Month: May 2017

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyong techie

Mga kanegosyo, isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit isinusulong ko ang libreng internet sa mga pampublikong lugar sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa ay puwede itong pagkunan ng trabaho at pagsimulan ng negosyo.

Kapag naratipikahan ng dalawang sangay ng Kongreso ang pinal na bersiyon ng panukala, pirma na lang ni Pangulong Duterte ang kailangan upang ito’y ma­ging batas.

Kapag mayroong internet ang isang Pilipino, naririyan ang oportunidad para makakita ng hanapbuhay, makapagsimula ng online business o iba pang negosyo na may kinalaman sa teknolohiya.

Ganito ang nangyari kina Gian Javelona ng OrangeApps Inc. at Juan Miguel ‘JM’ Alvarez ng Potatocodes, dalawang technopreneur o negosyante na gumagamit ng teknolohiya sa kanilang negosyo.

Masuwerte tayo at nakasama natin sila sa prog­ramang ‘Go Negosyo sa Radyo’ noong Miyerkules kung saan ibinahagi nila ang kuwento ng kanilang tagumpay.

Sa kuwento ni JM, sinimulan niya ang Potatocodes noong 2014 sa edad na 20-anyos. Isa sa mga hamon na kanyang naranasan ay ang kawalan ng karanasan. Ngunit naisipan pa rin niyang gumawa ng mobile app sa sariling pagsisikap at pag-aaral.

Nagbunga naman ang pagtitiyaga ni JM dahil nakabuo siya ng app matapos ang isang buwang pag-aaral. Isa sa mga mobile app na na-develop niya ay ang FormsPH, na kanyang ipinamamahagi nang libre at ngayo’y may 15,000 downloads na.

Ayon kay JM, ginawa niyang libre ang Forms­PH bilang mensahe sa mga kapwa millenials na gumawa ng solusyon sa halip na magreklamo nang magreklamo. Ngayon, nakatutok ang serbisyo ng Potatocodes sa paggawa ng website.

Para kay JM, hindi dapat isipin ang kabiguan at hindi rin dapat gamiting dahilan ang kakulangan ng kaalaman para hindi maabot ang isang bagay.

***

 

Sa parte naman ni Gian, sinimulan niya ang OrangeApps gamit lang ang laptop at cellphone. Ayon kay Gian, naisip­an niyang simulan ang kompanya at gumawa ng app para sa enrollment matapos pumila ng tatlo hangggang apat na oras para maka-enroll.

Nagdisenyo siya ng app gamit ang website at mobile kung saan mapapatakbo ng isang paaralan ang operasyon nito sa online enrollment, tuition fee monitoring, at schedule ng mga klase.

Isa sa mga naging hamon sa pagsisimula niya ay kung paano makukuha ang tiwala ng mga paaralan na gumawa ng app para sa kanila. Unang nagtiwala kay Gian ay ang Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) hanggang sa ito’y nasundan pa ng iba pang unibersidad.

Nang tanungin kung bakit ito ang napili niyang pangalan sa kompanya, sinabi ni Gian na “kung may Apple, gusto ko magkaroon ng Orange”.

Ayon kay Gian, ang pangunahing nagtulak sa kanya para simulan ang kompanya ay ang pagnanais na mapabuti ang sistema.

Para kay Gian, mas mabuting unahin muna ang pangarap dahil susunod na rito ang kita.

Nagsisilbi ring inspirasyon ni Gian ang pagkakataong makapagbigay ng trabaho sa mas maraming tao sa pamamagitan ng kanyang kompanya.

***

Mga kanegosyo, ano ang pagkakatulad nina Gian at JM? Pareho silang nag­hanap ng solusyon sa mga problema na kanilang naranasan at kinaharap.

Maliban pa rito, pareho rin silang natuto sa panonood ng YouTube kung paano mag-code o mag-program. Si JM, inabot lang ng isang buwan para matutong gumawa ng app.

Ito ang tatak ng isang entrepreneur. Naghaha­nap ng so­lusyon sa mga problema at nagbibigay ng sagot sa mga panga­ngailangan sa kanyang kapaligiran.

Sa paghahanap nila ng solusyon sa problema, nakapagsimula sila ng negosyo na parehong nagdala sa kanila tungo sa tagumpay.

CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH: SENATE BILL NO. 1459 OR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

SENATE BILL NO. 1459 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 86

PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

 

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, May 22, 2016

 

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

 It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor Senate Bill No. 354, under Committee Report No. 86, entitled Strengthening The Secured Transactions Legal Framework In The Philippines, Which Shall Provide For The Creation, Perfection, Determination Of Priority, Establishment Of A Centralized Notice Registry, And Enforcement Of Security Interests In Personal Property, And For Other Purposes – it is otherwise known as the Personal Property Security Act.

But before I delve into the bill, Mr. President, I would like to share some trivia about basketball superstar, LeBron James, in the wake of today’s loss.

Alam niyo ba, Mr. President, na noong high school pa lang si LeBron, nais siyang regaluhan ng ina ng mamahaling sasakyan na Hummer para sa kanyang ika-18 taong kaarawan.

Ang problema? Ang Hummer ay nagkakahalaga ng $50,000 at walang pambili si Mommy Gloria.

Dahil walang pambili, lumapit si Gloria James sa isang bangko sa Ohio at nangutang.

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, ang ginamit niyang collateral ay ang future earnings ng kaniyang anak kung siya’y maging NBA player!

 Kapag napasok na raw si LeBron sa NBA, milyun-milyon ang kikitain niya.

 Ang kagulat-gulat dito, tinanggap ng bangko ang collateral!

Ang tinignan nila ay ang talento ni LeBron at ang posibilidad na ito’y magiging NBA player. 

Ang ending ay win-win-win! Gloria James got her loan. LeBron got a Hummer. And the bank was paid back with interest.

 Mr. President, this would not have happened in the Philippines.

 Currently, it is land and real property that banks consider to be the most favored form of collateral – and this is not just because of its value.

 Financial institutions see land and real estate as low-risk because it is easy to ascertain that the piece of land has not been used as collateral for any other loan.

 But with lenders fixated on real property, they miss out on the opportunity to provide loans to a broader groups of MSMEs and farmers.

Consequently, many of our countrymen have a very difficult time accessing loans from banks and result to borrowing from friends and family or, worse, resorting to informal loans like the 5/6 system with exorbitant interest rates.

This is particularly heartbreaking for micro, small and medium enterprises, Mr. President.

Friends and colleagues, sa aking pag-iikot, ang laging tanong sa akin ng mga nagnenegosyo ay, “Sen. Bam, saan po ako makaka-utang na mababa lang ang interes?”

Sayang, Mr. President!

Many of our small businesses have so much potential – potential for success and potential to lift families out of poverty.

 Mr. President, we need to address our MSME’s lack of access to loans.

The Personal Property Security Act is one of our remedies.

This measure will encourage financial institutions to lend to more Filipinos by, one, expanding what banks consider as acceptable collateral and, two, reducing the risks associated to movable collaterals.

 First, this measure will broaden the utilization of movable assets like bank accounts, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, vehicles, agricultural products, and even intellectual property rights.

Imagine a farmer using his livestock or a craftsman using a contract for a bulk order as collateral for a loan.

But, Mr. President, we already recognize a diverse set of movable assets acceptable as collateral for loan purposes, like motor vehicles, equipment, and standing crops, such as rice or sugarcane.

 The major challenge of this measure, and those tasked to implement it would be to reduce the risk of accepting movable collaterals through an efficient, comprehensive, and centralized registry.

The Personal Property Security Act pursues the design, establishment, and operation of a unified, centralized, online notice-based national collateral registry to assure banks that the collateral being submitted has not been utilized for another loan.

Mr. President, this is not new. In other countries, a simple but effective registry have boosted financing for their local entrepreneurs.

In Mexico, the creation of a national Accounts Receivable Finance Platform by the government’s development bank supported at least 130,000 SMEs through accounts receivable financing.

In China, loans with movable assets as collateral now amount to 3 trillion US dollars per year.

 Mr. President, access to a centralized repository of information for movable assets will encourage financial institutions to lend to our MSMEs and may even speed up the loan application process.

With the Personal Property Security, our financial institutions increase their income by issuing more loans, Filipinos will have better access to lower-interest loans, and more Filipino families can grow their business and livelihood for a brighter future.

 Mr. President, the Personal Property Security Act seeks to replicate this win-win-win scenario for the James family in Ohio – not to help parents purchase luxury vehicles for their children – but to help parents provide a better life, better future for their children through sustained livelihood.

 With access to financing, a sari-sari store can grow into a convenience store and Pera Padala center.

 With access to financing, a farmer or agri-preneur can purchase equipment to boost production and develop his produce.

 With access to financing, a small bakery can endeavor to supply to a string of coffee shops and supermarkets.

Mr. President, aking mga kagalang-galang na kapwa senador, ipasa po natin ang Secured Transactions Act at suportahan po natin ang mga maliliit na negosyanteng Pilipino na magtagumpay at umasenso ang buhay!

Maraming salamat po!

Sen. Bam to anti-death penalty advocates: Convince pro-death penalty Filipinos to change view

Sen. Bam Aquino challenged anti-death penalty advocates to work hard in persuading 60 percent of pro-death penalty Filipinos that its revival will not solve the country’s pressing problems and will only lead to injustice to the poor.

 “Challenge po ito sa ating lahat. We have a lot of work to do para makumbinse ang 60 percent ng ating kababayan na mali ang death penalty,” said Sen. Bam during the “Lakbay Buhay Laban sa Death Penalty” program at the University of Sto. Tomas.

 Sen. Bam was referring to the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, showing that 60 percent of Filipinos support the government’s move to revive the death penalty as deterrent to crime.

However, Sen. Bam contradicted this view, saying in the end, only the poor will suffer from injustice due to lack of capability to defend themselves in court.

 With the death penalty yet to hurdle the committee level in the Senate, Sen. Bam said there is enough time for those against it to conduct more marches and activities to educate Filipinos about the truth on the capital punishment.

“Mahaba-haba pa po ito. Kailangan handa tayo hindi lang sa isang martsa kundi sa marami pang martsa. Kailangang handa tayong kausapin ang ating mahal sa buhay at ipaliwanag sa kanila kung bakit tayo naninindigan sa isyung ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Hindi po sapat na kumbinsihin lang natin ang ating mga mambabatas. Kailangan ang taumbayan ang kumbinsihin natin,” he added.

 The Lakbay Buhay is a 21-day cross-country march led by anti-death penalty advocates to educate communities on why the revival of the death penalty must be stopped. The tour started May 4 in Cagayan de Oro and it will end May 24 at the Senate where they will call on senators to prevent the restoration of death penalty.

Sen. Bam is a staunch advocate against death penalty in the Senate. He has committed to vote against its reimposition, together with other senators.

 “Kapag tayo’y sabay-sabay na gumagalaw, sa ilalim ng pagmamahal sa bayan at sa Diyos, tiwala akong makakamit natin ang sapat na numero sa Senado upang hindi maibalik ang death penalty,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam opens ARMM’s first Negosyo Center in Marawi City, now over 500 nationwide

The first Negosyo Center in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been inaugurated in Marawi City, giving entrepreneurs in the city and nearby areas a reliable ally in helping them start and develop their business.

“Ngayong mayroon na tayong Negosyo Center sa Marawi City, inaasahan na natin ang paglago ng negosyo sa siyudad at sa mga kalapit pang bayan,” said Sen. Bam, who led the inauguration together with DTI and local officials, headed by Lanao del Sur vice governor Bombit Adiong.

The Marawi City Negosyo Center is the 508th Negosyo Center established since the passage of Republic Act No. 10644 in 2014. It is located at TLDC Building, Lanao People’s Park in Marawi City.

“Matagal na naming tinatrabaho ito with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) kaya natutuwa tayong ito’y naging isa nang katuparan,” added Sen. Bam, principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in the Senate. It was the first of 17 laws passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress.

Vice governor Adiong expects the Negosyo Center will help local products flourish, not just in nearby markets, but also in the national stage.

Local officials and the military said the Negosyo Center can also boost local economy, which will ultimately pave way for peace in the area.

Before attending the Marawi City Negosyo Center inauguration, Sen. Bam visited the Negosyo Center situated at the MSU Iligan Institute of Technology.

During his visit, Sen. Bam witnessed how the Negosyo Center’s digital fabrication laboratory or FabLab helps entrepreneurs in creating designs for their products. Sen. Bam also interacted with Iligan City entrepreneurs, who are regular clients of the Negosyo Center.

“Ito pong pag-iikot natin ay upang matiyak na nabibigyan ng Negosyo Center ng karampatang serbisyo at tulong ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa,” said Sen. Bam.

The Go Negosyo Act mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

The Negosyo Center will provide access to markets and financing for businesses, training programs, and a simplified business registration process, thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Be transparent on foreign policy direction

A senator called on the government to be transparent and clear on its independent foreign policy direction, especially in dealings with other countries in terms of aids and loans, and its position regarding the militarization of Philippine territories.

 “Kailangang maging malinaw ang pamahalaan sa taumbayan ukol sa direksiyon nito sa foreign policy.  Filipinos deserve to know dahil sila ang direktang maaapektuhan, lalo na sa trabaho, negosyo at presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Sa takbo ng mga pangyayari, mukhang Palasyo lang ang nakakaalam ng mga detalye sa direkisyon na nais nilang tahakin. Kailangan nila itong isapubliko para sa kaalaman ng taumbayan,” the senator added.

 The lawmaker issued the pronouncement after the government announced that it will no longer accept development aid from the European Union (EU). The move will result in the loss of around 250 million Euros or P13.9 billion worth of grants mostly allocated to Muslim communities.

“The administration’s refusal to receive aid seems like a contradictory move to its proposal to raise taxes. If we are refusing aid because we are self-sufficient, why are we then planning to burden our countrymen with more taxes that might raise prices of goods even higher,” he added.

In addition, a report surfaced recently that China has installed rockets on the disputed Kagitingan or Fiery Cross Reef, which is being disputed by China, Vietnam and the Philippines.

 “Dapat nating malaman ang opisyal na posisyon at mga gagawing hakbang ng pamahalaan upang mapigil ang mga ganitong pagkilos sa mga isla na itinuturing nating bahagi ng ating bansa,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Last year, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues.

It was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, then headed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, but no hearing is held until now. Cayetano will assume the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) portfolio in the coming days after he was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) last Wednesday.

BIDA KA!: Internet for all

Mga Bida, napakahalaga na ng papel ng internet sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

Ginagamit ang internet sa pag-aaral ng mga estudyante, sa paghahanap ng trabaho, pagpapakilala ng mga maliliit na negosyante sa kanilang mga produkto online at sa pakikipag-usap sa ating mga mahal sa buhay na nasa malayong lugar.

Kaya isinulong natin ang panukalang Free Internet in Public Places Act, bilang chairman ng Committee on Science and Technology, upang matugunan ang pangangailangang ito ng ating mga kababayan nang hindi na kailangang gumastos para lang makakonek sa internet.

Kabilang sa mga lugar na lalagyan ng libreng internet ang mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan at mga pampublikong paaralan, transport terminals, ospital at library.

Noong Lunes, naaprubahan na sa bicameral conference committee ang pinal na bersiyon ng panukala. Matapos ratipikahan ng dalawang sangay ng Kongreso, ipadadala na ito sa Malacañang para sa pirma ni Pangulong Duterte.

***

Sa bicameral conference committee, naatasan ang Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) na bilisan na ang programa sa lalong madaling panahon para mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kababayan.

Napag-usapan na mamadaliin ng DICT ang mga lugar na mayroon nang imprastruktura ng internet ngayong taon at sa susunod na taon.

Ngunit inamin ng DICT na matatagalan pa ang paglalatag nito sa mga lugar na kulang pa sa imprastruktura.

Dalawa ang naisip na paraan upang masolusyunan ang problemang ito. Una, ay ang pagpapalakas ng kumpetisyon sa merkado.

 

Magagawa ito sa pamamagitan ng pagkumbinse sa iba pang telcos na pumasok sa merkado at makipagsabayan sa mga higanteng internet service providers.

Sa ganitong sitwasyon, lalakas ang kumpetisyon sa merkado at magkakaroon ng tagisan ang mga telcos pagdating sa pagandahan ng serbisyo at pababaan ng presyo. Resulta, gaganda ang kalidad ng internet sa presyong abot-kaya ng publiko.

Ikalawang solusyon ay ang pagtatayo ng gobyerno ng sarili nitong imprastruktura, lalo na sa malalayong lugar na hindi naaabot ng koneksiyon ng internet, sa pamamagitan ng National Broadband Plan (NBP).

Suportado natin ang programang ito subalit aabutin pa ng tatlong taon upang ito’y mailatag at makumpleto.

***

Isa sa mga probisyong inilagay sa Free Internet in Public Places Act ay ang pagpapadali ng proseso sa pagkuha ng permit sa pagpapatayo ng telco ng cell site at iba pang imprastruktura ng internet.

Madalas kasing reklamo ng telcos, inaagiw at inaabot ng siyam-siyam ang pagkuha ng permit, lalo na sa local government units, kaya nauudlot ang plano nilang maglagay ng dagdag na imprastruktura para mapaganda ang kanilang serbisyo. Sa ilalim ng Free Internet in Public Places Act, matutugunan na ang reklamong ito dahil pitong araw lang ang kailangan sa proseso sa pagkuha ng permit sa local government units (LGU) para sa cell site, tower at iba pang kailangang imprastruktura para mapalakas ang internet.

***

Mga Bida, sa probisyong ito ng Free Internet in Public Places Act, wala nang puwedeng idahilan ang mga telco para hindi mapaganda ang kanilang serbisyo.

Wala na silang puwedeng palusot dahil mas mabilis na ang paglalatag nila ng kailangang imprastruktura para sa mas mabilis at murang internet.

Kapag ito’y naisakatuparan kasabay ng kumpletong implementasyon ng NBP, maraming Pilipino ang makikinabang sa libre at de-kalidad na koneksiyon sa internet sa mga pampublikong lugar sa buong bansa.

Sen. Bam: Is the Philippines ready for cyberattacks?

A senator has filed a resolution to determine if the Philippines is ready for cyberattacks after the recent global ransomware cyberattacks that infiltrated computers in 150 countries around the world.

“We want to hear from the experts from government and also from our Pinoy tech firms on whether our country is prepared for these cyberattacks and what should be done prevent them,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Resolution No. 381.

“Cyberattacks are a real threat to Filipinos. We need to make sure that bank accounts, online passwords, personal information, and both private and public information systems are protected,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

According to news reports, the cyberattack used the program “WanaCryptor 2.0 or WannaCry” to infiltrate at least 300,000 machines all over the world. The program locks and encrypts the computer files or ransom. If unpaid, the ransom increases over time until the end of a countdown, when all the files are destroyed.

 Among the major victims are delivery giant FedEx, the National Health Service of Britain, Russia’s Interior Ministry and several universities in China.

 While there is no reported Ransomware attack in the Philippines, Sen. Bam wants to ensure that private information of Filipinos, as well as online systems and services, are secure.

 “Hindi tayo dapat magkumpiyansa. Kailangan nating masiguro na ang bansa ay handa sa posibleng mangyari upang hindi maapektuhan ang ating sistema sa anumang pag-atake,” said Sen. Bam.

 The resolution also aims to look into the implementation of the National Cybersecurity Plan 2022, which was unveiled this month by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

 The National Cybersecurity Plan, among other things, seeks to establish the National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) to enable the government to swiftly respond and recover from cyberattacks.

 Sen. Bam has been pushing for the improvement of internet quality in the country and is the principal sponsor and co-author of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act in the Senate, which is expected to become law soon.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Umasenso sa basura

Mga kanegosyo, pa­milyar ba kayo sa kasa­bihang ‘may pera sa basura’?

Nagkatotoo ang kasa­bihang ito kay Aling Pamfila Menor Mariquina, na tubong Boac, Marinduque.

Ang pagbili ng mga babasagin at plastic na bote at iba pang kalat ng mga kapitbahay ang na­ging tulay ni Aling Pam­fila tungo sa tagumpay.

***

Isinilang si Aling Pamfila sa Boac noong Hunyo 29, 1955. Sa batang edad, natuto na si Aling Pamfila na maghanap-buhay.

Sinasabayan ni Aling Pamfila ang pag-aaral ng pagtitinda ng kakanin sa kanilang lugar upang may maipambaon at makatulong sa gastusin sa bahay.

Dahil sa hirap, elementarya lang ang natapos ni Aling Pamfila at napilitan nang tumi­gil sa pag-aaral. Nana­tili na lang siya sa bahay upang tumulong sa mga ­gawain. Kung minsan, naglalako siya ng kakanin para may maidag­dag sa kanilang panga­ngailangan.

Nang tumuntong siya sa edad na 15, ­lumuwas si Aling Pamfila sa Maynila upang mamasukan bilang katulong. Kahit sanay sa gawaing bahay, nahirapan pa rin si Aling Pamfila dahil malayo sa pamilya.

Matapos ang ilang buwan, lumipat si Aling Pamfila sa Tanay at doon namasukan bilang alalay ng dentista.

Nang makaipon, nagbalik si Aling Pamfila sa Marinduque at nagtayo ng maliit na sari-sari store sa kanilang lugar.

 

Ngunit nagkaproblema si Aling Pamfila dahil sa halip na makabenta, puro utang ang ­ginawa ng kanyang mga kapitbahay. Dahil walang maibayad ang mga nangutang, agad ding nagsara ang kanyang munting negosyo.

 ***

Noong 1987, muling nagpasya si Aling Pamfila na subukang muli ang pagnenegosyo upang makatulong sa asawa sa gastos sa bahay at apat nilang anak.

Gamit ang isandaang pisong puhunan, nagsi­mula siyang magbenta ng sigarilyo, palamig, at biskwit. Unti-unti niyang inipon ang kinita hanggang sa makapagtayo muli ng sari-sari store.

Noong 1998, nakilala ni Aling Pamfila ang CARD. Noong una’y ayaw siyang pasalihin ng asawa ngunit nang ipaliwanag niya ang mga benepisyo at oportunidad na maaaring ibigay ng CARD, naintindihan ito ng mister at pinayagan na siyang sumali.

Naging masaya at makabuluhan para kay Aling Pamfila ang pagsali sa CARD dahil hindi lamang pinansiyal na tulong ang naibigay sa kanya nito kundi pati determinasyon na mapaunlad pa ang negosyo.

Ginamit ni Aling Pamfila ang nautang na P3,000 sa CARD bilang pandagdag sa kanyang tindahan. Inipon niya ang kita ng tindahan at ipi­nambili ng ilang baboy.

Noong 2006, naisipan ni Aling Pamfila na magsimula ng isang junk shop sa kanilang lugar dahil nakita niya na madali itong pagkakitaan at maraming kapitbahay niya ang makikinabang.

Ginamit niya ang pe­rang ipinahiram ng CARD bilang pambili ng kala­kal. Kasabay ng ­paglago ng kanyang negosyo, tumaas din ang panga­ngailangan ni Aling Pamfila sa kapi­tal, na agad namang ipi­nagkaloob sa kanya ng CARD nang walang anumang kola­teral.

Sa tulong ng kanyang negosyo, nakapagpagawa rin si Aling ­Pamfila ng dalawang boarding house at nakapagpundar ng rental business kung saan nagpapaupa siya ng videoke, upuan, at mesa para sa mahahalagang okasyon.

Nakabili siya ng ma­raming lupa sa kanilang lugar na may mga tanim na niyog at napatapos ang apat niyang anak sa kolehiyo.

Sa kasalukuyan, hinu­hubog ni Aling ­Pamfila ang kanyang mga anak sa pagpapatakbo ng kani­lang negosyo, sa tulong na rin ng mga seminar na ibinibigay ng CARD.

***

Itinuturing na pinakamalaking microfinance institution sa bansa, nagpapautang ang CARD-MRI ng puhunan sa mga nais magsimula ng negos­yo nang walang kolateral at sa mababang interes.

Mayroon na ­silang iba’t ibang sangay sa Pili­pinas, na ­makikita sa kanilang ­website na www.cardmri.com at ­www.cardbankph.com.

***

Ang Republic Act No. 10644 o Go Negosyo Act ang kauna-una­hang kong batas bilang senador noong 16th Congress. Layunin nito na maglagay ng Negosyo Center sa bawat munisipalidad, siyudad at lalawigan sa buong bansa.

Upang malaman ang pinakamalapit na Negosyo Center sa inyong lugar, magtungo sa https://www.bamaquino.com/gonegosyoact/negosyo-center-tracker/.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t, private sector no more excuses for poor Internet quality

With the imminent passage of the Free Internet in Public Places Act, the implementation of the Philippine Competition Act and the proposed National Broadband Plan (NBP), the government and the private sector will have the necessary platform to improve the country’s internet quality and access.

“We’re breaking down barriers to improving the Internet through our policies. Now, the ball is in the executive and private sector’s court,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. He also pushed the measure in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author.

 “Our hearings have exposed the lack of infrastructure that we have. So we’re reducing red tape for the private sector and we’re also allotting the necessary budget para ang gobyerno mismo ang mamuhunan sa internet infrastructure sa ibang lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator said the challenge of implementation now falls on the shoulders of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the private sector.

“The DICT needs two-and-a-half years for the NBP while the sector needs to be opened up to new players to strengthen competition in the market,” said Sen. Bam.

The final version of the Free Internet in Public Places Act has been approved by the bicameral conference committee. After the final version is ratified by both houses of Congress, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’ signature.

 Sen. Bam also believes that the Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act will encourage the entry of more players in the telecommunications industry, leading to improved Internet service at affordable prices.

“The Philippine Competition Act will usher in such competition for the benefit of Filipino consumers for the long term,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act

 If finished quickly, the NBP can hasten the rollout of the implementation of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. It will be put up starting 2018 and expected to be fully operational by 2020.

Sen. Bam: Youth Entrepreneurship Act implementation long overdue

A legislator called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the law encouraging students and graduates to venture into business.
 
“Nananawagan tayo sa Department of Education na ilabas na ang Implementing Rules and Regulations para sa Youth Entrepreneurship Act upang mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kabataan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
The Youth Entrepreneurship Act or Republic Act No. 10679 was passed August 2015 but no IRR has been released. The law mandates that the IRR be promulgated within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity.
 
The law encourages young would-be entrepreneurs to establish their own business by providing them access to capital and other support.
 
It also creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inculcate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.
 
“Gusto nating makakita ng trabaho ang ating mga graduates ngunit mayroon din silang opsiyon na pumasok at magtagumpay sa pagnenegosyo. Matutulungan sana ang ating kabataang magtagumpay sa negosyo kung ma-implement ng maayos ang iilang mga batas na ating isinulong noong 16th Congress,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam was the author and principal sponsor of the Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act 10667), his first law in the 16th Congress, and the co-author and principal sponsor of the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
 
The senator pursued the passage of these two laws during his time as chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress to cater to the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
 
“These two laws provide MSMEs a conducive environment they need to succeed. At the same time, they also help provide fresh jobs and other livelihood opportunities for their fellow Filipinos,” stressed Sen. Bam, adding that MSMEs account for 66 percent of jobs in the country.
 
At present, Sen. Bam said 470 Negosyo Centers are already up and running in different parts of the country, catering to the needs of MSMEs.
 
In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 169 or Small Business Tax Reform Act, which provides small businesses with lower income tax rate, VAT exemption and other privileges.
 
Sen. Bam has also submitted Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act seeking to ease restrictions and provide incentives for startups in the Philippines.
Scroll to top