Jana -- Since WAU was the last library on the 040, I had a brief chat with our CONSER liaison.  Her memory was that she had contacted LC about it (as it looked like a major change to her) and LC decided it was minor.  Since this is published by a Philippine government agency, I think this case is similar to the California state agency publication title change cited in the CONSER Standard Record doc <http://www.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/conserdoc.pdf>:

"Geographic term or government body? When the serial is issued by or
associated with a government body, consider a geographic term to be a
representation of the corporate body&#8217;s name (e.g., California facts
and figures issued by an agency of the California state government)."

In that case, I think the word 'California' was dropped from the title
and it was considered minor as there often is doubt whether a geographic
term is referring to the government or to the geographic area.

In this case, 'Philippine' is a geographic term that could also represents the government body from which the publication is issued.  This type of judgment (geographic converage vs. government body) is probably the most difficult of the major/minor judgments that individual catalogers will likely make.  Thus conser provided a specific example in CSR documentation.

Let me know if you have more questions.  Hope this helps.   --Steve

Steve Shadle/Serials Access Librarian  *****  shadle@u.washington.edu
University of Washington Libraries      ***     Phone: (206) 685-3983
Seattle, WA 98195-2900                   *        Fax: (206) 543-0854

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 13:39:14 -0600
From: Jana Brubaker <jbrubake@NIU.EDU>
Reply-To: "SERIALST: Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum"
   <SERIALST@list.uvm.edu>
To: SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: [SERIALST] Title change question

In 2001 the title of the Journal of Philippine Development (OCLC #9278458)
changed to the Philippine Journal of Development.  The change was recorded in a
246.  The ISSN didn't change.  Is this why it was not treated as a title
change?

Thanks.

Jana Brubaker
Serials Catalog Librarian
Founders Memorial Library
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115
jbrubake@niu.edu