saline, a peak flow meter, steroid inhalers with spacers, and oral medication. Before leaving mom is asked if she understands how to give the child her medication? Mom states she understands and is then told to stop smoking around the child and return to the clinic in 1 week. Mom verbalizes understanding and leaves. Three days later mom presents to the Emergency room with child in respiratory distress and smelling of smoke.She states she did not use the nebulizer because she could not â€Å"work it†, she gave the both medication twice a day as opposed to each medication daily and she did not have peak flow readings because she thought it look more like a toy. The child smelled strongly of smoke (Speros, 2005). This case clearly shows two people in poor health. It obviously is contrary to the defining attributes of health. Antecedents and Consequences Walker and Avant (1995) describe antecedents as events or incidents that must precede the occurrence of the concept. For some time there was very little theoretical clarity of health for nursing science.In 1946 The World Health Organization attempted to define health and has since changed or added to the definition a couple of times. Walker and Avant (2005) also described consequences as events or incidents that occur as a result of the concept. Defining or clarifying the health concept has been important and useful to the theoretical basis of nursing. It has helped developed theory, instrument and research (Wang, 2005). Empirical Referents According to Cheng, Foster& Huang, empirical references present how the concept is to be measured or what the observation of a phenomenon should in reality be (tzuchi. om). Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring defined three concepts with health being one of them. Margaret Newman’s Theory of Health as Expanding Cons ciousness model uses two concepts one of those being health. These theories demonstrate the existence of health and how it has helped the nursing profession. Conclusion The concept of health was selected because of the many changes and variations to its definition. The World Health Organization defines health as a complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (who. int).Regardless of the definition, health is a concept that has helped develop the nursing profession. The Reference Artinian, B. M. , (1991). The development of the intersystem model. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 164 -205. Lee, V. and Ross, J. , (2003). ‘What is Health? ’ Campaign. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 94(5), 360. Ne Newman, M. A. , (1999). Health as expanding consciousness (2nd ed. ). New York: National League for Nursing Press. http://userwww. service. emory. edu/~mrisjor/documents/Rethinking. pdf http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary /health http://www. tzuchi. com. w/file/DivIntro/nursing/content/92-3/3. pdf http://www. who. int/about/definition/en/print. html Speros, C. (2005). Health Literacy: Analysis Concept. Journal of Advance Nursing, 50(6), 633-640. Walker, L. O. & Avant, K. C. (1995). Strategies for Theory Construction in Nursing, 3rd ed. Appleton-Century-Crofts, Norwalk, CT. Walker, L. O. & Avant, K. C. (2010). Strategies for theory construction in nursing. Boston: Pearson Wang, Y. (2005). A concept analysis of health. Hu Li Za Zhi The Journal of Nursing, 52(1), 40-43. Watson, J. , (1999). Postmodern nursing and beyond. London: Churchill Livingstone. .

Free Essays on Robin Goodfellow

Puck Oberon’’s henchman, Puck –– a nickname for â€Å"â€Å"Robin Goodfellow†Ã¢â‚¬  –– loves mischief. In one of the most famous speeches of the play, he gleefully describes to another fairy all of the terrible pranks he pulls on humans, to whom he is invisible (these are pretty sophomoric: pulling the stool out from under people so that they fall down, etc.). Puck is given a task by his master as part of the revenge on Titania: find a flower that can make love-juice. Oberon also asks Puck to put some of this juice on the eyes of an â€Å"â€Å"Athenian youth.†Ã¢â‚¬  After he mistakenly gives it to Lysander, rather than Demetrius, things become very complicated. Puck seems genuinely sorry for causing problems, but you get the sense that he also likes watching the fun of such mix-ups –– after all, he was the one who gratuitously changed Bottom’’s head into a donkey’’s! In the end, though, Puck uses his invisibility to help Oberon repair the confusion among the pairs of Athenian lovers, and the entire play concludes with his speech apologizing to the audience for any â€Å"â€Å"offence†Ã¢â‚¬  the plot might have caused –– â€Å"â€Å"Robin,†Ã¢â‚¬  he offers, â€Å"â€Å"shall restore amends.†Ã¢â‚¬  Puck (In-Depth Analysis) Though there is little character development in A Midsummer Night's Dream and no true protagonist, critics generally point to Puck as the most important character in the play. The mischievous, quick-witted sprite sets many of the play's events in motion with his magic, by means of both deliberate pranks on the human characters (transforming Bottom's head into that of an ass) and unfortunate mistakes (smearing the love potion on Lysander's eyelids instead of Demetrius's). More important, Puck's capricious spirit, magical fancy, fun-loving humor, and lovely, evocative language permeate the atmosphere of the play. Wild contrasts, such as the implicit comparison between the rough, earthy craftsmen and the delicate, grac... Free Essays on Robin Goodfellow Free Essays on Robin Goodfellow Puck Oberon’’s henchman, Puck –– a nickname for â€Å"â€Å"Robin Goodfellow†Ã¢â‚¬  –– loves mischief. In one of the most famous speeches of the play, he gleefully describes to another fairy all of the terrible pranks he pulls on humans, to whom he is invisible (these are pretty sophomoric: pulling the stool out from under people so that they fall down, etc.). Puck is given a task by his master as part of the revenge on Titania: find a flower that can make love-juice. Oberon also asks Puck to put some of this juice on the eyes of an â€Å"â€Å"Athenian youth.†Ã¢â‚¬  After he mistakenly gives it to Lysander, rather than Demetrius, things become very complicated. Puck seems genuinely sorry for causing problems, but you get the sense that he also likes watching the fun of such mix-ups –– after all, he was the one who gratuitously changed Bottom’’s head into a donkey’’s! In the end, though, Puck uses his invisibility to help Oberon repair the confusion among the pairs of Athenian lovers, and the entire play concludes with his speech apologizing to the audience for any â€Å"â€Å"offence†Ã¢â‚¬  the plot might have caused –– â€Å"â€Å"Robin,†Ã¢â‚¬  he offers, â€Å"â€Å"shall restore amends.†Ã¢â‚¬  Puck (In-Depth Analysis) Though there is little character development in A Midsummer Night's Dream and no true protagonist, critics generally point to Puck as the most important character in the play. The mischievous, quick-witted sprite sets many of the play's events in motion with his magic, by means of both deliberate pranks on the human characters (transforming Bottom's head into that of an ass) and unfortunate mistakes (smearing the love potion on Lysander's eyelids instead of Demetrius's). More important, Puck's capricious spirit, magical fancy, fun-loving humor, and lovely, evocative language permeate the atmosphere of the play. Wild contrasts, such as the implicit comparison between the rough, earthy craftsmen and the delicate, grac...

Carol Ann Duffy Midas and Aesop Essays

Carol Ann Duffy Midas and Aesop Essays Carol Ann Duffy Midas and Aesop Essay Carol Ann Duffy Midas and Aesop Essay Mrs. Aesop In Mrs Aesop, Duffys speaker does more than regret a loss; this time, her tone is resentful that the man she married has turned out to be an Asshole. Mrs Aesop relies on the readers foreground knowledge that Aesop (a Greek slave) was a literary genius responsible for inventing the allegorical mode; this is the worlds preconceived view of him. By contrast, his wifes starting-point is that, no matter how entertaining and instructive Aesops fables are, the man himself is a bore and, whats more, boring (Tedious) because, if he isnt busy researching his next tale, hen hens talking at her in the didactic language of the last one. The racy, vernacular rhythms of Duffys free verse And thats another thing, the sex was diabolical are ideally suited to express both her rhetorical indignation at his pious lecturing and her deeper frustration at his inadequacies; to illustrate his sexual impotence, she concocts her own fable about a little cock that wouldnt crow. Whats more, Mrs Aesops last sentence (l laughed last, longest) suggests by the glee with which she urns her husbands own proverbial wisdom against him that her motto must be Dont get mad, get even. Mrs. Midas In Mrs Midas, Duffys imagined speaker is the wife of Midas, King of Phrygia to whom Dionysus granted his hamartic wish that everything he touched should turn to gold. Duffys strategy is to chart the stages by which it dawns on Midas wife first that her husband possesses this golden touch and second that it has potentially fatal consequences: lt was then that I started to scream. King Midas fatal flaw is his asculine sense of priorities according to which material satisfaction appears more important than emotional/spiritual fulfilment; her dramatic realisation of his folly Mrs Midas records by her exercise of a grim wit at her husbands expense. In the situation, she discovers that metaphorical expressions (near petrified/ when it comes to the crunch/ heart of gold) have recover ed their literal meanings. The best of these verbal gags she saves for the final verse-paragraph: What gets me now is not the idiocy or greed but lack of thought for me. Pure selfishness. The poem is a criticism of male selfishness: if it is pure selfishness, then in the particular circumstances it is 24-carat selfishness. Mrs Midas, however, is not misanthropic; her tone is of regret that she has lost the man she loves and her final sentiment is a wistful longing to have him again: I miss most0even now, his hands, his warm hands on my skin, his touch. The ultimate irony is that Midas possessed a magic touch all along: namely, the physical touch which had the power to transform her into a loving wife. Carol Ann Duffy Midas and Aesop By Armaan-Bhatia

An Introduction to Akaikes Information Criterion (AIC)

An Introduction to Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) The Akaike Information Criterion (commonly referred to simply as AIC) is a criterion for selecting among nested statistical or  econometric models. The AIC is essentially an estimated measure of the quality of each of the available econometric models as they relate to one another for a certain set of data, making it an ideal method for model selection. Using AIC for Statistical and Econometric Model Selection The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was developed with a foundation in information theory. Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics concerning the quantification (the process of counting and measuring) of information. In using AIC to  attempt to measure the relative quality of econometric models for a given data set, AIC provides the researcher with an estimate of the information that would be lost if a particular model were to be employed to display the process that produced the data. As such, the AIC works to balance the trade-offs between the complexity of a given model and its goodness of fit, which is the statistical term to describe how well the model fits the data or set of observations. What AIC Will Not Do Because of what the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) can do with a set of statistical and econometric models and a given set of data, it is a useful tool in model selection. But even as a model selection tool, AIC has its limitations. For instance, AIC can only provide a relative test of model quality. That is to say that AIC does not and cannot provide a test of a model that results in information about the quality of the model in an absolute sense. So if each of the tested statistical models are equally unsatisfactory or ill-fit for the data, AIC would not provide any indication from the onset. AIC in Econometrics Terms The AIC is a number associated with each model: AICln (sm2) 2m/T Where m is the number of parameters in the model, and sm2  (in an AR(m) example) is the estimated residual variance: sm2 (sum of squared residuals for model m)/T. That is the average squared residual for model m. The criterion may be minimized over choices of m to form a trade-off between the fit of the model (which lowers the sum of squared residuals) and the models complexity, which is measured by m. Thus an AR(m) model versus an AR(m1) can be compared by this criterion for a given batch of data. An equivalent formulation is this one: AICT ln(RSS) 2K where K is the number of regressors, T the number of observations, and RSS the residual sum of squares; minimize over K to pick K. As such, provided a set of econometrics models, the preferred model in terms of relative quality will be the model with the minimum AIC value.

The Effect of Internet Technology on the Retail Banking Sector Assignment

The Effect of Internet Technology on the Retail Banking Sector - Assignment Example Money too has moved from plastic cards to a form called "e-cash", "e-money" that is highly portable and tradable over the Internet with its attendant risks and advantages. Transaction costs-the hitherto hidden but significant costs of doing business in the past, have come crashing in the Internet Age. In this paper, we examine Williamson's Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) and use it to analyze the impact of Internet Technology on the retail banking sector. Built into Internet technology are features that accelerate information availability, make information "Always Available" to the consumer and almost always secure and private. In this essay, we define "Internet Technology" broadly and "Retail Banking" and its services. We then proceed to explore further in depth the developments in Internet Technology in the last 10 -15 years that have led to the development we call "Internet banking". We then focus our attention on the "retail banking" sector of Internet banking. We use transaction cost economics (TCE) to analyze the "effect" of Internet technology on the retail banking sector. In this analysis, we highlight the benefits, threats and challenges and take a futuristic tour of the direction of Internet banking in the next ten years and its sociological effect on a new meaning of transaction costs. In this section, we define the Internet, Internet technologies and retail banking and take a survey of developments in the past ten years in Internet technology as it relates to banking in general and retail banking transactions in particular. 2.1 Internet Technology The Internet is defined by Webopedia (2006) as "a global network connecting millions of computers" The University of California at Berkeley (UCBerkeley, 2006) provides this definition: "The Internet is a network of networks, linking computers

Year Round School System, Better Than Summer Vacation Research Paper

Year Round School System, Better Than Summer Vacation - Research Paper Example Students then learn through the fall, winter and spring. At the end of the spring students are finished with school for the year and get to enjoy a nice 8-10 weeks of break. This is a traditional school year and what’s wrong with that? The answer is simply facts! Facts have proven that the benefits to year round education are much more beneficial than traditional education. The problem regarding traditional and year round school is students who attend year round schooling have better scores on tests then students who attend traditional school systems (Lyttle 2011). To further explore why this is so, it is important to understand what happens during summer vacation. A typical summer vacations involves young children to be at day care, and older children left home. Parents still continue to work if they are not stay at home parents. Quickly children lose sense of a schedule. The children begin to sleep in, change eating habits, stay up later, and some make bad decisions. Hardly any studying is done and study time is quickly replaced with video games, television and the internet. Due to changes in schedule during the summer, students forget nearly everything they learned over the school year. This is even more so devastating to children with developmental disorders as they need the constant learning. This problem can be addressed to improve education by allowing for year round schooling. Year round schooling can be much more beneficial in so many different ways. Year round schooling benefits students, parents and teachers. Students benefit from year round schooling by improving tests scores and increasing more efficient work habits. Students whom are able to study year round better retain information as it is not lost due to break in habits. Information that is normally lost during summer vacation is better retained and more focus can be put toward new learning instead of having to refresh what was forgotten over summer break. A study conducted in over 345, 000 schools in the state of North Carolina shows an increase in academic achievements for students who attended year round school versus traditional school. In the article, year round school can be defined as, â€Å"180 days of school instruction that has shorter breaks rather than one large break during the summer†(McMillen2001). Students from lower income levels benefit the most from year round schooling. Year round schooling shows the best benefits when children from low income levels are on a year round school schedule. This may be due to their may be no adult present in the home during the summer and students are able to do as they please. In an article be Tracy Huebner, research has proven that students from low income homes were better off participating in year round schooling as they had higher scores in spelling, reading and math (Huebner 2010). Teachers also benefit from a year round school system. Year round schooling for teachers can be quite beneficial especially if teachers are not on a salary rate. When faced with year round versus traditional school setting on non salary earnings, teachers are more likely to seek year round schooling. Besides earnings, there are many other reasons why year round schooling is more beneficial to teachers. Teachers normally plan the fall school year refreshing much information lost during summer vacation. Year round schooling involves less having to refresh during the fall and more complete and continuous focus throughout the year. Lessons plans allow for more focused learning. Parents would likely prefer year round schooling with shorter breaks rather than one larger break. It is easier on parents whose children are in year round sch

History of Theatrical Lighting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

History of Theatrical Lighting - Essay Example The history of lighting in theatre is by nature a map to our own imaginations. In general, there are two kinds of illumination for the theatre, General Composition Illumination, and Selective Illumination. General Composition Illumination is used to produce a ‘wash’ of light across space, with little or no shadows. It is diffuse and undifferentiated. Selective Illumination is the creation of shafts or pinpoints of light that can be directed or fixed on certain areas of the stage in order to highlight a specific person, prop or scene. This draws the audience's attention to that area. Theatrical lighting has taken these two general categories and over the centuries learned to manipulate their intensity and colour for a myriad of effects and the creation of a more dynamic stage element. However, for the purposes of this analysis attention will be given to that lighting which is of a man-made origin. This of course begins with the humble candle. Attributed to invention circa 400 AD, the candle was at first relegated to religious ceremonies. As better materials were developed and the brightness and portability of the candle increased, it began to be used more generally. But it wasn't until the late fifteen hundreds that there are records of candles being used in theatres in Italy. Their popularity spread over Europe and to England by the early sixteen hundreds. Candles became the most significant light source for theatre productions. In the beginning candlelight was used to illuminate the members of the audience as well as the production and its actors. Candles were usually set in chandeliers over the audience and the audience section was under constant illumination during the performance while the stage would have varying degrees of light. Stagehands would snuff out and light candles according to the stage directions and there were also mechanical contrivances, different full chandeliers and partial branches were also used: Some of the branches could b e lowered by wires and pulleys so that the candles could be lit, snuffed, and extinguished. Lines, ropes, and pulleys are frequently mentioned in the accounts [of performances], but there are only a few explicit references to the raising and lowering of lights. Candles were also used as footlights and ladders in the wings to add side illumination. Then in the sixteenth century Sebastiano Serilio created a technique that gave candles a whole new dimension. By the use of coloured liquids made from various sources like saffron (yellow), burgundy wine (red) and so on he was able to give candlelight colour. He utilized a polished barber’s basin to reflect candlelight through these bottled liquids to project on actors and scenery. In a sense this was the first attempt at selective illumination as well. However candlelight had many drawbacks, one of which is the intensity and the quality of the light produced. Many candles, up to and sometimes exceeding thirty or more per several ch andeliers were necessary to have sufficient illumination for the stage or audience. Intensity is an important concern as relates to human vision. Detail can be lost if there is not enough light to discern them.

APPIAN WAY Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

APPIAN WAY - Research Paper Example The remaining sections were constructed in the course of next few centuries, with the road spanning about 563kms and thereby connecting Rome to Brindisi in southeast Italy. When the road construction process was started, it was mainly leveling the dirt road. After leveling, large stones as well as mortar were laid, which is followed by the laying of gravel. When the basic structure of the road was formed, it was topped with small stones which fitted into the gaps, thereby forming a flat surface. The small stones fitted into the gaps so aptly that historians marveled at how the small stones seem to have â€Å"grown† along with the other components. For instance, historian Procopius said that small stores â€Å"did not look so much fitted together but as grown together†, so much so they led to the formation of a road surface which was smooth, and far better than the jagged irregular roads before. (Kaster, 2012, p. 23). On the whole, the initial construction process of using large stones as the base, and then fitting in with softer gravel as well as small stones gave a proper and also functional look to the road. â€Å"Large stones made up the bulk of its construction and softer gravel that was compacted between the rocks cemented it.† (Appian Way, Rome,† n. d). Then, when the construction began on the stretch between Rome and Lake Albano, the Romans started using lime cement to build better quality roads. Sourced from volcanic rocks, this lime cement was laid over the small stones thereby providing a far smoother road surface. In addition, the Romans crowned the middle portion of the road for the purpose of water runoff, and also built ditches on either side of the road which were protected by retaining walls. It was while extending the road through the Pontine Marshes; the Romans faced number of challenges. Their plan to dry the marshes, build bridges over it and so on did not gave expected results, forcing the Romans to build

The Economies Of Italy And Austria Research Paper

The Economies Of Italy And Austria - Research Paper Example The country has a total land area of 301,230 square kilometers, of which land covers about 294,020 square kilometers. The climate of the country is predominantly Mediterranean, characterized by alpines in far north while it’s hot and dry in the south (Signorini, 2001). The terrain of the country is typically rugged and mountainous although there are some plains and coastal lowlands. Among the resources with which Italy is endowed are marble, sulfur, mercury, potash, fish, and coal. Although Italy has some crude oil reserves, the levels have been reported to be dwindling. Agriculturally, Italy uses about 32% of its land for arable farming, 10% for permanent crops, and 17% for meadows and pastures. Forest and woodland cover in the country accounts for about 22% of the land with the remaining portion being placed under other uses (Signorini, 2001). Italy also has several environmental issues including air pollution in the form of sulfur dioxide emission, water and land pollution by agricultural and industrial effluents, acid rain and poor waste treatment among other pollutants (McDonald, 1998). Economically, Italy is a rather diverse country, having a per capita yield almost equaling that of France or Great Britain. Austria, one of Italy’s neighbors, is one of the countries with which Italy’s economy may be compared. With its capital at Vienna, Austria covers an area of approximately 83,857 square kilometers and has a population of 1.71 million and an annual population growth rate of 0.4%, according to 2011 estimates. The other major and populous cities of Austria are Klagenfurt, Graz, Salzburg, Linz, and Innsbruck. Just like Italy. Austria’s terrain is composed majorly of alpines in the northern highlands and lowlands to the east. Interestingly, the most widely spoken language in Austria is German, used by about 90% of the population. This paper, thus, explores the economy of Italy and Austria and how the two countries are managing the economic crisis. Italy’s Economy The diversity in the Italian economy is first evidence in the difference between the economy of the south and that of the northern parts of the country. For instance, in the northern parts of Italy, the economy is quite capitalistic with the private companies representing the total productivity of the region (The Economist (US), 1999). On the contrary, in the south, the economy is less developed than in the north, which is more industrialized. The south’s economy is therefore more agriculturally oriented than in the north. In addition, the southern parts of Italy also experience unemployment rates as high as 20%. Nevertheless, the entire economy of Italy has recorded considerable growth in recent times as indicated by the improved imports of maximum raw materials and about 75% of its energy needs (Signorini, 2001). In this regard, Italy’s economic growth has supported employment, labor flexibility, and the restructuring of the h itherto costly pension systems. There are certain prominent features of the economy of Italy that are worth mentioning. First among these features is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which stood at $1.826 trillion in 2011, making Italy’s economy the sixth richest in the world. The prosperity and economic development of Italy could also be attributed to the fast industrial pace in Italy. In addition, the per capita income of the country

Mango Medley Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mango Medley - Essay Example The secret to keeping your customers satisfied is through quality service and product delivery. David. H. Maister, in his book â€Å"The psychology of waiting lines†, argues that satisfaction can assessed through a simple equation (S=P-E, where S-satisfaction, P-perception, and E-expectation). It can, therefore, be that a satisfied customer is a loyal customer. When customers enter a restaurant expecting a certain level of service and perceives the service reviewed to be higher, then they are satisfied customers. The management of any restaurant should, therefore, aim at improving the perceived quality of service as it would have the largest payback (Maister, 1984). Unexplained waits always tend to seem long and boring than explained ones. A reason should, therefore, be given to explain why a given service has been delayed. Customers are also concerned about the environment in which they are seated while waiting. Some customers may not like to wait in very crowded places as it may interfere with their personal conversations. It is important to keep the customers comfortable during their wait. Customer equity is also something that the management should put into consideration. It involves valuing the customer not only in terms of current profitability, but also with respect to the net discounted contribution stream the firm will realize from the customer over time. More emphasis should be put on not only on getting customers to buy their products but maintaining them for long (Zeithaml, Lemon, & Rust, 2001). Mango Medley restaurant has got only two workers. One is in charge of the kitchen and the other taking of orders, serving the customers and clearing of the bills. This divided attention makes service delivery slow especially during weekends and holidays when the restaurant is open for longer and receives more customers. Most

The Economies Of Italy And Austria Research Paper

The Economies Of Italy And Austria - Research Paper Example The country has a total land area of 301,230 square kilometers, of which land covers about 294,020 square kilometers. The climate of the country is predominantly Mediterranean, characterized by alpines in far north while it’s hot and dry in the south (Signorini, 2001). The terrain of the country is typically rugged and mountainous although there are some plains and coastal lowlands. Among the resources with which Italy is endowed are marble, sulfur, mercury, potash, fish, and coal. Although Italy has some crude oil reserves, the levels have been reported to be dwindling. Agriculturally, Italy uses about 32% of its land for arable farming, 10% for permanent crops, and 17% for meadows and pastures. Forest and woodland cover in the country accounts for about 22% of the land with the remaining portion being placed under other uses (Signorini, 2001). Italy also has several environmental issues including air pollution in the form of sulfur dioxide emission, water and land pollution by agricultural and industrial effluents, acid rain and poor waste treatment among other pollutants (McDonald, 1998). Economically, Italy is a rather diverse country, having a per capita yield almost equaling that of France or Great Britain. Austria, one of Italy’s neighbors, is one of the countries with which Italy’s economy may be compared. With its capital at Vienna, Austria covers an area of approximately 83,857 square kilometers and has a population of 1.71 million and an annual population growth rate of 0.4%, according to 2011 estimates. The other major and populous cities of Austria are Klagenfurt, Graz, Salzburg, Linz, and Innsbruck. Just like Italy. Austria’s terrain is composed majorly of alpines in the northern highlands and lowlands to the east. Interestingly, the most widely spoken language in Austria is German, used by about 90% of the population. This paper, thus, explores the economy of Italy and Austria and how the two countries are managing the economic crisis. Italy’s Economy The diversity in the Italian economy is first evidence in the difference between the economy of the south and that of the northern parts of the country. For instance, in the northern parts of Italy, the economy is quite capitalistic with the private companies representing the total productivity of the region (The Economist (US), 1999). On the contrary, in the south, the economy is less developed than in the north, which is more industrialized. The south’s economy is therefore more agriculturally oriented than in the north. In addition, the southern parts of Italy also experience unemployment rates as high as 20%. Nevertheless, the entire economy of Italy has recorded considerable growth in recent times as indicated by the improved imports of maximum raw materials and about 75% of its energy needs (Signorini, 2001). In this regard, Italy’s economic growth has supported employment, labor flexibility, and the restructuring of the h itherto costly pension systems. There are certain prominent features of the economy of Italy that are worth mentioning. First among these features is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which stood at $1.826 trillion in 2011, making Italy’s economy the sixth richest in the world. The prosperity and economic development of Italy could also be attributed to the fast industrial pace in Italy. In addition, the per capita income of the country

Lamb to the Slaughter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Lamb to the Slaughter - Essay Example The use of irony can easily captivate and excite us. Many a times in order to understand the moral of the story or the theme; it needs one to be able to recognize irony. There are multiple uses and examples of irony throughout this short story. One example is when Mary Maloney goes to the grocery store after she kills her husband; she acts as if nothing has happened and gives the grocery store clerk the idea that everything is fine. This is considered dramatic irony because the reader knows more about what’s taken place than some of the characters in the story. The clerk thinks Patrick is at home waiting for dinner, but we know he is dead. Another example is when the policemen are eating the leg of lamb and one says "Probably right under our very noses. What do you think, Jack? "(Dahl 9).This is dramatic irony because the weapon used to kill Patrick really is right under their noses. Yet they have obviously committed one of the worst errors possible in this crime scene, and lo st the pivotal evidence they would need to for finding the killer, they continue eating, assuming the leg of lamb could never be a weapon, while Mary Maloney is giggling in the other room. In other words, Dahl is trying to capture here, and the dramatic irony really catches the tone of the dark comedy. That makes the audience feel the ideas of a tragedy as something funny. Therefore, relating back to the overall picture of the piece of literate as a dark comedy. The conflict then begins to arise again as she creates an alibi and brings in the police to catch the murderer. There are two external conflicts in this story.

Sona Of Pnoy Essay Example for Free

Sona Of Pnoy Essay This is my sixth SONA. Once again, I face Congress and our countrymen to report on the state of our nation. More than five years have passed since we put a stop to the culture of wang-wang, not only in our streets, but in society at large; since we formally took an oath to fight corruption to eradicate poverty; and since the Filipino people, our bosses, learned how to hope once more. My bosses, this is the story of our journey along the Straight Path. Just last Friday, we inaugurated the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway. This is the first Public-Private Partnership project that we approved, and the first such PPP project opened to the public under our administration. Under the previous administrations: It was as if the government had to beg the private sector just to gain their participation. Now, companies are the ones seemingly courting the government-for MCX in particular, we were paid a premium of P925 million just so that our private partner could have the privilege of building the infrastructure we need. In fact, they are so confident that this project will earn them a profit, that they said the first month of toll operations at MCX is free. We have indeed come so far. And, in order for us to appreciate just how far we have travelled, let us recall where we started. When we came into office, we found a citizenry that had grown desensitized to the many allegations of lying, cheating, and stealing in government. Those in power boasted of the country having enough classrooms. In truth: classes had to be held in four shifts. Students went to school while it was still dark, and others would go home long after the dark of night had well and truly fallen. All of them were left in the dark because they were not accorded sufficient time in the classroom for learning. Our predecessor took pride in uninterrupted growth during her last SONA. Scrutinize what she said, however, and you would realize that a significant portion of this growth was fueled by remittances from Filipinos who had lost hope in our country. As they say: People were voting with their feet. If I were to imitate that style of governance, I would be loath to claim a success borne of forcing my countrymen to escape our shores. As the 2004 elections approached, more than 700 million pesos were allegedly used to buy fertilizer that was not suitable for crops; the endeavor was costly; and in many instances, the farmers who should have received the farming supplements never saw it. We ask: Who was nourished by such fertilizers? Definitely neither the farmers nor their crops. Perhaps  you also remember the NBN-ZTE scandal. We investigated this in the Senate; someone said there was an attempt to bribe him. When we undertook an inquiry, this person did not want to testify; he claimed executive privilege. Of course, we couldnt summon the sitting President-hence, the only one we could question was her henchman accused of bribery. Naturally, he denied the accusation. During those times, even children became familiar with the word scam. You might also remember Hello Garci, to which the answer was a mere I am sorry. The genuine bank accounts of the nonexistent Jose Pidal. The attempt to convene a Constitutional Assembly, so that they could stay in power for the rest of their lives. There was Executive Order 464, which tried to stifle the truth. The declaration of a State of Emergency, in order to do away with the checks and balances for Martial Law as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution. There were midnight appointments. The policy known as Calibrated Preemptive Response, which was used against protesters. Even on the level of grammar, this is wrong. How could a response come before anything else? Its like saying you replied to someone who never texted you. These were the headlines that greeted us every time we had breakfast in the years before we came into office. The moment we assumed the presidency, we began to unearth anomaly after anomaly. In my previous SONAs, I have already mentioned some of them: In the National Food Authority, they allowed the debt to bloat from P12.3 billion pesos in 2001, to P176.8 billion in June 2010. Even worse: they continued to import rice, only to have it rot in warehouses. In PAGCOR, a billion pesos went to coffee. In the MWSS: excessive bonuses, one on top of the other. For the Laguna Lake: an attempt to waste over P18 billion just to play with mud. Indeed: I could not comprehend how those behind such controversies could willingly benefit from the suffering of our countrymen. Every government official takes an oath to do right by our countrymen and to uphold the law. But it was clear: our predecessor did precisely the opposite. We were all witnesses to the most appalling example, when 58 Filipinos were massacred in Maguindanao in November 2009. To think about committing such a crime was already heinous. To do it, which they did, was even worse. The worst offense of all: Their belief that they could get away with it, because they were in power-which is why they carried out their plans in the first place. These are only a few examples; there are many others. With this kind of situation,  can we really blame our countrymen for losing sight of hope, and consequently, leaving our country? Like you, the thought of giving up had crossed my mind. When my mother died, my confidence diminished further; our familys leader and inspiration to pursue change was gone. At her wake, someone approached me and suggested that I run for the presidency. My immediate response: I am not a masochist. I was one of the people calling for an end to impunity and wrongdoing; I understood just how dire the situation was. I was also certain they had deliberately hidden details from us, and the real problems were bigger than what we knew. When you called me to serve, my question was: If I am unable to solve these problems quickly, how long will it take before my bosses lose their patience, and instead direct all their anger at me? One of those who convinced me to run was Alex Lacson. He said: To simply put an end to all the abuse would suffice. To stop the hemorrhaging would be enough. Let us listen to him: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Alex Lacson In 2008, our country was ranked by the World Bank as one of the most corrupt in the world. Our self-confidence and morale as a people was very low. At the time, many of my friends and I were looking for a good man, not just a good politician to be our president in 2010. Then, President Cory passed away, and Senator Noynoy spoke at her funeral. That is when we truly saw him. My friends encouraged me to lead the public call to urge Senator Noynoy to run for president. My friends and I went to the house of Senator Noynoy in Times Street. We brought a yellow drum and we encouraged the public to write letters. Within 24 hours there was an outpouring of public support for Senator Noynoy to run for public office. I did not expect him to be superman and solve all our problems in the country; we expected him only to begin reform. Mr. President, thank you for heeding the call of the people in 2010, and thank you, too, for respecting my beliefs, even as we disagreed on a number of issues. Mr. President, continue to lead our country on the right path. [Applause] From the start, we already knew that corruption was the root of all our peoples suffering. Thus, our battlecry: where there is no corruption, there will be no poverty. Tremendous perseverance, courage, political will, and  faith in God and in our fellowmen were needed in order to breathe life into this ideal. Of course, the masterminds of the old system were not meek lambs, willing to see the end of their opportunity to take advantage of others. They used, and continue to use, their influence and wealth to fight our agenda of change. They also used their power to prepare life preservers for when the time of judgment came. The Ombudsman who should have been appointed to guard against corruption allegedly played blind to all the scandals of the past administration. She was impeached in the House of Representatives, and resigned from her post before she could be tried in the Senate. The Chief Justice who seemed to have a bias for the one who appointed him, was proven to have hidden we alth and properties not disclosed in his SALN. He was impeached in the House and convicted in the Senate. To replace them, we appointed men and women with integrity and independent minds. The new Ombudsman: Conchita Carpio-Morales. The new Chief Justice: Ma. Lourdes Sereno. Now, she has sufficient time to implement reform in the Judiciary. [Applause] Even in other agencies, we appointed honest and fearless leaders. We immediately placed Chairperson Grace Pulido-Tan in the COA. In the Executive, we likewise appointed uncompromising persons: Commissioner Kim Henares in the BIR and Secretary Leila de Lima [applause] in the Department of Justice. They did not back down from any challenge in fulfilling their mandates. To all of you, I give my heartfelt thanks. Whether in the top, middle, or bottom of the bureaucracy, so many have been suspended, removed from their positions, made accountable through cases filed against them, or even imprisoned. If there is anyone who still doubts that justice is blind in the Philippines, it would be best if they turned their attention to the three senators currently detained, or to a former president still under hospital arrest. There are some who say we should move on. Personally, I believe in what George Santayana said: Those who forget the mistakes of the past are condemned to repeat it. Just take a look at the actions of those who have wronged us. They will first work to ensure we forget what they have done. After this, they will say, Have pity on us. They already took advantage of us; now they are trying to take advantage of the Filipinos innate penchant for forgiveness, in order to escape accountability. The next step: they will find a way to return to power. Isnt that their master plan-so that they can continue to take advantage of  us? I learned from my parents, from the church, and from the processes of our laws: Whatever reconciliation must come from the confession and repentance of those who have committed wrong. Can you remember an instance in which anyone said, Im sorry I stole from you and abused you; I am ready to change? For my part: We can only move on once justice has been attained. [Applause] We continued to reform our institutions, in order to refocus them towards their true mandates. For example: Government Owned and Controlled Corporations. Appointees to GOCCs swore to safeguard our peoples money. The sad fact is, even when the GOCCs were mired in debt, they showered themselves with benefits and incentives left and right. If we liken their institutions to cattle, theyd just as soon butcher the cow for meat, even as they milk it. This is why in the past administration, dividends collected over nine and a half years only amounted to P84.18 billion. Under our administration: the number of GOCCs has already been reduced by shutting down those deemed irrelevant, and yet because of improved management: the dividends we have collected in the five years we have been in office have now reached P131.86 billion. [Applause] It isnt unlikely that, before we step down from office, we will be able to double the dividends collected by our predecessor who had much more time to accumulate these funds. [Applause] This is the same commitment we have shown in the BIR, which is the biggest revenue-generating agency of the government. When we stepped in, the highest collection on record was in 2008, at P778.6 billion. We surpassed this by leaps and bounds. In 2012, the BIR collected P1.06 trillion-the first time in our history we have breached the 1 trillion mark for collections. [Applause] Last year, the number went up to P1.3 trillion; this 2015, we will collect up to P1.5 trillion. [Applause] We only needed five years to match, surpass, and almost double our predecessors record high-and we did this without imposing new taxes, as promised, apart from Sin Tax Reform. [Applause] How did we do this? It was simple. I believe that Commissioner Kim Henares is a kind person, but those against whom she filed cases might have a different opinion. Commissioner Kim Henares spared no tax evader. [Applause] 380 cases have already been filed against those who attempted to evade taxes. She also made the system for tax payment more efficient, and made clear to everyone their civic duty to contribute to the development of our country. For the National Budget: under the previous administration, the  budget was always reenacted, whether partially or fully. In 2007, for example, it was almost April when the General Appropriations Act (GAA) was approved. It was already worrying that projects that had been completed received funding once more. Even worse: Even the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, including salaries, were included in this reenacted budget. What this means: funds were allotted again for salaries-even if all had already received what was due them for the first three months of 2007. I wonder: Where did the excess funds that were allotted and requested for go? What we have proven: if the Executive proposes a reasonable budget, the dialogue with the members of Congress will go smoothly. The faster the GAA is passed, the quicker services will reach our countrymen, and the sooner will we be able to alleviate their suffering. The message was clear: We are serious about change; the playing field is level. The result: Confidence in our economy. When we began, I did not think that we would immediately win back the global communitys confidence in the Philippines. I only thought of fixing the crooked system to prevent our people from sinking deeper into poverty. Let me ask you: Did it ever occur to you that we would continue rising in global competitiveness rankings, and that we would be recognized for the speed with which our economy has grown? In fact, the Philippines is now being called Asias Rising Tiger, Asias Rising Star, and Asias Bright Spot. [Applause] Now, for the first time in history, we are unanimously deemed investment grade by the most prominent credit rating agencies. This is a signal to businessmen that it is worthwhile to invest in the Philippines. The risks of doing business here have decreased. Now, with lower interest rates and more flexible debt payment schedules, more investors are finding it attractive to bet on the Philippines. Through the institution and expansion of businesses, commerce becomes more lively, competition strengthens, and even more opportunities are created. All this has been a direct result of reforms we made along the Straight Path. [Applause] Just look: back in 2010, net foreign direct investment i n our country was at $1.07 billion. In 2014, net foreign direct investments reached $6.2 billion. [Applause] This is the highest ever recorded in our entire history. The numbers for domestic investments are likewise impressive; now, Filipinos are betting on their fellow Filipinos. Let us compare: from the time this was first measured back in 2003 until 2010, the  amount of approved domestic investments totaled just P1.24 trillion. Under our watch, from the third quarter of 2010 until the end of 2014, the amount invested by our countrymen in the market reached P2.09 trillion. [Applause] In manufacturing: I admit, during my first year in office, one of the things furthest from my mind was the idea that we could reinvigorate this sector. The industry faced many challenges: electricity, for one, was both expensive and unreliable. It was also no small feat to establish facilities here, because of the large investment involved in buying machines and training employees. This is why, back then, we had to import even low-tech electric fans. Thanks to the reforms that have restored confidence in our nation, manufacturing growth has accelerated-from 3 percent annually between 2001 and 2009, to 8 percent from 2010 to 2014. [Applause] It is clear: The Filipino can compete. In the past, our only selling point was low wages. Now, investors are bringing to our country factories that produce hi-tech equipment: from aircraft components, electric tricycles, printers, and other digital media products, to high-quality medical devices like aortic catheters and devices for in vitro diagnostics and hemodialysis treatment. Let us listen to a businessman who will tell us of the new business climate in the Philippines: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Peter Perfecto, Makati Business Club One of the most important things this administration has accomplished was reversing the corruption trends of the previous administration. Without the rule of law, the advantage went to corporations that were complicit with the systemic bribery and a faulty tax system. President Aquino has walked the talk. He has delivered on his promises. They arrested the former president, the three senators, and ousted a Chief Justice who were all once thought to be untouchable. The strong message has been sent. Because of the rule of law and the commitment to good governance this administration has made, our foreign direct investments rose from P2 billion to P6.2 billion. We have made a huge leap forward: jumping 33 places in the rankings set by the world Economic Forum; and according to them, this is a result of this administrations anti-corruption agenda-all because of the changes that this government has enacted. It is the responsibility of each Filipino to learn from these recent achievements and ensure that we continue moving forward with the coming administration. [Applause] We all know that the primary measure of economic improvement for the common Filipino is the creation of jobs. Let us look at what weve achieved in this area. Every year, around 80,000 new entrants join our labor force. Now, consider the fact that there are reports of overseas Filipinos returning home. In 2011, our Department of Foreign Affairs reported that there were around 9.51 million overseas Filipinos. Based on the latest estimates in December 2014, that number went down to 9.07 million. It is reasonable to say that a good number of the estimated 400,000 Filipinos represented by that decrease came home and were able to find work. [Applause] Despite the fact that there are new entrants, returnees, and previously unemployed Filipinos, our unemployment rate still dropped to 6.8 percent last year. This is the lowest recorded in a decade. [Applause] Let me be clear: We created permanent jobs; we did not hire an abundance of street sweepers during the period the labor survey was condu cted, just to boost results. Together with creating real jobs, we are also fostering a good relationship between labor and management throughout the country. Let us compare. In the nine and a half years of the previous administration, the number of strikes that occurred were 199, or roughly 21 strikes for each year. In our five years in office, the total strikes were only 15. [Applause] In fact, in 2013, there was only a single strike recorded in the country. This is the lowest recorded in the history of DOLE. [Applause] It is because of this that we are truly impressed with Secretary Linda Baldoz and our labor and management sector. [Applause] To Sec. Linda: you are not only efficient; you are also very positive which makes you the type of colleague who is a pleasure to work with. That is why you are considered the Pastor of the Cabinet. Thank you, very much, for all your efforts, Linda. [Applause] The transformation has indeed been vast. Before, the signs we would always see proclaimed, No Vacancy, didnt they? Today, announcements that say, For Immediate Hiring are scattered everywhere; you need only open a newspaper to see classified ads from many companies who are hiring. Some of them have even been getting creative with incentives. Theres this one company that says: just come in for an interview and your breakfast is on them. Once youre hired, theyll cover your treat to friends and family to celebrate your new job. Some businessmen have even mentioned to me that they are  finding it difficult to hire accountants. I remember when I was younger, a lot of people were taking up BS Commerce, Major in Accountancy. When I visited Bicol University, I mentioned this to their president. I had to ask: Am I correct in the knowledge that your university has an accountancy program? Their reply: Yes, but even we are having trouble filling our accounting department. Why? Their president said that their students, even in their t hird year of college, are already being recruited by accounting and auditing firms. [Applause] This is happening precisely because we have worked to address what is called the job-skills mismatch. In the past, so many of our countrymen were saying that they had no jobs, even when there were so many unfilled positions listed in the PhilJob-Net website. The simple reason: the skillset of our countrymen did not match what the market needed. The solution to this was also simple: Talk to prospective employers and ask them what skills are demanded by the positions they are opening. Now, it is in these skills that we train Filipinos, so that they can maximize opportunities. The principle behind our strategy of governance: instead of giving our countrymen fish, we will teach them how to fish. We are ensuring that the progress we have made and the opportunities that have been created can be maximized by our fellowmen. We cannot wait for the benefits of growth to trickle down to the poorest Filipinos; we cannot leave it to chance, or hope for the best. Our commitment: Inclusive growth. The agenda: assistance, knowledge, skills training, and health, to ensure that no one is left behind. One of our mechanisms: the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. We have vastly expanded the scope of this program. Now, more than 4.4 million households are feeling the benefits of this program. [Applause] This is extremely far from the 786,523 households covered by the program when we entered office. This year, 333,673 graduated from high school; they are part of the first batch of beneficiaries under the expanded Pantawid Pamilya. 13,469 of these youth graduated with honors and a variety of awards. [Applause] In fact, the two beneficiaries I met were accepted into Civil Engineering, a quota course in the University of the Philippines. All of these beneficiaries will gain important knowledge; instead of entering menial jobs once they graduate, it is almost certain that they will find jobs that will pay them a decent salary. Their income tax alone will repay the states investment, and we will be able to continue the cycle of  empowering those in need. The brighter future that awaits the honor students the program assisted is just an added bonus. Let us listen to one of those assisted by Pantawid Pamilya. Translated transcript of Testimonial of Alyannah, CCT beneficiary I work much harder now. I knew the trials my family faced because of poverty. When we were enrolled in the Conditional Cash Transfer program, I saw that people wanted to help us. I knew they wanted nothing in return-but, for me, the only way I could repay their kindness was through my studies. The money we get from the government was never wasted. We were able to finance all of my school expenses. I was so happy when I got into my dream school, the University of the Philippines. The CCT program gave me a chance to get a good education, which helped me finish high school; and now Im on my way to college. I know this program is on the receiving end of a lot of criticism, but I want to tell President Benigno Aquino that they need only to look at me-at us. We are proof that the money set aside by the government for this program is not a dole-out. The money goes towards a worthy pursuit, which I know one day will help uplif t the entire country. [Applause] Under Pantawid Pamilya, in exchange for assistance, the primary focus of beneficiaries must be the education of their children. This has already borne early fruit: according to studies conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, in 2008, there were 2.9 million out-of-school children in the country. The years passed and our population grew, but in 2013, only 1.2 million out-of-school children remained. Let me emphasize the difference: 1.7 million. [Applause] Its as if we filled around 42,500 empty classrooms with students. Of course, apart from the Pantawid Pamilya, the Alternative Learning System also helped to ensure that even indigenous peoples and street children are not left behind. And yet, there are still some who ask: Where are the results of Pantawid Pamilya? Our answer: Oh come on. They seem to think that Pantawid Pamilya is like a magic tablet that, once taken by a child in kindergarten, turns that child into a college graduate after only a few hours. [La ughter and applause] Perhaps, they did not have enough time to study during their time; let us help them count: K to 12 lasts 13 years, while my term only lasts for six. Now we see  whos trying to deceive us. There are even some who had the guts to raise an outcry and shout: There are leakages in Pantawid Pamilya. Then we discovered they used data from 2009, just to have something to criticize. Let me remind them: I became President halfway through 2010; perhaps you should be asking another president to explain the alleged leakage. [Applause] I guarantee that, when the time comes that the beneficiaries of this program are contributing to the economy, those who are criticizing it today will be falling over themselves to proclaim that they are the father or mother of the expanded Pantawid Pamilya. Now, in the sector of education: we are making sure that the deficits of the past are erased and the needs of the present are addressed, even as we prepare for the future. In just our first two years in office, we were able to close the backlogs we inherited of 61.7 million textbooks and 2.5 million school chairs. In 2013, the backlog of 66,800 classrooms was finally eliminated and the backlog of 145,827 teachers was likewise addressed, with the help of our LGU partners. [Applause] According to the estimates of DepEd, from 2010 up to 2017, the total amount of new students: 4.7 million. This is because of the increase of enrollees and the implementation of the K to 12 program. In order to meet this vast increase, we need to add an estimated 118,000 classrooms to what we already have. 33,608 of these have already been constructed. This year, we are slated to construct more than 41,000 more. Funds for the remaining 43,000 classrooms have already been included in the proposed 2016 budget that we will pass tomorrow, which we hope you will approve. [Applause] The number of teachers we will need are estimated at 130,000. In 2014, we have already hired 29,444. This year, the total number of teachers we target to hire: 39,000. The remaining 60,000 positions will be covered in the proposed 2016 budget, which we hope you will approve as well. [Applause] According to Bro. Armin, the sum total of the classrooms our administration has constructed and the teachers we have hired exceeds the cumulative total of classrooms built and teachers hired in the past twenty years before we came into office. We have already turned over 73.9 million textbooks that will be followed by an addition 88.7 million this year. In 2015 as well, 1.6 million school seats were delivered to schools, and we will add another 1.6 million before the en d of the year. After eliminating the existing backlog in classrooms, we constructed or continue to construct 33,621 classrooms, while  allotting funds for the construction of 41,728 more. For teachers: 39,000 are already being hired by DepEd for this school year alone. Tomorrow, we will submit the budget for 2016; included in it are funds for an additional 103.2 million textbooks, 4.4 million school seats, 43,000 classrooms, and 60,000 new teaching positions. Everyone can see: we will not leave further sources of headaches for those who will succeed us. [Applause] Let me be clear: We implemented K to 12 because it is not practical to cram learning in a 10-year basic education cycle. May I remind you, that we are one of the three countries left in the world with a 10-year basic education cycle. The credentials of our countrymen working overseas are already being questioned; there are also some who have been demoted because our diplomas are supposedly not proof of sufficient knowledge. If the past educational system can be likened to a mango induced to ripen under artificial circumstances; now, we are ensuring that the abilities of our students are fully developed, so that they can take hold of their futures. Let us listen to a story that is proof of this: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Rezia Joy Jianoran My father has been a jeepney driver all my life. When I was in my second year of high school, my mom suffered a stroke. I didnt ask, but I knew that they couldnt afford to send me to college. Instead of dropping out of school, I decided to continue my studies under the K to 12 program. My chosen track of specialization was the Drafting Technology course. Part of the K to 12 program is the career immersion. I was assigned to CLP Metal, a metal fabrication company. I was tasked to design machines. This machine was designed to de-hair pigs. Once a pig is processed, after several seconds, it comes out without any hair. A machine like this can only be bought abroad. Because of the design by CLP, were able to adjust to the budget restrictions of our customers. Im extremely proud because when you think about it: how many 19-year olds can say they have designed a machine? Im proud that Im a K to 12 graduate because I can now support my family. And Im learning while Im earning. [Applause] Should these graduates choose to go into tech-voc, the programs we enhanced are already waiting for them. 7.8 million have already graduated from the  different courses of the Technical Vocational Education and Training overseen by TESDA. Under the Training for Work Scholarship Program alone, the number of graduates have already reached 821,962. Perhaps you are wondering: what is their situation today? According to studies, 71.9 percent of graduates were able to find employment right away, compared to the 28.5 percent recorded before. There are even some industries breaking records: for example, the employment rate for the entire semiconductors and electronics industry has already reached 91.26 percent-just a little more, and well be at 100 percent. [Applause] Secretary Joel Villanueva told us before of an OFW forced to return home; she thought there was no hope to improve her lot in life. Then, she studied hilot wellness massage in TESDA; now, her spa already has 4 branches. In my last SONA, I also told you of a PWD who was once a barker; he is now an escalation supervisor in a BPO. [Applause] A success story from the Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources Program, or STAR: there was a sari-sari store owner who used to earn 800 pesos a day; now, her daily earnings have reached 4,000 pesos. If you sum everything up, her earnings are more or less equivalent to my salary, even if we do not experience the same type of stress. [Laughter] How did this happen? She was trained in bookkeeping, inventory management, accounting, and other disciplines. Whats extremely impressive: the STAR program even teaches students how to ensure that their profits are maximized. Let us listen to one of those who benefited from TESDAs program: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Ma. Theresa Tomaro, TESDA Star Program trainee My husband and I were both unemployed when we started training with the STAR program. We were taught how to manage and grow a business. When we started our sari-sari store, it was made out of bamboo. Now, its walls are made of concrete. This not only helps us, but also our children. We are able to give them good lives. Ive been able to sell a lot of things. My income has doubled since then. Id like to thank Secretary Joel Villanueva because of their program, I was able to have the opportunity to show my ability to run my own business. [Applause] Now, on the sector of health. To many Filipinos, falling ill poses a serious challenge to the fulfillment of their dreams. Families climbing the ladder of progress, return back to zero once they are struck by illness. Not only  are their savings emptied, they also fall deep into debt. When we came into office, only 47 million Filipinos were beneficiaries of PhilHealth. We have almost doubled this number: just this past June, PhilHealth coverage has reached 89.4 million Filipinos. [Applause] The transformation we wrought: Before, during elections, new PhilHealth beneficiaries seemed to sprout up like mushrooms. Instead of the basis for membership being the interest of Filipinos, it became manipulated to serve the electoral candidates interest. Now, we have corrected that system. There is more good news in the sector of health. In 2012, we announced: If your family is part of the lowest quintile, or the poorest 20 percent of our population, and you are seeking treatment in public hospitals, then we guarantee that you will not have to pay a single centavo. Beginning in 2014, this has expanded to cover the next quintile of our society. This means that for the poorest 40 percent of the population, treatment in public hospitals is free. This is the care that some have called inefficient and uncaring. The only thing I have to say to them, as Aiza Seguerra said back in the day: I thank you, bow. [Applause] Now, let us hear some of the results of the improved PhilHealth program: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Danilo Espiritu, PhilHealth beneficiary I was diagnosed with quadruple clogs in the coronary area. We didnt know how we could afford the operation. The first hospital we went to said the operation would cost 300,000 pesos. At [the Philippine General Hospital], it would cost 700,000 pesos. At UST hospital, they said it was 800,000 pesos. But when one of the doctors learned that my wife was covered by PhilHealth, he said our case qualified under the Z-Package, and we could push through with the operation. We just stood up then and went to fix the paperwork, and I was provided the opportunity to extend my life. The service I got at the hospital was comparable to that received by a private hospital patient. I wasnt considered a charity case. I was a full-fledged paying patient, and PhilHealth paid for my operation. To be honest, I didnt pay for anything. The little money that we did save, we were able to use for the post-operation expenses. Im thankful for PhilHealth and our government for implementing these kinds of projects, which genuinely help people in need. ____________________ Translated transcript of Testimonial of Governor Lilia Pineda Sin Tax should have been implemented earlier; its the answer to our goal of providing universal healthcare. It was a big help to the province of Pampanga: in the past, the Capitol spent over 400 million pesos a year in health aid. But when the Sin Tax Law was implemented, those who needed healthcare were covered by PhilHealth. We are truly grateful to President Aquino because the project provided a huge relief for Pampanga. The money saved was used to fund other important projects. The proceeds of the Sin Tax also went towards the construction of a birthing station, hospital renovations, and the construction of health centers. Were so thankful to the President for caring for the poor who suffer sickness. [Applause] Let us again return to the story of the past five years. We went after the corrupt and we cleaned the systems, which redounded to confidence in our markets. Businesses came into the country, opportunities expanded, all while we empowered Filipinos to gain decent employment. They patronized these businesses, which, having recognized that the playing field is level, know they can profit without having to resort to illegal activities. They then expand their operations, and employ even more people. This is a cycle: justice, trust, economic growth, the creation of opportunities, progress. Boss, this is the very spirit of, Where there is no corruption, there is no poverty. [Applause] And we did not just achieve change. The transformation we are experiencing today has already exceeded the expectations we had in the beginning. The Cadastral Survey, which was started in 1913, has been completed by us. It took almost a century for those who came before us to complete 46 percent of this survey. The more than half left to be done, we finished in just five years in government. This Cadastral Survey identifies the boundaries of the land covered by each city, municipality, and province in the Philippines. In ARMM, for example, it was as if the land gave birth to more land: according to the maps, there are only 1.2 million hectares belonging to the region, but if we were to add up all the lands being claimed, they would reach a total of 3.7 million hectares. Now, because we have fixed the land record system through the Cadastral Survey, no new land will be birthed in ARMM. In 2011, we conducted an inventory of sitios, and we identified those that were still without electricity. Through the Sitio  Electrification Program, we were able to bring light to 25,257 communities identified through this inventory. On top of this, because of the use of solar energy and other technology, even far-flung and isolated areas that would be difficult to connect to the grid already have electricity. Now, around 93 percent of sitios in the Philippines have already been energized; the DOE has guaranteed that, before we step down from office, all the rest of the sitios from the 2011 tally will have electricity. [Applause] Now, let us watch a farmer who has benefited from our Sitio Electrification Program. Translated transcript It was difficult when we didnt have electricity; you just had to bear with it. We could only power our homes with fuel sources. We first got electricity this July, and we were so happy when switched on the lights here at home for the very first time. We can now watch movie tapes or listen to good music. The children are now able to study at night. Im even able to work at night because now I can charge my spotlight during the day, and because Im more productive, I earn more. Our lives have changed for the better now that we finally have access to electricity. Were able to be more efficient-an example would be our weaving. With sewing machines, we can create more beautiful designs, which we can sell at a better price. Food processing needs equipment, which runs on electricity. Students can use the Internet for research. Electricity has brought good things to Bauko. Congratulations to our President for making Bauko a better place to live in. [Applause] In the sector of aviation, there has also been a steady stream of good news: in 2013, the International Civil Aviation Organization lifted the significant safety concerns it had imposed on our country back in 2009. In the same year, the European Union allowed our flag carrier to resume its flights to Europe. The following year saw another local carrier receiving approval from the European Union, while the US Federal Aviation Administration upgraded us to Category 1, from the Category 2 downgrade we had received in 2008. Because of these developments, incoming and outgoing flights are increasing, and it is also becoming easier for tourists to fly around the Philippines. Even better news: just this June, the EU Air Safety  Committee removed its ban on all our air carriers-the first time that it has lifted its ban on the entire civil aviation sector of a country. Now, all our airlines will be able to fly directly to the United Kingdom, Italy, and other countries part of the EU. In seafaring: in 2006, the European Maritime Safety Agency or EMSA was already questioning our compliance to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. Because of this, there was a threat that the EU would no longer recognize our maritime education certificates. If we did not act, there would have been the chance that an estimated 80,000 Filipino seafarers working on European boats would be out of jobs. MARINA and the DOTC went to work quickly in order to match our maritime education certificates to global standards. To this day, the EU continues to recognize our certifications. Come EMSAs next audit, which will begin in October, MARINA guarantees: We will definitely pass. [Applause] To Sec. Jun Abaya: May you not waver in your resolve, even when it seems that some have forgotten all that you have done for our sailors, ICAOs lifting of the significant safety concerns it had imposed on our sector, the European Unions lifting of the ban on our airplanes, and the Federal Aviation [Administration] upgrading us to Category 1. It was also you who banned boats from setting out to see during typhoons, which helped to keep passengers away from danger. It is now rare for us to receive news about ships sinking during typhoons. All of these achievements have seemingly been cast aside, because of the complicated challenges in the public transport sector. The biggest example of this is the MRT. Few mention that we have partners from the private sector in this endeavor, who remember their entitlements, but seem to have forgotten their obligations. This partner of ours is supposed to be in charge of maintenance. In 2008, there should have been a general overhaul of the MRT, but upon DOTCs inspection, only token cosmetic changes were undertaken. This lack of care practically guaranteed the breakdown of our trains. Is it not in the interest of all companies to make sure that they get their moneys worth from their investment? Yet, they allowed the situation to deteriorate, to the point where, at very short notice, they just passed the job of improving the MRT onto us. When we made moves to undertake improvements, suddenly, they wanted to take back the responsibility of maintenance. However, their proposal was significantly more expensive than  hours. This would, of course, translate to added expense and aggravation for our people. We did not agree to this, and began the process of obtaining new train coaches. But because the MRTC was adamant, they were able to obtain a TRO on the procurement. That is why the MRT situation has come to this. Sec. Jun: You, I, and the entire population of Metro Manila are not pleased with what is happening. The private sector relegated their responsibility to us; when we made moves to provide a solution, they blocked us. It is clear that our agenda and that of the MRTC will never meet. Now, we are taking steps to buy out the corporation. Once this is fixed, the state will be the sole decisionmaker. While we are undertaking this process, we are already implementing immediate maintenance work. Bigger, more long-term solutions are also set to arrive. Next month, we can expect the delivery of the prototype for new coaches; once this passes scrutiny, beginning in January, three coaches will be delivered every month until our order of 48 coaches has been completed. The process to obtain new rails is underway, together with the upgrading of the signaling and automatic fare collecting systems; all this, we expect to be completed before we step down from office. The power supply of our trains will be upgraded before the end of 2016. There are 12 escalators that will be fixed before the end of the year, while the procurement for the rehabilitation of 34 more escalators and 32 elevators is ongoing. Let me remind everyone: When it comes to these matters, we cannot take shortcuts in the processes; we do not want our measures to be hampered by lawsuits left and right. There are some who say that I wear blinders, when it comes to those who have long been my companions on the Straight Path. Me? I see the good things, but I also see the bad. Am I the one with blinders? Or is it those who insist on seeing only the bad things? On our Armed Forces: Back in November 2010, tensions arose once more between North and South Korea; there were fears that war would break out in the peninsula. We needed a plan to evacuate the 46,000 Filipinos in South Korea, as well as the eight Filipinos in North Korea. When I asked the AFP about the assets we could use in an evacuation, they said that the Air Force has a lone C-130. The shortest duration for a round trip? 10 hours. The capacity: around 100 people. I made some calculations: We needed to move 46,000 Filipinos away from conflict, which meant that, under the most ideal conditions, we would need 460 round trips, which would take 4,600 hours each. This is equivalent  to 200 days of travel. No one can count on an old C-130 to cope with such heavy usage. If we deployed ships, each could carry 1,000 people at a time, but we would be lucky if each round trip could be completed within 10 days. Should further conflict break out, there was the chance that the entire situation would have been over by the time we evacuated of our people. We took immediate action to address these limitations. Now, from one functional C-130, we now have three at our disposal, and we are planning to acquire two more. There are others to accompany them: The first of three C-295 medium lift transports has arrived, with the other two arriving within the year. We also expect the delivery of two more light lift transports before the end of 2015. [Applause] If we ever encounter another spate of problems like what happened in 2013, we are going to need more assets. When Yolanda struck, our docks were destroyed, and our ability to deliver aid was hampered. In s uch situations, landing craft utilities are invaluable because of their ability to dock on any shore. Now, we have increased the number of our landing craft utilities from four to ten. There is the BRP Tagbanua. By next week, two Landing Craft Heavy will arrive from Australia; the turnover of these vessels was very generous: they even came with spare parts and generators. We plan on buying three more; once all the paperwork has been put in order, the processes to procure them will begin. These vessels will reduce our dependence on the kindness of other nations; we will be able to accelerate delivery to different parts of the Philippines, and more promptly send aid, supplies, and other heavy equipment such as bulldozers, which are needed for clearing and relief operations. [Applause] To better watch over our territory, we have also acquired 12 FA-50 fighters to replace our F5 fighter jets that were retired in 2005. The first two units will arrive in December, and the rest of the deliveries will be completed by 2017. We have also acquired war ships such as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the Ramon Alcaraz, seven of 13 AW-109 helicopters, six of eight Bell-412 helicopters, 617 troop carrier trucks, and 50,629 assault rifles. Our target is to obtain two more frigates, six Close Air Support Aircrafts, 142 armored personnel carriers, and other new items such as 49,135 units of force protection equipment, 2,884 grenade launchers, and an additional 23,622 assault rifles. [Applause] In total, we have completed 56 projects for modernization, and I have approved 30 more. Compare this to the 45 projects completed by the three  administrations that came before us combined. Let us listen to one of our servicemen from the Air Force: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Jun Perry, member of the Philippine Air Force For the record, Sir, our Air Force now has actual force. There was a joke or stigma back then that the Air Force was all air and no force. Ive only recently joined the Philippine Air Force, but I spent four years in the Philippine Military Academy, where we learned of the value of air power and air defense. During those four years, we found that the Philippine Air Force was losing its strength. But luckily the long wait is over. In December of 2012, President Aquino signed RA 10349. Now, the Philippine Air Force is receiving adequate advancement. It boosts morale. Ive heard confirmation from our Army classmates themselves. One of them even said: Mistah, when I heard the sound of the chopper taking flight, I was so inspired. This is a dream that has slowly, but surely turned into a reality. [Applause] As for our police, for the first time in our history, each of our policemen has his or her own firearm. Furthermore, to improve the capacity of our police force to shoot, scoot, and communicate, we have distributed 302 patrol jeeps, which are only part of the 2,523 that we have procured. We have also distributed 179 of 577 new utility vehicles, as well as 12,399 handheld radios. We are likewise procuring 30,136 long firearms, 3,328 investigative kits, and another 16,867 radios. Let us listen to some of our policemen, who talk about how these efforts have helped them in their work: Translated transcript of Testimonial of Melvin Velasquez When I entered the police service in 2003, I was issued a .38 revolver. Sometimes some of the criminals we encountered were equipped with high-powered weapons. The .38 revolver paled in comparison to the ones used by criminals. In fact, I had to buy my own gun. It is difficult for us law enforcers when we encounter situations where we really have to risk our lives. It was a big change when all policemen were finally given their own guns. We know that we can depend on the firearms issued by the government to us. Those of us in the service dream of owning our own house and lot; it was only during this administration that such a dream was realized. As a  low-ranking law enforcer, I really feel the reforms instituted by our President-one of which is the value accorded to the national police. The only way we can possibly repay all these good things is by fulfilling our duties in the correct and right way-even if it means sacrificing my life.