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WELCOME TO CHAPTER 5!
In the previous chapter, you recognized some of the national issues and concerns that
have been affecting our country. These are just some of the common problems that
confront us every day.
The Thomasian community is not spared of these problems. You are exposed to not just
the national issues but global issues as well through our everyday encounter with life.
Through the Thomasian Core Values, it was inculcated to you not to be just concerned
but to respond to these problems.
As a Thomasian, how do you respond to these problems?
What can we do about it?
How can you integrate the 3Cs in finding solutions to these problems?
This chapter will help you in realizing how to be part of the solution and be an
active participant in the development of your community.
We have two lessons in Chapter 5.
Lesson 1 will discuss what community development is all about. This lesson will help you
be aware of why there is a need for community development and how to go about it.
Lesson 2 will discuss how to put the theories and concepts of community development
into action through community organizing.
Now take a look at the objectives that I would like you to achieve at the end of chapter. At
the end of the chapter you will be able to:
define and explain community development and community organizing;
understand the need of community organizing in the development of the
community;
3. know and recognize the significance of empowerment and participation in
community development;
4. apply the theories and principles of community organizing in your project
implementation plan;
5. be aware of the importance of community development in nation building;
1.
2.

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The Vision of Community Development in the

Philippines

Examine this
Community Development is not a
new concept in the Philippines.
Take a look at this statement.
Wouldnt it be nice if this is
achieved?

To realize the communitys dreams and expectations,

by strengthening itself and develop towards its full
potentials through active participation and effective
involvement thus create empowered and responsible
citizens working relentlessly for a better Philippines.

In this lesson, you will be able to know what community development is all about and how
essential it is in connecting the people and the nation. Check out the Vision of Community
Development and take note of its highlights.
Before you can go further, let me give you a background first on some important concepts
by giving you some definitions.
We are all part of a community. Most of us belong to more than one community,
whether we are aware of it or not. For example,
an individual can be part of a neighbourhood
community, a religious community and a
community of shared interests all at the same
time. (Frank and Smith 1990) The University of
Santo Tomas is an example of a strong and
established educational community for higher
learning. As a community we share, transmit
and promote our identity to all the new
Thomasians. These values are shared by all
alumni, faculty members, administration and students of our almost four-century old
university.
Defining communities in terms of geography however is only one way of looking at
them. Communities can also be defined by common cultural heritage, language, and
beliefs
or
shared
interests
also
called
communities
of
interest.
(www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/ezec/News/CDTA_HANDBOOK.doc,2005)

In essence, a community may be described as a

geographical area where a group of people live in a
common life linked together by factors such as
religious beliefs, sexual orientation, occupation or
ethnic origin, and a shared sense of identity and
belongingness. (Coloma and Herrera,2004)

What we do now in the

community has a great impact
in the future generation

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Can you identify the other communities you belong to?

How do you participate in your community?
How do you recognize a developed community?
Let us now look into the definition of development...
Development is a gradual unfolding, a fuller working out of the details, of noted changes
or growing improvement.
Development has meant different things at different times in relation to changing
circumstances and sensibilities. If you would recall the era of the Industrial Revolution,
development then is closely related to increased speed, volume and size (CD
Handbook,1999). Many are questioning this concept now. There was a realization that
more is not always better.
According to Elmer Ferrer, an expert on Community Development from the University of
the Philippines, the term development does not necessarily mean growth, it is however
about change, positive change.
So what now is Community Development?
Community development is culturally rooted to the life of the people.

It is a planned evolution of all aspects of community well-being (economic, social,

environmental and cultural). (CDTA Handbook, 2005)

Community development is not a quick fix for the day-to-day operations of the
community.
Example: Have you participated in a gift-giving or relief operations in your community? These
activities can be classified under a dole-out. Through this method we are only enabling the people
to be dependent thus preventing them to help themselves.

Community development follows a planned process that is long-term and

integrated. The process of developing and organizing the community is long and
tedious. Every step must be carefully planned and monitored. (CDTA Handbook,
2005) You will know more about this in Lesson 2 Community Organizing.

Thus, Community Development is a process of facilitating people to actualize

themselves and therefore discover their identities and possibilities and
connection with each other and with the world. (Elmer Ferrer, Ph.D)
Community Development is not a new concept in the Philippines. This has been rooted
even before the coming of the Spaniards with early Filipinos organized into balangays,
most members are related and headed by a leader. Through the years it has evolved and

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developed with the aid of western ideologies and teachings which are being applied
based on the needs of the people in the community.
Community Development is the improvement, growth and change of the geographic area
and its people from conventional to modern ways, from crudeness to refinement,
from ignorance to learning, from faultiness to virtuosity.
Now that you understand the meaning of community development, let us try to find out
the Goals of Community Development.
PEOPLES WELFARE

COMMUNITY
PEOPLES PARTICIPATION
and COLLECTIVE ACTION

PEOPLES CAPACITY

Take note that Community Development is people-centered. According to Coloma et.al

whenever we think about Community Development, we always keep in mind the peoples
welfare, peoples capacity and peoples participation and collective action as goals
of Community Development. (Luna, 1998)
1. Peoples Welfare
Community Development is for the people; thus it is very
important to place their welfare above anything else. In
developing a community remember the following
endeavour that has to be achieved:
improve the quality of life
help people acquire coherence and meaning in life
lead people towards achieving sustainability and self-determination.
(Coloma and Herrera,2004)

2. Peoples Capacity
All people and communities have a certain amount of capacity. No one is
without capacity but often we need to develop it. What is important to realize is that
the heart of capacity building is the people. (Smith; Frank, 1990) It would take
capacity to achieve a healthy community as well as good leadership, a viable plan,
motivation and the support of the people from the community.
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Capacity is simply the ways and means needed to do what has to be done. It
is much broader than simply skills, people and plans. It includes commitment,
resources and all that is brought to bear on a process to make it successful. (CD
Handbook, 1999)

An indication that capacity is developing within a community is that people are

active, interested and participating in what is going on. This is similar to you as part of
a group or organization in your school or community. You are part of the discussion,
there will also be questioning, challenging and debating but you will be debating on
what should be done, not complaining that nothing will ever change. More and more
people will be getting involved, identifying key issues and taking action.
3. Peoples Participation and Collective Involvement
Active community participation is the heart that pumps the communitys
lifebloodits citizensinto becoming an improved community.

Community Participation is critical to community success

Bordenave (1994) considers participation as a joint effort of people for
achieving a common important objective previously defined by them. Meanwhile,
community participation according to Paul (1987) is an active process whereby
beneficiaries influence the direction and execution of the development projects rather
than merely receiving a share of the project benefits.
Community participation is far more than a requirement. It is a condition for
success. Studies have documented that communities that engage their citizens and
partners deeply in the work of community development raise more resources,
achieve more results, and develop in a more holistic andultimatelymore
beneficial way. Community participation, then is critical to community success.
(Reid, 2000)

Everyone is trying to accomplish something big,

not realizing that life is made up of little things.
- Frank A. Clark

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It is very important to ensure peoples active participation and involvement in

the different programs within the community, build the peoples capacity and be
empowered because through this, the purposes of community development become
more realistic.
Empowerment? Is this important?
To answer this, let us check out the definition of empowerment...
Empowerment refers to increasing political, social and economic strength of individuals.
It often involves developing confidence in their own capacities. (Sirvent, 1984)
It is increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform
those choices into desired actions and outcomes. Central to this process are actions
which both build individual and collective assets, and improve the efficiency of
organizations and institutions.

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Empowered people have freedom of choice and action. This in turn enables them
to better influence the course of their lives and the decisions which affect them.
The goals of community development lead us to empowerment, thus,
empowerment is most essential to community development!

Think about it !!
If the people are appreciably empowered and can participate in the
process of development, then they can substantially enjoy its benefits.

Now that you understand the idea of empowerment, the next

question is... how can we empower our fellow brothers and
sisters?
There are two simple answers to this question:
cooperation and education.
What is cooperation? How does this help in peoples empowerment?
Cooperation is about taking an active part in the community of which you are an
important member.
It is all about voluntary association for mutual benefit.
Cooperation is about the people who are affected by decisions being the
people who make those decisions.
Most importantly, cooperation is about having your voice heard.
(Bluejay, 2005)

Another way to empower the community is through EDUCATION. Basic

education not only increases a persons economic opportunities, it also serves as a
catalyst for social change. More importantly this is the key component for sustainable
development.
In My Pedagogic Creed, John Dewey held, among other things, that:
Education is the fundamental method of social progress. Education is a regulation
of the process of coming to share in the social consciousness; and that the
adjustment of individual activity on the basis of this social consciousness is the
only sure method of social reconstruction. Education must be conceived as a
continuing reconstruction of experience; that the process and the goal of education
are one and the same thing. The communitys duty to education is, therefore its
paramount moral duty.

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Before you move on let us synthesize first the lessons you have learned so far.
This lesson on community development has taught you as to WHY community
development is done. This lesson was also supported by the following concepts and
experiences.

We are all part of a community.

We may belong to more than one community
Development may mean growth and positive change.
Community Development is a long-term and integrative process that involves all
the resources of the community to achieve sustainable development.
Community Development is focused on improving the quality of life through
utilizing the community members capacities and making them actively involved in
the process.
A developed community is generated by an empowered group of individuals.
Empowerment of the people often involves developing confidence in their own
capacities.

I think it is quite clear to you as to WHY community development is done. Now let
us try to explore the idea of HOW we can do it.
To answer this question, let me introduce to you the concept of COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING.
Community organization is that process
by which the people...organize themselves to
'take charge' of their situation and thus
develop a sense of being a community
together. It is a particularly effective tool for
the poor and powerless as they determine for
themselves the actions they will take to deal
with the essential forces that are destroying
their community and consequently causing
them to be powerless.
-Reverend Robert Linthicum,
World Vision International
Source: www.anivel.wordpress.com

Are you ready to take action and get others involved?

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What is Community Organizing?

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give."
-Winston Churchill
Community Organizing (CO) has been defined as the application of principles and
methods for effecting change in which the community groups are helped to identify
the common problems or goals, mobilize resources, and in other ways develop and
implement strategies for reaching the goals they have set. (Minkler, 1990)
CO is a values-based process by which people - most often low- and moderateincome people previously absent from
decision-making tables - are brought
together in organizations to jointly act
in the interest of their "communities"
and the common good. Ideally, in the
participatory process of working for
needed changes, people involved in
CO organizations/groups learn how
to take greater responsibility for the
future of their communities, gain in
mutual respect and achieve growth as
individuals.
In the Philippine setting, community organizing is seen as systematic, planned
and liberating change process of transforming a community into an organized,
conscious empowered, self-reliant, just and humane entity and institution.
(Padilla,2004)

When organizing a community it is very important that we set our goals. What is our
purpose and why is there a need for community organizing?
These should be the fruits of our labours in our efforts in organizing the community.
What are the goals of community organizing?

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In a nutshell
Community Organizing is people working together to get things done
Si Kahn, Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Leaders, 1981

Peoples Empowerment.
The people will become conscious that they possess power--power to
assert their rights and to have a hand in decisions that will affect their lives. This
will enable people to think that there are opportunities for change and development
through cooperation and collective action.
Improved quality of life
Through the process of community organizing people learn to secure short
and long term improvements in their standards of living as soon as they receive
access to their basic needs.
Leadership development and mobilization
Leaders are identified and developed. They gain knowledge, skills and
proper attitude required by their task in community development.
Social Transformation
Community organizing seeks to change the life of the community and the
whole society into a democratic, self-reliant, nationalistic and self-governing entity
that can respond to bigger concerns like environmental problems and individual
needs.
(Luna, 1998)

The process of community organizing is not an easy and tidy endeavour- it does not
happen in neat and predictable steps, sometimes problems do exist. That is why it is
important that you are guided with the following principles.

In a community, instead of being ignored, denied, hidden or changed,

human differences are celebrated as gifts.
-M Scott Peck,
The Different Drum

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From:Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement (PRRM), 1982

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Community Organizing principles can serve as guide to future community

organizers such as yourselves.
What does it take to be a good community organizer?
The soul of organizing is the people. An organizer might be paid or work as a
volunteer. Organizers can differ on strategy, tactics, even on what seems to be moral
values. However, all organizers believe in the people, in the ability of regular folks to
guide their lives, to speak for themselves, to learn the world and how to make it better.
(Dave Beckwith and Randy Stoeker)
For you to be a community organizer you must have...
Imagination
Sense of Humor
Blurred vision of a better world
An organized personality
Strong ego/sense of oneself
A free, open mind, and political relativity
Ability to create the new out of the old
(Saul Alinsky, 1971)

You are now equipped with the proper knowledge on the concepts and principles
necessary in the development of a community.
Consider always that organizing is not a struggle that happens overnight; the process is
tedious so it is necessary to be emotionally prepared to meet the joys and pains in
organizing.
Now let me take you to a guided tour of community organizing through the
Phases of Community Organizing
(Source: Asst. Prof Jose Cruz III, Dir. UST-OCD, 2009)

I. Area Site Selection

Communities chosen for community organizing are those that are generally
described as marginalized, those
that are unserved, underserved
ORGANIZERS dont do it but
and are economically depressed.
get others to do it
These communities are chosen
based on a need, a need that the
ORGANIZERS are simply facilitators
external agent (in this case the
and implementers.
University, through the NSTP)
would like to address, and may
have the capacity to address.

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Additional criteria such as location distance and safety of the community

organizer is also taken into consideration.
The general acceptance of the community to community organizing and
development work also plays an important factor in the selection of the
community.
Lets take the case of Sitio Mabilog
and Sitio Haduan in Bamban, Tarlac.
These areas are not the most accessible
areas for development work. In fact
students and faculty members would
normally hike to get to community (Sitio
Mabilog is not accessible to vehicles
during the rainy season). Why of all
places did the University choose these
areas for our community development program? The answer is simple, there is a need.
Poverty is pervasive in both communities, health and education services are
inaccessible and we feel that we can contribute to changing this state. But most of all,
the communities accept and are cooperative to the development efforts in the area.

II.

Entry to the Community

When in Rome, do as the Romans do so goes the clich that probably
best describes this phase.
Some books also call this the integration or the immersion phase. This is
when the community organizer goes to the community, lives with the people
and assimilates into community life. In short, to understand the community and
allow the community to know you, you must be one of them and be one with
them. How can we even attempt to facilitate community organizing if we dont
understand the basic dynamic of the community we are trying to organize?
Must do:
Hold courtesy call to local leaders
(barangay officials, school officials,
leaders
of
the
Peoples
Organization, members of the Core
Group)
Be prepared to explain the purpose
your visit in the community.

of

Reminder, simple rules to live by during the entry phase:

Never promise anything. Dont raise the hopes of the community particularly
in things we can not deliver.
Assume simplicity in clothing. Your jewelries and expensive gadgets are
better left home during your community visits.
Act in a behavior that will be a positive reflection of you, your family and the
University.
Have fun. Dont be afraid to try out new things, new adventures in the
community. Try to participate in normal community activities, planting rice,
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harvesting banana and camote, washing clothes by the stream, riding a

carabao, etc. Just remember not to take unnecessary risks and always seek
the permission of your facilitator.
Always greet every body with a smile. I am pretty sure you will always get a
smile in return.
III. Community Study
Your immersion should have given you a good idea of
what the community is. It is time to formalize and conduct a
community study or community profiling. Depending on your
course or specialization, this is also called as the:
Community Diagnosis
Social investigation
Community investigation
Social Analysis
Whatever term you may use, this phase describes the process of gathering
data from and about the community to identify community problems and factors. For
detailed discussion on how to do your community profiling, please refer to Chapter 6:
Project Management and Development.
IV.

Spotting Potential Leaders

In the course of working and interacting
with the community, you will get the chance to
know them better. You will also notice that
there are individuals who show more concern
and are more active in the community and
have considerable influence and leadership
among others. They are your potential
leaders. Identifying them at this stage is
important because they will be able to help
you in your organizing work.
As you continue your work with our partner
communities, you will get to know some of our
partner communities, and some of our local
leaders. Observe them, talk with them, try to pick
up some of their traits that qualify them as leader.

V.

Core Group Formation

Jesus did not do it by himself. He had twelve
disciples.
Organizing is a daunting task if you would place
all the task and responsibility on yourself. You
cannot and must not do that.

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As you identify potential leaders, eventually meet them as a group. Here you
can plan and divide the activities with everybody. Hence, the work gets easier.
Everybody feels responsible for the success and we slowly build up the
community organization.
Remember: Your core group serves as the building block, the core foundation
of the community organization.
VI. Community Organization
Community organization may take on
different forms. This is the phase when you
formalize your organization. The organization
must:
1. Clearly identified, articulated reason for
being. This is normally captured in their
statement of vision, mission and goals
(VMG). It may take a while before they may be able to come up with their VMG
but a general statement may suffice
2. Community Organization and Development Plan:
a. Objectives
b. Activities
c. Resources needed
d. Timeframe
e. Responsible Persons/group
f. Expected Output
3. Have a semblance of a
structure
4. They may even have their
policies, such as dues,
attendance in meetings,
upkeep of the meeting hall,
etc.
VII.

Mobilization
This is the actual
implementation or activity
phase. This is when you along
with the community put your
plans into action.
Just remember:
We work with the community and not for them
Use available resources in the community
Have fun

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VIII.

Evaluation and Follow-up

Evaluation is a process of
assessing what has been done and its
impact. Please bear in mind that
community organizing is both a process
and an output. Projects may seem to
fail
but
still
produce
learning
experiences that are in the long term,
beneficial to the community. We must
be very keen in identifying these.
You can evaluate your activity based on the following criteria:
1. Effectiveness
Did we fully achieve our objectives? Partially?
What are the factors that facilitated the achievement of our objectives?
a. Organizational / group
b. Community factors
2. Efficiency
What resources (material, manpower, money) were utilized in the
project?
How much time was spent for the whole project? Was it enough? Was
time used wisely?
How were these resources utilized?
Is the output commensurate to the resources utilized?
3. Adequacy
Is the project sufficient for the identified problem? If not, what other
projects/ activities could contribute to the solution of the problem
identified?
4. Appropriateness
Was it the right project / approach to solve the problem?
Was it a suitable solution to the problem?
Your subsequent action would largely be based on the result of your evaluation. The
community may need more training, they may need assistance in linking up with other
agencies (government, NGO or church-based), they may need further planning and
evaluation, etc. At this point you should also be weaning the community with your direct
influence in the decision making. Slowly your presence is less felt and you are now in
your exit phase. You occasionally visit the community to follow-up / monitor their progress
and provide assistance only when needed and expressed.
It is time for us to go over the new concepts and experiences you have learned in
this lesson so far.

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This lesson on Community Organizing discussed and taught you how to put into action
the principles of community development. This is supported by the following concepts and
experiences.

Community Organizing is a process.

CO is a values-based and problem-solving process by which ordinary people
are brought to the tables, empowered with knowledge and skills to identify their
needs and problems. They mobilize their resources to deal with their problems
and take action collectively.
CO aims to empower the people through leadership and mobilization and
improve the quality of life through social transformation
Community Organizers are simply facilitators and implementers; your role as a
community organizer is to simply get others to do it.
The phases for community organizing follow this process.
a. Area / Site Selection
b. Entry / Integration
c. Community Study
d. Spotting Potential Leaders
e. Core Group Formation
f. Community Organization
g. Mobilization
h. Evaluation
i. Follow-up Expansion

You are almost done with Chapter 4.

At this point, I would like to ask you. Have you seen the relationship between Community
Development and Community Organizing? Have you noticed how Community
Development is closely linked to Community Organizing? Notice that both focus on the
improvement of the quality of life. Community Development (CD) is the reason (WHY)
and Community Organizing (CO) is the process (HOW). It would be difficult going through
the process without an understanding as to why you are doing this. CD and CO exist for
the people that are why it is important that the ordinary people are empowered and
participate actively in the development of their community. As implementers and
facilitators you are working with the people (not for the people), leading them from
dependence to independence and later on experiencing interdependence; hence
promoting change and social movement.

Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You dont have to make
your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.
and a soul generated by love.
Martin Luther King Jr.

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The previous chapter enlightened you about the problems and the situation we are facing.
In this chapter, you were introduced to the method that could help ease, if not help
change, the situation you are in right now. The task of developing the community and
organizing it, empowering the people so they could work out of their own capacity, is not
an easy endeavor. In fact it is tedious and requires a lot of patience and hard work. Now
the challenge I pose to you Thomasian was made clear since the beginning of this
chapter. Are you ready to be part of the community and help the people? If you are make
a quick personal assessment if you are prepared to take part in your role in nationbuilding.
REFERENCES
BOOKS
Coloma, Teresita and Mauricia Herrera. Towards a Relevant and Responsive
National Service Training Program in the Schools (Focus on Community and Development).
Quezon City:Mutya Publishing House. 2004
Dewey, John. Democracy and Education. University of Michigan: Macmillan, 1916
Padilla, Reynaldo A. Civic Welfare Training Service. A Component of the National Service Training
Program.Manila: Rex Book Store, 2004
Luna, Emmanuel. Rethinking Community Development: Indigenizing and Regaining
Grounds The Philippine Social Sciences in the Life of the Nation. Philippines. Quezon City;
Philippine Social Science Council.1999
Armando de Jesus, et al. The University and the Community: Hand-in-Hand
Development. Manila. UST Press. 1999.
Si Kahn, Organizing: A Guide for Grassroots Leaders / Edition 1. Windsor: National
Association of Social Workers/N A S W Press. 1981

ELECTRONIC SOURCES
Bluejay, Michael. What is Co-Op?. Available from
http://michaelbluejay.com/coop/cooperation.html. Internet Accessed on 10 June 2011
Frank, Flo and Smith Anne. The Community Development Handbook. A Tool to Build
Capacity Building. Quebec, Canada. LMLDU. 1990. Available from
http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/epb/sid/cia/comm_deve/cdhbooke.pdf. Internet: Accessed on
15 June 2011.
No Author. Community Development Technical Assistance Handbook Community
Development Programs. USDA Rural Development, 2005. Available from
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/ezec/News/CDTA_HANDBOOK.doc
Internet: Accessed on 15 June 2011
No Author. Community Organizing Action Pack. Available from:
http://www.marininstitute.org/action_packs/community_org.htm. Internet Accessed on June 10 2011
Paul, Samuel. Community participation in development projects. (Washington, DC. :World
Bank, 1987) Available from http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/1/41.abstract. Internet:
Accessed on 15 June 2011.

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Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement. Available from http://www.prrm.org/. Internet:

Accessed on 15 June 2011
Reid, Norman. Community Participation: How People Power Brings Sustainable Benefits to
the Community (2000).Available from
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/ezec/Pubs/commparticrept.pdf. Internet: Accessed on 15 June
2011.

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