Toxoplasma gondii INFECTION IN CONFINED AND FREE-RANGE
DOMESTIC CHICKENS (Gallus gallus domesticus)
Cristina C. Salibay
Biological Sciences Department, College of Science and Computer Studies
De La Salle University-Dasmariñas, City of Dasmariñas, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
This study focused on the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii in confined and free-range chickens reared in a traditional backyard poultry system. A total of 211 chickens were collected from different sources and were composed of 105 confined chickens and 106 free range chickens. The presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was examined through Latex agglutination test. Results show that chickens were moderately infected with T. gondii, with higher prevalence rate in free-range chickens than in confined ones. The type of chicken is significantly associated with prevalence of infection, which means that free-range chickens are more susceptible to infection than confined chickens. However, the sources of infected chicken were not significantly associated with the occurrence of infection. The study implies the possible risk of transferring the parasite to consumers of both free range and confined chickens.
Key words: Confined chicken, Free-range chicken, Toxoplasma gondii
LINKING INCOME INEQUALITY AND SECTORAL EMPLOYMENT: EVIDENCE FROM HOUSEHOLD LEVEL DATA IN CALABARZON
Willington O. Onuh
Allied Business Department, College of Business and Accountancy,
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The vast literature evaluating income inequality in the Philippines tends to focus on between-group disparities: rural versus urban, male versus female, different levels of education and subnational units like provinces and municipalities. However, there have been only few studies evaluating inequality within sectoral occupations in the Philippines using income ratio as inequality measure. Using household level data from Family Income and Expenditure Survey covering the period 2009–2015; this paper explores the link between income inequality and sectoral employment of household heads in CALABARZON with a pooled fixed effects regression. Specifically, the decomposition methodology allows change in income inequality to be summarized by variation in the 90-10 ratio, 90-50 ratio, and 50-10 ratio. The results show that the increase in inequality from 2009 to 2015 was concentrated at the top of the 90-10 income distribution. The income gap between household heads at the top (i.e., 90th percentile) and the bottom (i.e., 10th percentile) of the income distribution was 5.65 times higher than the income at the bottom in 2009. In 2012, the household heads at the top of the income distribution on average had 7.46 times as much income as those at the bottom in 2012 and 6.72 times in 2015. Additionally, the pooled fixed effects results show that increases in inequality at the top and bottom (90-10) income distribution are significantly negatively correlated with employment in the following occupation categories: Professionals; Service workers; Farmers, forestry workers and fishermen; Trade and related workers; Plant and machine operators; and Laborers and unskilled workers. The results indicate that decline in sectoral employment may be linked to increase in income inequality.
Key words: income inequality, fixed effects regression, sectoral employment, 90/10, 90/50, 50/10 ratios
MORAL COMPETENCY OF SCHOOL LEADERS IN SELECTED CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
IN CAVITE, PHILIPPINES
Mariano Thomas S. Ramirez
Religious Education Department Department, College of Education,
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The present study was done to see at a certain extent the portrait of transformational leaders or administrators based on the moral level they possess or use in making decisions about their responsibilities and its impact to the Diocese of Imus Catholic Educational System (DICES) and to the lives of its stakeholders. This study is a descriptive research that utilized the moral competency inventory and observed empirical data describing the moral competency level of DICES leaders. The participants of the study were ten administrators and one hundred teachers who are working in DICES. Results show that the moral competency level of the transformational leaders provided a glimpse of their work not only as visionaries, builders and curriculum administrators but as persons who are responsible in establishing a culture of good relationships and equality among the stakeholders. They are also shown as persons who could create a climate of peace and justice in which everyone is free from any form of oppression. Ultimately, the results show that their framework in making decisions are based on their set of moral values that they explicitly and implicitly advocate and practice. In light of the findings, the present study therefore posits that moral competencies of school leaders could serve as a model establishing a strong moral ground and culture in Catholic schools.
Key words: Decision making, Ethics, moral ground, stakeholders, transformational leaders
Full Article
STRUGGLE FOR THE LAND: THE ALANGAN MANGYAN’S
CONSCIOUSNESS IN ANCESTRAL DOMAIN
Gladiolus M. Gatdula
Religious Education Department Department, College of Education,
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The ancestral domain of the Alangan Mangyans in Occidental Mindoro Philippines is the core content of the study. The study examined the consciousness of the Alangan Magyans of Mindoro in relation to their ancestral domain vis- a- vis their life struggles and worldview in the land. Since it is a transcendental phenomenological study, it derived from the lived experiences of ten (10) co- researchers who were chosen from Sitio Siapo, Barangay Pinagturilan Santa Cruz Occidental Mindoro Philippines. The theory in creation spirituality guided the study to extract the meaning of the phenomenon. The study presented the first thematic reflections as fruits of significant stories, experiences, thoughts, description and the second thematic reflections. There are five themes that emerged from individual structural descriptions and an eidetic insight that serves as an open- ended conclusion of the study. Trinitarian Consciousness that land is a gift from God, is life and is a source of living corresponds to spiritual, social and economic dimensions based on the experiences of the Alangan Mangyans. Creative representation, synthesis and implications emerged as integration and summary of all experiences.
Key words: Ancestral Domain. Land Struggle. Alangan Mangyan. Phenomenology
ENHANCING THE ECOTOURISM OPERATION FOR THE PAGSANJAN RIVER TOUR USING BOULLON’S VISITOR CARRYING CAPACITY MATHEMATICAL MODEL
Arnold B. Fonollera
Biological Sciences Department, College Science and Computer Studies,
De La Salle University-Dasmarinas, Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Philippines
ABSTRACT
The decline of visitor patronage to the Pagsanjan Falls in Laguna, Philippines was a major concern of the local chief executive who attributed this adverse phenomenon to climate change. To provide a scientific perspective regarding visitor decline, a visitor carrying capacity study was conducted to determine if the carrying capacity of Pagsanjan Falls has been exceeded making the destination less desirable for tourists or if other factors are involved. In the study, Boullon’s Visitor Carrying Capacity Mathematical Model was used factoring in several variables that included visitor standard for space at 0.90 square meter per person, rotation coefficient of 1 hour drawn from primary and secondary literature, in-depth analysis of visitor profile and focus group discussion with boatmen. Travel difficulties, trip suspension and seasonal changes were among the limiting factors identified through open-ended survey. Recorded mean daily average of 1,079 visitors compared with the calculated Real Carrying Capacity of 1, 075 visitors per day shows that current operations are within the carrying capacity and that fluctuations are still within acceptable limits. Recommendations to improve patronage and to increase visitor number include diversifying into other tourism enterprises, capacity building of boatmen, proper promotion of tour packages and improvement of existing tourism facilities as areas that need improvement for a more sustainable river industry.
Key words: Carry capacity, ecotourism, Boullon, Pagsanjan, river, waterfalls, rapids, limiting factors, tourism, environment