Month: May 2017

Sen. Bam: AI a threat to Philippine jobs

Is the government ready to address possible negative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on jobs in the country?

Sen. Bam Aquino has submitted Senate Resolution No. 344, to conduct an inquiry on the government’s plan and initiatives to maximize the benefits of developments in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

“We want to know how developments in Artificial Intelligence will affect jobs in the country and what government plans are to address possible negative impact on current and future employment for Filipinos,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

According to Sen. Bam, reports on the impact of artificial intelligence have noted an increased presence and capacity of Chatbots and the emergence of systems capable of referring questions to human operators and learning from their responses.

 “These systems use artificial intelligence and are capable of performing the tasks of human employees, putting their employment in peril,” said Sen. Bam.

 The International Labor Organization (ILO) also released a working paper in July 2016, claiming that 49 percent of all employment in the Philippines faces a high risk of automation in the next couple of decades.

“This early, we should be preparing for any eventuality that may occur when automation goes into full swing,” Sen. Bam said.

In his resolution, Sen. Bam noted that Artificial intelligence is one of the emerging technologies emphasized in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022, with the government engaging in more collaborative research and development activities and invest in infrastructure buildup.

 The Department of Science and Technology is tasked to develop an AI Program in thePhilippines, particularly to optimize mass production and effective operations in the country’s manufacturing sector.

 

Sen. Bam on CA vote on DENR Secretary Gina Lopez

Iyong LP senators nag-decide kami na suportahan si Sec. Lopez, kasama po sina Sens. Drilon, Recto at Pangilinan.  Unfortunately, natalo po kami sa boto at marami pong nag-decide na i-reject po siya.

 Kakaiba po ang nangyari dahil ang oposisyon pa ang sumuporta kay Sec. Lopez, parang baliktad.

Ayaw ko pong pag-usapan iyong mga hindi bumoto sa kanya dahil may sarili silang isyu. Pero para naman sa amin, even if we’re in the opposition, kung tingin naman namin ay makatutulong iyong tao at makabubuti sa ating bayan, bakit hindi natin susuportahan.

BIDA KA!: Sikretong piitan

Mga Bida, sa huling survey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS), lumabnaw ang pagtanggap ng ­publiko sa giyera ng pamahalaan kontra ilegal na droga.

Noong Disyembre 2016, nasa 77 porsiyento ng respondent ng SWS ang nagsabing sila’y kuntento sa nasabing kampanya ng gobyerno.

Paglipas ng tatlong buwan o noong Marso 2017, 66 porsiyento na lang ng mga Pilipino na sumusuporta sa laban kontra sa ipinagbabawal na gamot.

Hindi puwedeng biruin ng pamahalaan ang labing-isang puntos na pagbaba sa satisfaction ­rating. Bagaman marami pa ring sumusuporta sa giyera kontra ilegal na droga, kitang-kita na nababawasan na ang pagtanggap ng publiko rito.

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Isa sa maituturong dahilan ng pagbagsak ng satisfaction rating ng kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra ilegal na droga ay ang unti-unting pagkawala ng tiwala ng publiko sa ating kapulisan dahil sa ilang insidente ng pag-abuso sa tungkulin.

Noong Oktubre 2016, nadawit ang ilang pulis sa Angeles City sa pagdukot at pagpatay sa Koreanong negosyante na si Jee Ick Joo, na binigti sa loob mismo ng Camp Crame, ilang metro ang layo sa tanggapan ni PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa.

Sa salaysay ng ilang mga pulis na dawit sa pagpatay, ang unang impormasyon na ipinaabot sa kanila ay isang drug ­suspect ang Koreano at lehitimo ang kanilang gagawing paghuli­ rito.

Noong Nobyembre 2016, napatay ng ilang tauhan ng ­Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) sa ­Region 8 si Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa habang nakapiit­ sa Baybay provincial jail.

Nangyari ang pagpatay habang nagsisilbi ng search ­warrant ang mga pulis dahil may itinatago umanong baril ang ­alkalde sa kanyang selda. Ngunit lumitaw sa imbestigasyon na “rubout” ang nangyari at kinasuhan ang mga pulis na sangkot sa pagpatay.

 

Hindi pa rito kasama ang libu-libong kaso ng pagpatay na may kinalaman sa ilegal na droga ngunit kinategorya ng PNP bilang “deaths under investigation”.

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Kamakailan naman, isang lihim na selda ang natuklasan ng mga tauhan ng Commission on Human Rights (CHR) sa isang istasyon ng pulis sa Tondo, Manila.

Nang alisin ang book shelf, nagulat ang marami nang ­tumambad ang 12 katao na nagsisiksikan sa loob ng isang madilim at maduming piitan.

Sa pahayag ng pulisya, nahuli ang labindalawa sa magkakahiwalay na drug operation sa Tondo. Pero wala sa record ng pulisya ang kanilang pagkakaaresto at hindi pa rin sila nasasampahan ng anumang kaso.

Bintang naman ng ibang nakakulong, hiningian sila ng ­malaking halaga ng ilang mga pulis kapalit ng kanilang ­kalayaan.

Kaugnay nito, naghain ako ng isang resolusyon para ­imbestigahan ang natuklasang sikretong piitan sa Maynila.

Nais ng imbestigasyong ito na tiyaking hindi na mauulit pa ang pag-abusong nangyari sa loob mismo ng istasyon ng pulis at matiyak na protektado ang karapatan ng mga nakabilanggo sa mga pasilidad ng ating kapulisan.

Tandaan na hanggang hindi napatutunayang nagkasala­ ng hukuman, ang mga suspect sa kustodiya ng pulisya ay ­itinuturing pa ring inosente sa ilalim ng batas.

Umaasa tayo na ang sikretong piitan ay isa lamang isolated case. Kung mapatutunayang talamak na ang ganitong sistema sa ating mga istasyon ng pulis, napakatinding pag-abuso na iyan.

Natutuwa naman tayo at pumayag si Sen. Panfilo Lacson, chairman ng Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, na magsagawa ng pagdinig ukol sa isyu.

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Ilang beses na tayong nanawagan sa PNP na linisin ang kanilang hanay upang hindi mabahiran ng duda at takot ang kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra ilegal na droga.

Maganda ang layunin ng kampanyang ito ngunit nagiging negatibo sa mata ng publiko dahil sa pag-abuso ng kapulisan na siya dapat nagpapatupad ng batas at nagbibigay proteksiyon sa mamamayan.

Sa kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra droga, magandang katuwang ang kapulisan na malinis ang imahe. Kung ito ang susubukang abutin ng PNP, tiyak na makukuha nila ang buong suporta ng publiko.

Sen. Bam lauds House for passing measure on free internet in public spaces

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the House of Representatives for passing on third and final reading a measure that will establish free internet connection in public spaces.

“Ngayong nakalusot na sa Kamara ang panukala, inaasahan natin na ito’y maisasabatas sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, referring to House Bill No. 5225 or the “Free Public Wi-Fi Act”.

 “As an enabler for education and for business, we should explore all efforts to improve the internet infrastructure and provide Filipinos with fast, reliable internet connections,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act as principal sponsor and co-author. It was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via 18-0 vote.

 Sen. Bam’s fellow Tarlaqueno — Tarlac 2nd District Rep. Victor Yap – sponsored the measure as chairman of the House Committee on Information and Communications Technology.

The authors of the measure in the House include Reps. Gus Tambunting, Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Geraldine Roman, Sarah Jane Elago, Vilma Santos-Recto, Teddy Brawner Baguilat, Jr., Ann Hofer;

Henry Ong, Rose Marie Arenas, Aniceto Bertiz III, Jose Enrique Garcia III, Francis Gerald Abaya, Micaela Violago, Enrico Pineda, Maria Cristina Roa-Puno, Dakila Carlo Cua and Mariano Michael Velarde Jr.

 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.

 The measure also authorizes the DICT to cut red tape and streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of necessary equipment, in coordination with national government agencies and local government units.

 Meanwhile, Sen. Bam announced that his committee is scheduled to resume hearing on the national broadband plan next week.

Bam calls for probe on secret jail cell, urges PNP to clean up ranks

Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the operation of a secret jail cell discovered in a police station in Manila as he called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to clean up its ranks to bring legitimacy to the drug war.

“As the government’s enforcement arm in its war against illegal drugs, the PNP should safeguard the public’s trust by ensuring that abusive policemen are investigated and punished accordingly,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Resolution No. 348.

Sen. Bam stressed an upstanding police force must go hand-in-hand with the administration’s war against drugs to earn public trust.

 “Kailangan pangalagaan ng kapulisan ang tiwala ng publiko, lalo na dahil prayoridad and giyera kontra ilegal na droga. Hindi katanggap tanggap ang kahit anong pang-aabuso, gaya ng tagong selda na nadiskubre sa loob mismo ng istasyon ng pulis,” said Sen. Bam.

The secret jail cell was discovered by a team from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) inside the Raxabago Police Station in Tondo, Manila. The CHR found 12 persons inside the jail cell where they were detained for at least 10 days even without the filing of proper charges.

 The CHR also discovered that the arrests of the 12 detainees were not recorded. Also, families of the detainees claimed that elements of the Drug Enforcement Unit were asking for money, ranging from P40,000 to P100,000, in exchange for their release.

Sen. Bam said the probe is aimed at ensuring that the rights of those under custodial investigation or detention by the Philippine National Police (PNP) are protected.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the government not to treat with kid gloves erring policemen who were behind the secret jail cell, insisting that they should be held accountable for their actions.

“Hindi katanggap-tanggap ang ganitong pagmamalabis. Kailangan itong maimbestigahan at matigil,” said Sen. Bam.

If the PNP will not make the necessary steps to hold erring policemen accountable for their illegal acts, Sen. Bam said abuses such as the secret jail cell will continue and even flourish.

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