SRTC conducted its regular training for the year on Database Management Using MS Access. The course was conducted on June 23 to July 2, 2008, with Mr. Sim Estallo of the Department of the Interior and Local Government as resource person. Twelve participants attended the training which covered workshops and hands-on exercises on database management using Access. SRTC Executive Director Gervacio Selda, Jr. opened and closed the activity, expressing the agency's gratitude to the offices which allowed their trainees to be part of such r capacity building initiatives. He further hope that more agencies will provide continuing human resource development through participation in relevant statistical courses that the SRTC offers.

The SRTC, University of the Philippines School of Statistics, and University of the Philippines Institute of Statistics invite students and faculty to submit papers for the 9th Faculty-Student National Conference on Statistical Science to be held at the UP Diliman Campus on October 3, 2008. Possible topics for the papers include, but not limited to, the following: (a) Computational Methods in Statistics; (b) Design of Experiments; (c) Time Series Analysis; (d) Econometrics; (e) Survival Analysis; (f) Market Research; (g) Biostatistics; (h) Sample Survey Methods; (i) Small Area Estimation; (j) Official Statistics; (k) Mathematical Statistics; (l) Teaching Statistics

Authors wishing to present a paper at the Conference should submit an abstract of their proposed paper not exceeding 300 words to the Program Committee, chaired by Dr. Dennis Mapa of the School of Statistics. Abstract should include full information about the author/s and affiliation/s. For papers with more than one author, designate clearly one corresponding author. Indicate topic/s (see above cited topics), where you think your paper will be most appropriate for by listing up to 3 session letters at the bottom of the abstract. Abstracts are to be submitted by e-mail in MS Word format using Times Roman 12 pts font to the Program Committee by 15 August 2008 at the following address: Program Committee for the 7th Student Faculty Conference on Statistical Sciences c/o Dr. Dennis S. Mapa, Chair; e-mail: cdsmapa@yahoo.com

The Program Committee will use the abstracts of proposed papers to evaluate which papers are to be presented at the Conference. Authors will be informed of the results of the evaluation by 21 August 2008. Deadline for submission of full papers selected for presentation is on 15 September 2008. Detailed instructions shall be distributed to authors whose papers have been chosen for the Conference. Papers should not exceed 25 pages using 12-point font.