Month: November 2017

Sen. Bam: Balik Scientist Bill hurdles Senate on third and final reading

The Senate has passed on third and final reading a measure seeking to attract scientists and experts of Filipino descent residing overseas to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

Principally authored and sponsored by Sen. Bam, Senate Bill No. 1533 under Committee Report No. 143, or the Balik Scientist Bill, hurdled the third and final reading via a 13-0 vote.

 “This is a step towards improving the country’s research and development sector. We must support more initiatives to empower our scientists and researchers,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

 The measure aims to provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

 It seeks to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will help address development gaps in the Philippines.

 If enacted into law, Sen. Bam hopes that it will also address the lack of science professionals caused by the exodus of scientists and researchers to other countries.

 In a recent committee hearing spearheaded by Sen. Bam, it was revealed that the Philippines has 189 scientists per million, a far cry from the ideal ratio of 380 scientists per million.

Compared to other countries, the Philippines lags behind South Korea and United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million.

 A Balik Scientist is a science and technology expert or professional, as certified by the DOST, who is currently or who was formerly a Filipino citizen or a foreigner of Filipino descent, residing abroad, and contracted by the government to return and serve in the Philippines along his or her field of expertise under short, medium, or long term engagement.

Sen. Bam: No more taxes for micro businesses

Micro enterprises earning less than P250,000 annually will no longer be required to pay percentage taxes thanks to the amendment pushed by Sen. Bam Aquino on the proposed tax reform program.

 During the period of amendments on the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN), Sen. Bam pushed for an amendment that exempts micro enterprises earning below P250,000 from paying percentage tax, on top of their income tax exemption.

“Exempted na sa percentage tax ang mga fishball vendors, sari-sari store owners, pati ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda na kumikita ng 250,000 pesos or less sa isang taon,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, a former social entrepreneur and principal sponsor of the Go Negosyo Act.

“We moved for this amendment because we have received many reports that some micro businesses are being required to pay the 3% percentage tax,” Sen. Bam added.

 Sen. Bam said the amendment will ensure a tax-free status for our micro entrepreneurs and free them from harassment by tax agents, at no additional cost to the government. The senator also proposed to simplify bookkeeping records and requirements for micro businesses.

 Sen. Bam is thankful to Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, for accepting both these amendments in support of the micro enterprise sector.

 “Protektahan natin ang kita ng mga maliliit na negosyo at kabuhayan ng maraming pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this will help one million Filipinos or more.

 The Senate will continue to deliberate on the amendments to the TRAIN on Monday. “We will ensure that this amendment will make it to the end,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam fears whitewash at Customs

A senator expressed shock over the Department of Justice’s decision to clear Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials in connection with the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu into the country last May.

“Kakaiba iyan. Sa aming pagdinig sa Senado, kitang-kita na hindi mangyayari ang pagpasok ng droga sa bansa kung walang kasabwat sa loob ng BOC. It takes two to tango,” said Sen. Bam Aquino during a radio interview.

“Whether pinapasok iyan dahil kasangkot sila, o dahil sa corruption dahil nasilaw sila sa pera. Whatever the case, liable pa rin sila at kasama pa rin sila sa nagpasok ng droga sa bansa,” added the senator.

“Kakaiba ho iyan pero marami namang kakaiba sa DOJ ngayon,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam stressed that the draft report of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, headed by Sen. Richard Gordon, recommended that cases be filed against Customs officials, led by former commissioner Nicanor Faeldon.

Sen. Bam: Shield the poor from admin’s tax increases

How about the country’s poor?

 Senator Bam Aquino raised this question as he opposed moves to remove the earmarking provision of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), which is aimed at helping country’s poor cope with the expected increase in prices of goods and services brought about by the government’s proposed tax measure.

 “This tax measure will hit the poorest of our countrymen the hardest. It’s necessary on our part to have the earmarking and an effective cash transfer program para sa ating mahihirap na kababayan,” said Sen. Bam during the period of amendments for TRAIN.

 Earmarking allots parts of revenues generated from the tax measure to several priority programs, including financial assistance to the country’s poor through an unconditional cash transfer program to help them cope with the expected price increase once the measure is enacted into law.

 Based on computation, the country’s poor will be given a P300 monthly financial assistance for a certain period of time to help cover the increase in prices of basic goods due to additional tax on sugar beverages and petroleum. 

“Kailangan matiyak na mayroong makukuhang tulong kada buwan mula sa pamahalaan ang mga mahihirap na pamilya upang mabalanse ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin. Kung hindi natin gagawin iyan, we will be passing a measure which will hit our poorest countrymen the worst,” Sen. Bam stressed, adding that the Department of Finance itself presented the cash transfer program as the best solution to help the country’s poor cope with the increase in prices.

 During the period of amendments, Sen. Bam committed to present proposals on how to ensure that the welfare of the country’s poor will be protected under this tax reform program.

 “Kailangan nating isipin ang kapakanan ng mga kababayan nating mahihirap na siyang tatamaan nang husto sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Increase in taxes will hit poor Filipinos

Sen. Bam Aquino said the proposed tax reform measure would lead to higher prices of basic goods and other services if the government insists on passing it.

“Alam naman natin na ang pagtaas ng bilihin ay napakasakit sa bulsa ng maraming Pilipino,” Sen. Bam said in a radio interview.

But without the necessary number to block its passage, Sen. Bam said the minority could only work on easing the measure’s burden on the public.

“Kaya sinisikap naming siyasatin ang lahat ng probisyon. Ang binabantayan namin sa minority ay masiguro ang mga benepisyo sa tao, tulad ng pagkakaroon ng bagong bracketing sa personal income tax,” added Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.

“Para naman sa mahihirap nating kababayan, hindi dapat ipataw ang mga bagong tax na magpapataas ng presyo ng bilihin, tulad ng excise tax on fuel, hangga’t hindi nasisigurado ng gobyerno na magiging maayos ang unconditional cash transfer program,” Sen. Bam stressed.

“Kailangan matiyak na mayroong makukuhang tulong kada buwan mula sa pamahalaan ang mga mahihirap na pamilya upang mabalanse ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam assured that minority senators are working to ensure that the public will be able to bear the brunt of the proposed tax reform measure, especially with the expected rise in prices of basic commodities and other services.

“Sana mas maging aktibo ang taumbayan, na kung ayaw nating tumaas ang bilihin, dapat magsalita tayo. Dumulog tayo sa ating mga congressman at senador kasi masakit sa pamilyang Pilipino kapag nagkaroon ng pagtaas sa presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 697 that seeks to revise the current income tax bracket set by the National Internal Revenue Code, which was passed in 1997.

The measure seeks to amend Section 24 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, by adjusting the levels of net taxable income and simplifying the nominal tax rates for the purposes of computing the individual income tax. 

If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the measure effectively lowers the taxes on the 22-million Filipino working class.

Sen. Bam on the President’s invitation to China Telco players

Natutuwa tayo sa pagkilala ng Pangulo na kailangan nating pagandahin ang ating sektor ng telekomunikasyon sa pamamagitan ng kumpetisyon, subalit hindi tayo dapat malimita sa isang bansa lamang.

 Kung ang maliit na bansa gaya ng Singapore ay mayroong anim na players sa telco sector, dapat maging ganito rin kasigla ang kumpetisyon sa ating bansa.

Habang isinusulong natin noon ang Philippine Competition Act, nakatagpo tayo ng interes mula sa mga kumpanyang galing Japan at Korea na gustong pumasok sa ating industriya ng telco.

 Kahit ang maliliit nating local cable operators ay nais magsamasama upang makipagkumpitensya sa malalaking Telcos.

 Gawin nating madali para sa mga kumpanyang ito na makapasok sa merkado at tanggalin na ang red tape upang mapaganda ang serbisyo ng internet at bumaba ang presyo nito para sa mga Pilipino.

Sen. Bam: Free tuition in public universities and colleges starts this semester

Students of state universities and colleges (SUCs) all over the country will enjoy the benefits of Republic Act 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act earlier than expected.

In a radio interview, Sen. Bam Aquino announced that the 112 SUCs will not collect tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses from students starting this semester. Initially, the government said the law will be implemented starting the school year 2018-19.

Sen. Bam said he was informed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that no tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses will be collected from students this semester.

“Kahapon, kinumpirma ko na implemented na po ito this second semester. So lahat ng mag-e-enrol this second semester, dapat wala nang kinokolektang tuition at miscellaneous expenses,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

“Iyong mga staff natin at mga partners sa iba’t ibang lugar, tinitingnan na ang mga SUCs kung wala silang kokolektahing tuition at miscellaneous expenses,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also announced that lawmakers have allotted P40 billion in the 2018 national budget for the implementation of RA 10931 for school year 2018-19.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam encouraged students who failed to finish their college course to inquire with SUCs if they can go back to school and finish their studies for free.

“Natutuwa kami dahil ang batas na ito ay hindi lang para sa kasalukuyang naka-enroll pero sa mga nag-drop-out dahil puwede nilang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang pag-aaral nang libre,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

The law provides free education to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools. Aside from tuition fees, the government will shoulder miscellaneous and all other mandatory fees.

Scholarship grants will be made available to students of both public and private college and universities. It also provides a new and improved student loan program, where students can apply for financing for other education expenses.

In addition, students taking post-graduate studies can avail of the new and improved student loan program and scholarships under the law.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam grateful for Church’s leadership in fighting culture of violence

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the Catholic Church’s initiative to spearhead the call for a stop to killings, saying it’s the first and most important step in achieving much-needed healing to the country.

 “Natutuwa kami na nananawagan na ang Simbahan sa buong taumbayan na makiisa sa pagtigil ng mga patayang nangyayari,” said Sen. Bam after the “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” Holy Mass at the EDSA Shrine.

“Bilang mga Kristiyano, at bilang Pilipino, sumasang-ayon kami sa panawagan ng Simbahan na itigil na ang patayan at simulan na ang paghilom ng ating bayan,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam was one of the opposition figures who answered the Church’s call for the country’s healing. He also joined the procession to the People Power Monument (PPM) where a prayer for the country’s healing was also conducted.

 In his homily, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, stressed the need to end extrajudicial killings and fight the festering culture of violence in the country.

 “Stopping the killings is only one big step. The journey of healing for the values of our nation turned upside down will be a long journey still,” Archbishop Villegas said.

 “​Hindi ito ang Pilipinas, at hindi ganito ang Pilipino. Ang inaawit natin ay ​’​ang mamatay nang dahil sa ‘yo’,​ hindi ​’​ang pumatay ng dahil sa ‘yo'”​, he added.

 Thousands of people from different walks of life attended the Holy Mass and joined the procession to the PPM with the image of the Our Lady of Fatima.

 The “Lord Heal Our Land Sunday” ushers in the start of a 33-day period of church activities for the continued healing of the nation, where the CBCP urged Filipinos to pray the Prayer of Saint John Paul II and the Holy Rosary for the country and for the souls of all those killed.

 The 33-day period will end on December 8, in time for the feast of the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of the Philippines.

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