Month: August 2016

Bam: Resolve underspending and inefficiency, fix gov’t procurement

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to fix the government’s procurement system to address underspending in the national budget and enable government agencies to better deliver services to the public.

  “I don’t think we will be able to spend properly, even with the best intentions, if we don’t reform the Procurement Act,” said Sen. Bam during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017.

 “Our taxpayer’s money should be spent efficiently and Filipinos should see results. Let’s fast track our Procurement Act reforms,” the senator said.

 According to Sen. Bam, a number of Cabinet secretaries have raised their concerns over the strict Procurement Act, including Transportation Secretary Art Tugade during the initial emergency powers hearing.

 “In the emergency powers hearing, a large part of the discussion is about procurement,” the senator added.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones mentioned that she has assigned an Assistant Secretary just to focus on the tedious procurement process.

 “Political will and good intentions are important. But if people are shackled by policies, it leads to unwillingness to spend on the development of the country,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

 For his part, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno revealed they plan to introduce several reforms to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 or the Procurement Reform Act.

 “We might allow just one failed bid and then negotiate,” said Diokno.

 However, Sen. Bam said lawmakers are willing to make amendments to the law so the country can have an effective procurement process for the long-term.

Hope in the hopeless

I’m a firm believer in the power of the youth, their idealism, and their can-do attitude. But I will concede that there is a problem.

There are young Filipinos that commit terrible crimes – robbing, doing drugs, raping, even killing.

Yes, there are Filipino children who are not only exposed to systemic violence but also perpetuate and reinforce it by joining gangs and syndicates.

But while we must acknowledge this sad reality, we must not discount the youth’s capacity to positively impact the lives of fellow Filipinos.

We must also acknowledge the youth’s remarkable ability to change their lives for the good and even make the world a kinder, better place.

These are two polar ends of the same reality and we see the full range of this spectrum in the story of Rustie Quintana.

I met Rustie a few years ago. He was part of Dire Husi, which is a youth organization in Cagayan de Oro, and at that time, he was receiving the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Award in behalf of his organization.

The members of Dire Husi use arts and crafts to give streetchildren an alternative to their vices, such as drugs and gang violence.

What’s remarkable about Rustie is that he used to be one of those kids – a true batang kalye who would sniff rugby, snatch cellphones, do petty crimes and even be involved with syndicates in Cagayan de Oro City.

He was in and out of DSWD’s program for juvenile delinquents and even landed in Lumbia City Jail before being sent to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY).

But after years of being in and out of these institutions, he decided to make a change for himself. He decided to join Dire Husi and transform his life.

When he received the TAYO Award, he told me, “Kuya, noong ako’y nasa kalsada ng Cagayan de Oro, hindi ko po napangarap na balang araw mapupunta ako sa Malacanang at makakamay ko pa ang presidente para sa isang award para sa kabataan.”

Just recently, he graduated from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan with the course Development Communications. The icing on the cake came when Rustie Quintana’s story was featured in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

It is this story of Rustie that came to mind when I reviewed House Bill Number 2, which seeks to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act 9344).

This initiative pursues a lowering of the age of criminal liability from 15 years down to 9 years old.

While I am relieved the policy’s author asserted that his objective is to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents and not throw them in jail with hardened criminals or worse, the bill filed does not seem to point to that path.

If the age of criminal liability is lowered, 9-year-olds might be tried as adults and be meted the corresponding penalties in our Revised Penal Code and other special laws.

So if a 9-year-old snatches your smart phone, this child who acted with discernment could be sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison.

The current Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act already focuses on rehabilitation more than punishment. Erring children are likely sent to a Bahay Pag-Asa where they undergo therapy and are assessed periodically to check if they have been successfully rehabilitated and whether they can rejoin society.

The Bahay Pag-Asa in Davao and Bataan come to mind as institutions that do their task of helping and transforming these children well.

Instead of lowering the age of criminal liability, why not further support the already established youth care facilities and Bahay Pagasa centers first?

Why not improve the rehabilitation programs and make these centers more effective at addressing trauma and providing alternatives to a life of crime?

Why rush into solutions that could make matters worse instead of taking the extra effort to transform these young lives for the better?

Surely there are solutions that can address our problems of criminality and still have the best interests of our children at heart.

Hindi nag-iisa si Rustie.

There are numerous young Filipinos like him who have shown that given the opportunity to change, they can become Filipinos we can be proud of. And that ability and capacity to be better, gives us hope that our country can change for the better as well.

First Published on Manila Bulletin

7 Modern Pinoy Book-et List sa #BuwanNgAkdangPinoy

Isang tulog na lang, “Ber” months na! Pero bago iyon, may pabaon sa inyo ang Buwan ng Mga Akdang Pinoy na ipinigdidiriwang tuwing Agosto.

Para sa mga bookworm na nagpapaka-stranded sa local coffee shop ngayong tag-ulan at tag-baha, narito ang pitong makabagong libro at komiks na sariling atin!

 

1.Si Janus Silang at ang Tiyanak ng Tábon (Edgar Calabia Samar). Sa librong ito pwedeng makisama sa adventure ni Janus na isang certified online gamer. Sa paglalakbay ni Janus, makikilala niya si Joey at tutuklasin niya ang misteryong kakabit ng kanyang kinahumalingang laro – ang TALA online sa bayan ng Balanga.

janus_silang

 

2. Mga Tambay sa Tabi-Tabi: Creatures of Philippine Folklore (Ilustrador ng Kabataan). Ang mga engkanto, multo, at aswang ay mga personalidad na tumatatak sa alaala ng kabataang Pinoy. Madalas silang ginagamit na panakot ng nanay mo tuwing ayaw mong matulog. Pasukin ang mundo ng kababalaghang Pinoy na isang mahalagang parte rin ng kulturang Pilipino.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

3. Mga Tala sa Dagat (Annette Acacio Flores na isinalin ni Nanoy Rafael). Sa gitna ng malawak na dagat, sundan ang isang kuwento ng pamilyang mangingisda na ang tadhana’y nakatali sa mga malalaki at malalim na alon. Sa kuwentong ito, mas lalo nadidiin ang kahalagahan ng pangangalaga sa kalikasan natin. 

mag tala sa dagat

4. ABNKKBSNPLAKo?! (Bob Ong). Bumalik-tanaw tayo kasama ni Bob Ong sa kanyang trip down memory lane. Ipapaalala niya ang karanasan ng bawat Pilipino sa loob ng klasrum. Matanda man o bata ay tiyak na matutuwa sa kuwentong ito. Sa gitna ng nakakatawang hirit, mapapaisip ka rin – bakit nga ba tayo nag-aaral at para saan nga ba ang edukasyon? 

abnkkbsnplako

5. Guardians of Tradition (Mae Astrid Tobias, Rommel Joson, at Renato S. Rastrollo). Tuklasin ang napakayamang kulturang Pilipino sa mga kuwento nina Ginaw Bilog, Lang Dulay, Uwang Ahadas at marami pang iba na mga nagawaran ng Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan. Nilalaman nitong libro ang mga tradisyon sa sining, musika, akda, at sayaw ng ating mga ninuno.  

guardians of tradition

6. Ang Subersibo (Adam David at Mervin Malonzo). Lahat tayo’y pinagbabasa ng Noli Me Tangere pagdating ng high school kaya’t kilalang-kilala natin si Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin. Pero ano kaya ang kuwento sa likod ng kanyang pagkatao at ano ang nagtulak sa kanya na pasukin ang buhay filibustero? Alamin sa librong ito.

Ang Subersibo

7. 12:01 (Russell Molina). Balikan natin ang taong 1976 noong idineklara ang Batas Militar sa Pilipinas. Sa 12:01, isang graphic novel, sina Neal, Joy, Edgeboy at Lily ang magpapakita sa atin kung paano nga ba talaga ang buhay noon at ano ang tunay na ibig sabihin ng Batas Militar.

12-01book

Bam: SK abolition ‘premature’

A senator described as premature plans to abolish the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), stressing that improvements in the SK Reform Act must be given a chance to be implemented so its success can be gauged.

“It is premature to abolish the SK before we have a chance to implement the improvements in the SK Reform Act and gauge its success,” said Sen. Bam, who worked for passage of Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reform Act as co-author and co-sponsor in the 16th Congress.

 “Let’s have a little more faith in the Filipino youth and their ability to contribute to their communities,” the senator added, saying “they might even surprise us with innovative solutions to critical issues, like hunger or drug use.”

 Aside from rejecting calls for SK abolition, Sen. Bam also rebuffed moves to postpone the SK elections for two years.

 “It is unacceptable. At most, we can postpone elections for a few months to give the Commission on Elections (Comelec) time for better preparation and recruitment of more voters and candidates,” said Sen. Bam.

 The first legislation with an anti-dynasty provision, the SK Reform Act prohibits relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.

 In addition, the law adjusts age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.

 Furthermore, Sangguniang Kabataan officials will now be required to undergo leadership training programs to expose them to the best practices in governance and guide their development as leaders.

 The new law also mandates the creation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

 The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

Bam: Let’s give SK a chance to produce new heroes

Let’s give the new Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) a chance to produce a young generation of heroes.

Sen. Bam Aquino made this plea as the country celebrates National Heroes Day amid growing calls to postpone the SK elections for two years, adding that the reforms will be for naught if not implemented immediately.

 “Sayang naman ang repormang isinulong natin sa batas kung maghihintay pa tayo ng dalawang taon para ito’y makita,” said Sen. Bam, who pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reform Act as co-author and co-sponsor in the 16th Congress.

 “Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang SK na humubog ng mga bagong bayani mula sa ating mga kabataan na tutulong sa pagpapalakas ng ating mga komunidad,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

 Instead of a two-year wait, Sen. Bam is open to postpone the SK elections for several months until early 2017 to give the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ample time to prepare.

 “Huwag na nating pag-antayin pa ng matagal ang ating mga kabataan na kasalukuyan nang naghahanda para sa halalan at sabik nang maglingkod sa kapwa nila kabataan,” Sen. Bam asserted.

 “Gamitin natin ang pagpapaliban na ito bilang dagdag na panahon sa pagpaparehistro at paghikayat sa ating mga kabataan na tumakbo sa ilalim ng bagong SK,” he added.

 The SK Reform Act is the first legislation with an anti-dynasty provision, prohibiting relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.

 Aside from its anti-dynasty provision, the new law adjusts age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.

 Sangguniang Kabataan officials will now be required to undergo leadership training programs to expose them to the best practices in governance and guide their development as leaders.

 The new law also mandates the creation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

 The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyo mula sa bente pesos

Mga kanegosyo, una sa lahat, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa matagal na pagkawala ng kolum na ito.

Ilang buwan din tayong nawala dahil tumayo ako bilang campaign manager ni vice president Leni Robredo noong nakaraang halalan.

Kasabay nito, pansamantala ring nahinto ang ating programa sa radyo – ang Status Update – sa DZXL 558.

Sa ating pagbabalik, nais kong ibalita na nagbabalik tayo sa radyo bilang co-host ni Cheska San Diego sa programang Go Negosyo sa Radyo – sa DZRH 666 KHZ — sa pakikipagtulungan ng Go Negosyo at MBC.

Mapakikinggan ito tuwing Biyernes, mula alas-dos hanggang alas-tres ng hapon. Mapanonood din ito sa livestream sa dzrhnewstelevision.tv.

Sa nasabing programa, pinalitan natin si Mon Lopez, na itinalaga ni Pangulong Duterte bilang kalihim ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

***

Kabilang sa mga naging panauhin namin sa programa ang mag-asawang Rosiell at Rudy de Leon, may ari ng Bianca and Nica’s Ice Candy Factory.

Maganda ang istorya ng mag-asawa dahil sinimulan at pinalaki nila ang negosyo gamit lang ang bente pesos na puhunan.

Kung titingnan ngayon, malayo ang kalagayan sa buhay ng mag-asawa nang simulan nila ang negosyo noong 2011.

Walang trabaho noon si Rudy at naubos na ang kanilang ipon sa bangko. Nag-aaral din ang dalawa nilang anak, kaya desperado na si Rosiell sa paghahanap ng ikabubuhay.

Hawak ang bente pesos na natitira nilang pera noon, naisip ni Rosiell na magtinda ng yelo dahil sila lang ang may refri­gerator sa kanilang lugar noon sa Antipolo.

Ginastos ni Rosiell ang bente pesos para bumili ng 100 pirasong plastic ng yelo. Nang maibenta ito, lumago ang kanilang puhunan sa P300.

Ginamit naman ito ni Rosiell para bumili ng sangkap sa paggawa ng 100 piraso ng ice candy. Ibinenta niya ito sa ha­lagang limang piso kaya lumago sa P500 ang kanilang kita.

Dito na nagsimulang lumaki ang negosyo ng mag-asawa, na ipinangalan nila sa dalawang anak.

Ayon kay Rudy, nakuha nila ang ideya na magtinda sa paaralan mula sa kanilang mga anak.

Upang pumatok sa mga bata ang kanilang produkto, itinakda nila sa tatlong piso ang presyo ng ice candy at dinagdagan pa ang flavor.

Nagbunga naman ang hakbang na ito dahil sa unang buwan, kumita ang mag-asawa ng P400,000 sa eskuwelahan ng kanilang mga anak.

Sa sumunod na dalawang taon, umakyat sa labintatlo ang mga eskuwelahan na naaabot ng kanilang produkto.

Sa kasalukuyan, nagbebenta na ang Bianca and Nica’s Ice Candy Factory ng 24 flavors sa mahigit 100 paaralan sa National Capital Region at sa lalawigan ng Rizal.

Ang kuwento nina Rosiell at Rudy ay magandang inspirasyon at aral sa mga nais magnegosyo. Walang imposible sa pagnenegosyo, basta’t tama ang lokasyon at swak ang ibebentang produkto sa merkado.

Bam on President Duterte-Sen. Leila de Lima spat

Matagal ko nang sinabi na sana hindi humantong sa mga personal na bagay-bagay. Hindi siya maganda para sa ating bayan.

 Ako naman, ang mahalaga, I think, we all focus on the work. Balik tayo sa trabaho.

 Ang paglaban sa droga, iyan trabaho iyan. Ang pag-imbestiga sa mga summary killings, trabaho rin iyan.

 Kung may mga issues na ilegal na gawa, e di magkasuhan tayo. Pero kung ganyan na personal iyong mga batuhan, palagay ko hindi siya maganda para sa bayan.

 Stick to the work. Stick to the issues. Stick to the policies.

On Duterte’s matrix vs De Lima

Unang-una, sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya (De Lima), hindi naman siya involved diyan. But if there’s evidence, kailangang imbestigahan.

 Kung talagang may kinalaman sa droga, kasuhan. Kung talagang may summary killings, imbestigahan.

 Pero pagdating sa personal na bagay, labas na tayo diyan. Dapat manatili tayo sa trabaho.

Bam on postponement of SK elections

We waited long enough for the SK to be reformed.

 Now we have an SK Reform Law we can all be proud of, the agencies involved have made their commitments, and the youth have registered to vote.

 Ready na po tayo para sa bagong SK.

 Bukas po tayo sa pagpapaliban ng SK elections pero sana ay hindi hihigit sa isang taon at magamit ang panahon para pagbutihin pa ang implementasyon at paramihin pa ang mga botante at kandidato.

 Huwag naman sanang maagrabyado pa ang kabataang Pilipino.

 

Bam pushes for free Internet in all public schools

Believing that high-quality Internet is a crucial necessity in today’s learning environment, a senator wants to establish free Wi-Fi hotspots in all public schools to help students enhance their personal and academic development.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 1050 seeks to establish an Internet Access Program in all public schools in the country, including State Universities and Colleges.

 “Teachers and students should be given access to the Internet for meaningful research, collaboration, and learning,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 17th Congress.

 Instead of discouraging Internet use at schools, Sen. Bam said students must be trained to engage with World Wide Web in a responsible way that furthers their personal and academic development

 Under the measure, the newly-established Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be tasked to ensure that all public schools provide reliable Internet connection to students, faculty members and other non-teaching personal.

 According to Sen. Bam, this Internet connection must be put up in publicly accessible areas on the premises.

 As chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded the investigation into the slow and expensive Internet connection in the country.

 

Bam pushes for support for Filipino scientists, business startups

Senator Bam Aquino calls on concerned government agencies to provide necessary support to Filipino scientists to boost the country capability in terms of research and development.
 
“We want to make sure na ang ating Filipino scientists, hindi lang sila makabalik dito at magkaroon ng opportunities sa ating bansa bagkus pati iyong mga nandito hindi na kailangan lumabas ng Pilipinas,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Science and Technology which he chairs.
 
Aside from enticing Filipino scientists to return to the country, concerned government agencies must give them more opportunities to thrive through proper benefits and other forms of support.
 
Sen. Bam said his committee will focus on the passage of Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue.
 
Aside from the plight of Filipino scientists, the hearing also tackled the measure providing necessary support for business startups to thrive and compete in the market.
 
“Nakita natin na full support ang DOST, ang DTI, all of the agencies are fully supportive of this bill. This will hopefully unlock our digital startup community,” said Sen. Bam of his Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act.
 
Among those who expressed support for the bill were Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Pena, other government officials and private stakeholders.
 
“Maraming startup sa ating bansa na magagaling. They have very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo at nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the Innovative Startup Act will make it easier for tech startups to set up and build successful businesses in our country.

 

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