Month: May 2017

Sen. Bam: Students to enjoy free SUCs starting 2nd sem of school year 2017-18

A senator expects students to benefit from the free education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) beginning the second semester of school year 2017-18.

 “Napag-usapan sa bicam na it will be effective second semester ng school year 2017-2018 because by the time na ma-publish ito at maging batas, baka tapos na ang enrollment ng first semester,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor and co-author of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act in the Senate.

 “We’re hoping that by November or second semester, libre na ang tuition at iba pang bayarin sa ating SUCs,” the senator added.

 As one of its major salient points, the measure prohibits SUCs from collecting other fees from students, making tertiary education totally free for underprivileged students.

 “Kapag napirmahan na ito bilang batas, magiging state policy na libre na ang tertiary level education pagdating sa SUCs at LUCs natin,” said Sen. Bam, who defended the measure in plenary debates and interpellation during his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Sen. Bam was also the co-chairman of the Senate delegation to the bicameral conference committee, together with new Committee on Education chairman Sen. Francis Escudero. Other members of the Senate panel are Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Ralph Recto.

 If enacted into law, it will institutionalize free tuition and other fees in SUCs and LUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree.

 It will also make scholarship grants available to students of both public and private college and universities.

The final version of the measure has been ratified by the Senate on Tuesday.

Sen. Bam: Joint session is Congress’ duty

Sen. Bam Aquino insisted that convening a joint session is a duty of Congress and a means to promote welfare of the Filipino people by enlightening them about details behind the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

 “It is part of our constitutional requirement and important for the public to be able to listen for themselves kung ano ang sasabihin ng security managers,” said Sen. Bam during Tuesday night’s discussion on the minority group’s Senate Resolution 390, which urges Congress to hold a joint session on the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

“During a joint session, iyong ibang pinag-usapan natin during an executive session, kung bakit nagdeklara ng Martial Law, kung ano ang plano at kung hanggang kailan ang hangganan, puwede iyong marinig ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

 As representatives of the people, Sen. Bam said it is the duty of lawmakers to inform the public details of important issues affecting their lives and the country.

 “The people need to know what it is we also know as much as possible, without breaching any national security matter,” the senator said, adding that Congress must follow its constitutional mandate whatever the outcome of the vote.

 In an earlier interview, Sen. Bam emphasized that a joint session will give security managers a chance to enlighten the public about the situation and address misinformation and fake news circulating online at the same time.

“The people are contradicting each other. Agencies are contradicting each other in terms of facts and in terms of what’s really happening. We need to hear it straight from the security managers,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

 Nine senators voted in favor of the resolution while 12 voted against it. Aside from Sen. Bam, those who voted in favor were Sens. Franklin Drilon, Chiz Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto and Antonio Trillanes.

Those who voted against it were Senators Sonny Angara, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.

Sen. Bam: No shortcuts, call joint session

A senator called on his fellow lawmakers to avoid shortcuts and follow the Constitution by calling a joint session to tackle the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

“Ang AFP, ayaw natin mag-shortcut, ang PNP ayaw nating mag-shortcut. Bakit tayo mag-so-short cut?” said Sen. Bam Aquino during the minority bloc’s press conference discussing their resolution urging the Senate to call for a joint session.

 “Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-shortcut. Iyong mga shortcut, ito ang nagdudulot ng masasamang bagay sa bansa natin,” he added.

 Under the Constitution, Sen. Bam also stressed that Congress is mandated to call a joint session, based on the precedent during former president Gloria Arroyo’s declaration of Martial Law in Maguindanao in 2009.

 “A joint session is needed so that people can hear for themselves what the security managers were able to brief to us,” Sen. Bam said in an earlier television interview Tuesday.

 The senator said a joint session will give security managers a chance to enlighten the public about the situation and address misinformation and fake news circulating online at the same time.

“The people are contradicting each other. Agencies are contradicting each other in terms of facts and in terms of what’s really happening. We need to hear it straight from the security managers,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

 Sen. Bam said the security managers assured that normalcy in Marawi City will be restored in the next few days but it is crucial for the “people to hear that themselves”.

 During the briefing, Sen. Bam got the assurance from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) that it will uphold human rights while Mindanao is under Martial Law.

 Despite the AFP’s assurance, Sen. Bam underscored the need for vigilance against any abuse that might occur until normalcy returns to the area, which the AFP committed to achieve in the following days.

Once the government quells the threats in Marawi, Sen. Bam said the government must lift Martial Law immediately and focus on restoring normalcy and developing in the area.

Sen. Bam on Bicam approval of free tuition bill or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

We are happy to report some good news during these challenging times in our country.

 Our bill providing access to quality higher education has passed the Bicam process.

 This will make tuition and other fees in our SUCs free. It will provide billions of scholarships and loans to students in private higher education institutions.

Pirma na lang ng Presidente ang kailangan para maging batas ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

 Malaking panalo ito para sa mga estudyante at pamilyang Pilipino!

 I became a legislator primarily to spearhead reforms that help our countrymen reach their hopes and dreams, so I am very proud to have pushed for this major reform as the main sponsor and co-author in the Senate.

 We’d like to thank and congratulate all the legislators, stakeholders and supporters that contributed to this measure!

 Let’s give every Filipino access to quality education – from kinder to college.

 Bigyan po natin ng oportunidad ang ating mga kababayan na makamit ang kanilang pangarap.

Sen. Bam: Free education in SUCs, LUCs a milestone in PH learning system

If enacted into law, the measure providing free education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs) will be a major reform in the country’s education system, as it will open up tertiary level education to more Filipinos.

“This is a huge reform for struggling students and their hard working parents. I became a legislator because I wanted to spearhead initiatives like this that can help our countrymen reach their hopes and dreams,” Sen. Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor and co-author of the measure, now known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, in the Senate.

The bicameral conference committee approved the report Monday. Once it is ratified by both Houses, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s approval.

“All it needs is the President’s signature to make tuition and other fees in SUCs and LUCs free, and financial support for students in private colleges and universities through grants and loans accessible and available,” said Sen. Bam

The measure, once passed into law, will complete the chain in the country’s educational institutions and give more Filipinos access to quality education.

“Noong dekada otsensa lang naging libre ang high school sa Pilipinas. Thirty years later, magiging libre na rin ang tertiary o college sa SUCs at LUCs. We’re really making educational institutions accessible to more Filipinos,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam defended the measure in plenary debates and interpellation during his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education. He was also the co-chairman of the Senate delegation to the bicameral conference committee, together with new Committee on Education chairman Sen. Francis Escudero. Other members of the Senate panel are Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Ralph Recto.

If approved, it will institutionalize free tuition and other fees in SUCs and LUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree.

It will also streamline and strengthen all Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), making it available to students who want to pursue higher education in private institutions, as well as subsidizing other expenses of SUC students.

Sen. Bam: Free internet in public places now a signature away from becoming law

The measure providing Filipinos free internet access in public places is now one signature away from becoming a law after the Senate ratified its final version Wednesday, Sen. Bam Aquino announced.

 “Isang pirma na lang po at magiging batas na ito. This measure will empower Filipinos with internet access to education, information, jobs and business,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“We hope that this can be a step towards improving internet services in the Philippines, which, of course has become a main point for many of our countrymen,” he added.

 The final version, which was also ratified by the House, will be submitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature. If approved, this will be Sen. Bam’s 1st law in the 17th Congress and 18th in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam hopes that internet service will improve with the successful implementation of the free internet access in public places, together with parallel efforts such as the National Broadband Plan and the entry of new players in the telecommunications industry.

 “Let’s work together to achieve our goal of faster, cheaper, more reliable internet services for every Filipino,” said Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam thanked co-authors Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Manny Pacquiao and Sen. Ralph Recto, co-sponsors Sen. Grace Poe and Recto and members of the Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee, including Sens. JV Ejercito, Nancy Binay, Joel Villanueva and Recto for helping develop and strengthen the measure.

The measure aims to provide internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program.

BIDA KA!: Foreign Affairs

Mga Bida, panibagong ingay na naman ang ginawa ng pamahalaan noong nakaraang linggo matapos ihayag ni Pangulong Duterte na hindi na tatanggap ang bansa ng aid o tulong mula sa European Union (EU).

Sa desisyong ito ng gobyerno, mawawala ang tulong na aabot sa 250 million Euros o P13.8 bilyon, na dapat sana’y mapupunta sa ilang komunidad ng mga kapatid nating Muslim.

Ang dahilan sa pagtanggi ng pamahalaan sa ayuda ng EU? Dahil daw may mga kondisyon ang EU na nanghihimasok sa isyu ng human rights at pagpapairal ng batas sa bansa.

Dapat ba natin itong ikasama ng loob? Hindi ba’t trabaho ng ating pamahalaan ang pairalin ang batas at protektahan ang karapatang pantao ng mga Pilipino?

***

Sa aking pagbisita sa Iligan kamakailan, nagkaroon ng mukha ang mga grupo na nakakatanggap ng tulong mula sa EU.

Habang nag-aalmusal, nilapitan ako ng ilang grupo ng mga Muslim na nakakakuha ng grant mula sa EU.

Ayon sa grupo, nakakakuha sila ng tulong mula sa EU para idokumento ang pag-aalis ng landmines sa Mindanao. Sa kanilang kasunduan ng EU, popondohan ang kanilang pagkilos hanggang 2018.

Subalit dahil sa pasyang ito ng gobyerno, wala nang kalina­wan kung matutuloy pa ang kanilang ginagawa.

***

 

Kamakailan lang din, ipinabatid ni Pangulong Duterte na pinagbantaan siya ng giyera ng China kung itutuloy ng Pilipinas ang paghahabol sa mga islang pinag-aagawan sa West Philippine Sea.

Kung totoo, napakabigat ng binitiwang salita ng pangulo ng China ngunit walang naging reaksiyon ang ating pamahalaan ukol sa nakababahalang banta mula sa bansa na itinuturing ng ating Pangulo bilang isang matibay na kaalyado.

Nabahala naman si Justice Antonio Carpio sa kawalan ng sagot o opisyal na pagkilos ng pamahalaan ukol dito. Ayon kay Carpio, maaari itong dalhin ng Pilipinas ang binitiwang banta ng China sa United Nations tribunal.

Sa kabila ng bantang ito, tuloy pa rin ang pagtanggap ng Pilipinas ng ayuda mula sa China. Hindi ba dapat ito’y salungat sa posisyon ng gobyerno sa EU.

Habang kinondena natin ang EU sa umano’y panghihimasok nito sa usapin ng bansa kapalit ng kanilang tulong, tinanggap naman natin ang tulong at loan na alok ng China sa kabila ng kanilang panghihimasok sa ating teritoryo.

Ano ba ang mas mabigat? Ang kuwestiyunin ang ating karapatang pantao at pagpapatupad ng batas o ang pasukin at agawin ang teritoryo na matagal nang atin?

***

Ilang beses ko nang ipinaalala sa liderato ng Committee on Foreign Affairs ng Senado ang aking resolusyong silipin ang direksiyon ng ating foreign policy ngunit bumagsak lang ito sa mga binging tainga.

Mahalagang magkaroon ng pagdinig upang malaman ng taumbayan kung saan patutungo ang tinatahak na daan ng pamahalaan pagdating sa ugnayang panlabas.

Sen. Bam on the situation in Marawi and the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao

(transcript of media interview)

Currently kailangan natin suportahan ang AFP sa lahat ng kanilang operations. On going pa po ang operations. Hindi pa po natatapos. That should be foremost. Yun yung pinakamahalaga that we support our troops sa kanilang pagsugpo sa lawless elements na ‘to.

Pangalawa, siguraduhin po natin na ang mga kababayan natin sa lugar, ay matulungan at mabigyan ng proteksyon. Sa pagkakaalam ko po, madami nang nage-evacuate ngayon at kailangan po nila ng tulong at pagkalinga mula sa gobyerno at mula sa iba’t iba pang mga grupo.

On his recent trip to Marawi

Actually, I was there nung Friday at nagbukas kami ng 508th Negosyo Center in Marawi. the first negosyo center in ARMM. Everybody was so hopeful na yung pagtulak ng pagnenegosyo, trabaho, could really lead to peace. Kaya talagang heartbreaking itong nangyayari na to.

Yung mga kasama namin na military, mga kasama namin na negosyante at local government officials, lahat nagsabi na itong pagtulak ng mas magagandang trabaho, mas magandang pagnenegosyo sa mga kapatid nating Muslim, will eventually lead to peace. So itong nangyayari ngayon, it’s really heartbreaking. Because the people there, want peace, want progress. Gusto nila ng magandang buhay para sa kanilang lugar.

Instead, ang nakukuha po nila, ay isang battle zone na hindi po tama at dapat po maitigil na.

Eto pong move of declaring Martial Law in Mindanao, meron naman pong constitutional processes dyan and we hope that these constitutional processes would be followed.

There’s a report that needs to be given to Senate and Congress and then meron pag sangayon o pag tutol po dyan na mangyayari. Right now we’re hearing reports from the AFP na under control na po yung situation. So kailangan nating i-assess ang lahat ng yun sa ating determination about Martial Law.

Q. Walang common stand ang minority, particularly LP dito sa declaration ng Martial Law?

Right now I think ang pinakamahalaga is masuportahan natin yung troops at matulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan. We don’t want to get into something political habang tuloy tuloy yung putukan.

At the end of the day, we have a constitutional process. Meron po tayong proseso sa ating constitution. Yung Martial Law po na dineclare nung 70s, iba na po yung Martial Law ngayon because meron na pong checks and balances na nakalaan sa ating constitution.

Yung mga karapatang pantao, di po yan nawawala, di po nawawala ang civilian courts, hindi po nasu-suspend ang writ of habeas corpus ng basta basta. We have a constitutional mandate.

But again, right now, yung pinakamahalaga po ngayon, ay matigil na tong firefighting, masugpo yung ating lawless elements at maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan.

I think before we get into politics, before we get into this legal ramifications, yun yung pinaka mahalaga at this point.

Yung atin pong mga kababayan dun, we’ve heard reports na mga eskwelahan, mga religious places ang tinatamaan. And people are in fear. Di sila makalabas sa kanilang mga bahay. We need to make sure that our countrymen are protected. Yun yung pangunahin po sa lahat at sinusportahan po natin ang ating armed forces.

Q. Okay ba na buong Mindanao for 60 days?

We want to know the reason for that. There have been news reports left and right but there will be an official reason once the report is provided to Congress and the Senate. Gusto po nating malaman kung bakit ganun yung scope. Gusto rin ho natin malaman kung ano po yung plano nila sa dami ng araw na ide-declare po ang Martial Law.

Again, it’s a little too soon in fact, I’m not even sure if the president is here already. Kung wala pa siya dito, so maga-assessment pa po yan. Magkaka-security briefing pa yan at magkaka-report.

Hopefully, by the time that he arrives, tapos na po yung situation. Because again, the AFP has said that they’re continuously gaining ground. As of this morning, nagsalita po ang AFP social media account na under control na po, may iilang lugar na lang na may sporadic gunfire. We’re hoping that in a few hours, masasabi po natin na ligtas na po ang Marawi at ligtas na po ang Lanao del Sur.

Ang reports po namin ay nage-evacuate na yung mga tao. There is a massive movement already happening. This can be checked. At palagay ko ang mahalaga nakaabang po ang gobyerno natin na tulungan sila. Kung meron pong lumilikas dahil po sa karahasan, dapat po handa ang gobyerno na tulungan sila at palagay ko naman gagawin naman yan.

So at this point, sila po yung pinakamahalaga. Mahalaga po na matigil yung putukan, mahalaga na ang AFP po natin masuportahan at mahalaga po na mabigyan ng tamang ayuda ang ating mga kababayan.

Sen. Bam: Set politics aside, ensure safety and welfare of civilians in Marawi City

Let’s put politics in the backburner and focus on ensuring the safety and welfare of civilians in Marawi City amid the conflict between government forces and Maute group. 

Sen. Bam Aquino made this call as he reiterated his support behind the military as it tries to quell the terrorist group and restore normalcy in the city.

“Right now, ang pinakamahalaga po ngayon ay matigil na itong bakbakan, masugpo ang teroristang grupo at maprotektahan ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam when asked about the declaration of Martial Law in Mindanao.

 Last week, Sen. Bam was in Marawi City to open the 508th Negosyo Center in the country and the first in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

 “Everybody was so hopeful na ang pagtulak ng pagnenegosyo at trabaho, could really lead to peace. Kaya talagang heartbreaking itong nangyayarin ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam said the military, businessmen and local government officials all agreed that strengthening business opportunities to our Muslim brothers will lead to peace.

 “Iyong mga kasama namin na militar, negosyante at local government officials, lahat nagsabi na ang pagtutulak ng mas magagandang trabaho at pagkakataong magnegosyo sa mga kapatid nating Muslim will eventually lead to peace,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Bicam to tackle free tuition in SUCs

The Senate and House will hold a bicameral conference committee tomorrow (Wednesday) to reconcile their respective versions of the measure that will provide free tuition fee in state colleges and universities (SUCs).

“We hope to finalize a version that will fulfill the intention of the measure to provide underprivileged students a chance to finish college and give them a better chance for a brighter future,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of Senate Bill No. 1304.

Once the bicameral conference approve the final version, it will be ratified by both Houses of Congress before transmitting to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature.

“Umaasa tayong maisasabatas ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapakinabangan na sa susunod na school year,” added Sen. Bam, who defended the measure in plenary debates and interpellation during his short stint as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Sen. Bam will be the co-chairman of the Senate delegation to the bicameral conference committee, together with new Committee on Education chairman Sen. Francis Escudero. Other members of the Senate panel are Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Ralph Recto.

 The measure aims to institutionalize free tuition in SUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree.

It will also streamline and strengthen all Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), making it available to students who want to pursue higher education in private institutions, as well as subsidizing other expenses of SUC students.

 “Sa pamamagitan nito, magkakaroon na ng katuparan ang hangaring mabigyan ng edukasyon ang lahat ng Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

 

Scroll to top