Month: May 2018

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech On rising prices and the suspension of TRAIN

Mr. President, mga kaibigan, karangalan ko po ngayon na pagusapan ang isang bagay na nakakabagabag sa maraming pamilyang Pilipino –  ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

Nalulunod na po ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

Noong kami ay bumisita sa mahihirap na komunidad at kinausap ang ating mga kababayan tungkol sa kanilang mga hinaing, ang una po nilang lagging binabanggit ay ang presyo.

Ito ang ilan sa sinasabi nila:

Grabe na nga ang hirap at gutom dati, mas grabe pa ngayon. Saan na po kami pupulutin?

Mababa ang kita. Mataas ang presyo. Matindi ang aming pangamba.

Dalawang beses na lang po kami kumakain araw-araw.

Iyong mga may kaya, kakayanin ang pagtaas ng presyo. Pero kaming mahihirap, hindi po naming ito kaya.

Nahihirapan na po ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan.

Kahapon lang po, tumaas na naman ang presyo ng petrolyo.

In the past months, makikita ho natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gasoline, diesel at kerosene.

Sa Robinson’s Supermarket, ang Ligo Sardines na 14 pesos noong Disyembre, 16 pesos at 25 centavos na ngayon.

Ang mga nanay na nakausap ko sa Bagong Silang, hindi na po nakapagta-Tang!… kundi napapamura na lang sa presyo ng Tang. Dati ay 9.10 pesos per sachet, pero ngayong Mayo ay malapit na po sa 17 pesos sa grocery.

Tumataas din ang presyo ng kuryente, ang presyo ng bigas, at humihingi na ng fare hike ang mga jeepney drivers at operators, pati na ang LRT.

Kaya naman po napakarami na ang umaalma.

Currently, inflation is on the rise and has surpassed the expected levels for 2018. Ngayon po ay 4.5% na tayo at ang yearly forecast ng BSP ginawa na pong 4.6% para sa buong taon.

Mr. President, marami ang nagsasabi na hindi lang naman TRAIN ang rason sa pagtaas na presyo, at tama po iyon.

Ngunit alin po ba sa mga rason ng pagtaas ng presyo ang kaya natin bigyan ng solusyon at alin po diyan ang hindi natin masosolusyunan?

Sa hearing ni Sen. Gatchalian dito sa Senado noong nakaraang mga linggo, binigay ng Department of Finance (DOF) ang breakdown of factors of inflation.

Sabi po nila, better tobacco compliance, global prices of crude oil, the devaluation of the peso, meron pong unwarranted increase of prices, and, syempre po binanggit din nila ang TRAIN Law.

Alin sa mga ito ang wala na sa ating kamay, at alin po dito ang mahahanapan natin ng solusyon?

Habang patuloy ang debate sa mga rason ng pagtaas ng presyo, ang hinahanap ng taumbayan solusyon, hindi po dahilan. Hindi po debate, solusyon po para sa ating mga problema.

Kaya mga kaibigan, kailangan natin itong aksyunan.

Una, siguraduhin nating ipinapatupad ang unconditional cash transfer program na nakasaad sa TRAIN Law.

Because of TRAIN’s effect on prices, the law mandated that 10 million Filipino households would receive financial assistance worth 200 pesos per month.

Tumaas na po ang presyo ng bilihin ngunit 2.6 million families pa lang ang nakakatanggap ng financial assistance. 2.6 million out of 10 million pa lang ang nabibigyan ng tulong at ngayon po ay Mayo na.

Noon pa man, hindi po mapangako ng DSWD na masasabay ang tulong pinansyal sa pagpataw ng excise taxes at ito ang naging pangunahing rason kung bakit ako tumutol ng TRAIN Law.

Now, with the rapid increase in prices, Sen. Gatchalian suggested to increase the amount of cash transfers – and I definitely agree and I think many of us will do so as well.

This is something we must seriously look at during our budget deliberations.

Ano po ang isang bagay na puwede nating maaksiyunan. The second thing government can do to help Filipino families is to address the high price of rice.

Dahil po sa kapalpakan ng NFA na mapanatili ang 15-day buffer stock, mula 27 pesos per kilo ng bigas noon, ngayon ay higit 42 pesos na.

Noong bumisita ako sa Barangay Holy Spirit sa Quezon City, may nagsabi na isang beses na lang sila nagkakain bawat araw, at kamote na lang ang sinasabay nila sa ulam tuwing gabi.

Thanks to Sen. Villar, we tackled this in the Senate, thanks to Sen. Villar. And we are hopeful that action points coming from the Committee on Agriculture to get the price of rice under control will be prioritized.

Ito pong rice tariffication na shunestiyon ng Committee on Agriculture, kailangan na pong mabigyan ng pansin because this is a reform that our countrymen desperately need.

Pangatlo, ano po ang isa pang puwede nating solusyon sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin? Kailangan natin ng mekanismo kung saan puwede nating i-roll-back ang pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo dahil sa excise taxes na pinapataw ng TRAIN Law.

The current version has a safeguard to suspend any additional imposition of excise tax, if the price of crude oil breaches 80 dollars per barrel.

Ang mekanismo pong ito ay mahahanap natin sa TRAIN Law ngayon. Ngunit mga kaibigan, ang crude oil ay may iba’t ibang klaseng depinisyon. Nandiyan ang BRENT crude oil na lumampas na po sa 80 dollars per barrel kahapon at nagsara po sa 79.11 dollars. BRENT is usually higher than the Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), which is what the TRAIN Law based their provisions on.

In short, mga kaibigan, doon sa tatlong depinisyon ng crude oil, iyong BRENT, iyong WTI at MOPS, iyong isa po lumampas na kagabi ng 80 dollars per barrel, iyong dalawa hindi pa lumalampas.

Ngunit kung matutupad po ang suspension ng TRAIN based on the current provision currently found in the law, ang suspension po na mangyayari ay magkakaepekto lang sa Enero ng 2019.

In short, with the current wording of the law, any suspension based on the current law will only affect the January 2019 and possibly the January 2020 price increase.

What we need is a safeguard, Mr. President, which is responsive to the surges in prices and the needs of our countrymen.

In the Senate, in our Senate version, we actually passed a safeguard to suspend excise tax on fuel based on inflation. Ito po iyong probisyon na pinagbotohan nating lahat. However, this provision was removed during TRAIN’s bicameral conference.

In short, Mr. President, iyong lumabas sa Senado na version ng TRAIN,  kasama po ang inflation rate bilang isa sa batayan kung bakit po dapat isuspinde ang excise taxes na napapasaloob sa TRAIN Law.

Unfortunately, nawala po ito pagkatapos ng bicameral conference at natira na lang ang probisyon na tumutukoy sa Dubai crude oil price.

Our office filed SBN 1798 to bring back this safeguard mechanism based on the inflation target range, so we can roll back TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel.

Under this bill, when inflation exceeds the target range for 3 consecutive months, the excise tax on fuel will be rolled back.

For example, kung titingnan natin iyong taon ngayon, the BSP set the target inflation range 2-4%.

In December, the month that we passed TRAIN, inflation was at 2.9. In January, after the TRAIN law was implemented, inflation shot up to 3.4 percent. On February, 3.8 percent, kasama pa rin po iyan sa target range ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,

In March, we breached the 4-percent range, it grew to 4.3 percent. In April nagging 4.5 percent. Pangalawang buwan na po ito na lumampas sa inflation target range ang inflation ng ating bansa.

Pagkatapos na mangyari ito, ang BSP nag-recompute at nagsabi na ang bagong forecast nila para sa taong 2018 ay 4.6 percent. At alam naman natin na ang inflation ay ang tumutukoy sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin sa ating bansa.

Dahil napagbotohan na natin ang isang probisyon kung saan ginagamit ang inflation rate range bilang isang safeguard mechanism ditto sa pagpataw ng escise taxes sa ating bansa, umaasa ako na mabilis nating maipapasa sa ating Kamara.

This is a very reasonable amendment that can help alleviate the burden of high prices on our fellow countrymen.

Mr. President, mayroong pong mga nagsasabi na kung suspindihin ang excise taxes, wala nang pera para sa Build-Build-Build, wala na raw pera para sa libreng tuition sa ating mga SUCs. Wala na raw pera para sa mga programa ng gobyerno.

Sa totoo lang po, hindi ito totoo. Dahil kung tutuusin po, ang 2018 target collections ng excise tax on fuel base sa TRAIN ay 70 billion pesos lang po. Malayo naman ito sa kabuuan ng ating budget for 2019.

Sigurado po ako na mayroon tayong mahahanap na 70 billion pesos para pagtakpan kung may pagro- roll back na gagawin sa excise tax on fuel.

Una, mayroong underspending ang gobyerno mula sa 2017 na 390 billion pesos.

Pangalawa, kailangan lang na mas maging efficient ang collections ng BIR at BOC, at kakayanin natin iyan.

Pangatlo, I’m certain that under the leadership of Sen. Legarda in the Committee on Finance, and of course with the help of the sharpest eyes in the Senate, Sen. Ping Lacson, na kapag panahon po ng budget, may mahahanap na pera pong masi-save at pera pong magagamit sa ibang bagay, I’m sure may mahahanap tayong 70 billion pesos mula sa iba’t ibang departamento at iba’t ibang ahensiya na puwedeng makalap upang pagtakpan kung may mawawalang koleksiyon kung isuspinde natin ang excise tax on fuel.

Huwag na huwag po nating natin kakalimutan kung sino ang ating ipinaglalaban ditto sa Senado — ang pamilyang Pilipino na ngayon ay nahihirapan dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo.

Kailangan ho nating umaksyon, hindi lang po magdebate.

Number one, siguraduhin natin na ang tulong pinansyal sa ating mga mahihirap na mga kababayan na nakasaad sa TRAIN Law ay mapatupad na. Kailangan po lahat ng ten million families na dapat mabigyan ng tulong, mabigyan ng tulong sa lalong madaling panahon. Hindi po katanggap-tanggap na sa September pa sila mabibigyan ng tulong o next year pa.

Pangalawa, suportahan natin ang mga gawain ng Committee on Agriculture pagdating sa reporma sa NFA at sa reporma patungkol sa ating bigas at kung paano ito mapapababa. Sana po maging priority measure natin ito dito sa ating Kamara.

Pangatlo, suportahan po sana natin itong naihain namin SBN 1798. Again, a very reasonable mechanism which we can use to roll back the price of excise tax on fuel only when the inflation target range is breached.

Isa po itong probisyon na sinang-ayunan na ng Kamara noong naipasa sa 3rd reading ang TRAIN dito sa Senado. Sinisikap lang namin ibalik ang safeguard na ito at gawing ganap sa ating bansa.

This is a reasonable mechanism that can alleviate the burden of our countrymen which can be responsive to the rise in prices.

Protektahan po natin ang pamilyang Pilipino mula sa pagtaas ng presyo.

Dahil sabi nga po, grabe na ang hirap at gutom dati, mas grabe pa ngayon.

Sabi nga po, matindi ang pangamba ng pamilyang Pilipino.

Sabi nga po, ang ating mga kababayan, ang ilan sa kanila ay hindi na nakakain ng tatlong beses isang araw.

Sabi nga po, hirap na hirap na ang taumbayan at tungkulin natin ang mapagaan ang kanilang buhay

Maraming maraming salamat po! And we hope we can all come together to support SBN 1798 very soon. Maraming salamat, Mr. President.

Sen. Bam on new Senate leadership

Matindi ang hamon na hinaharap ng ating bayan at ng Senado. 

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Sen. Bam: Severe price increases with no cash transfer to poor families, grounds for TRAIN suspension

Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the excessive price increases, unprecedented inflation rate and government’s failure to deliver on the unconditional cash transfer program are sufficient grounds to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
“Hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin. Mula tatlo, ngayon dalawang beses kada araw na lang kumain ang ilang pamilya. Masasabi pa ba nating magtiis na lang sila?” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam was alluding to Socio-Economic Planning Sec. Ernesto Pernia’s pronouncement that Filipinos should just tighten their belts and live with the effects of the tax reform law.
 
“Ang malala rito, hindi pa nabibigay ng gobyerno ang pinangakong financial assistance ng TRAIN sa higit 6 million na pamilya. Sapat na dapat ito para isuspindi ang TRAIN law,” said Sen. Bam, who is pushing to suspend the TRAIN Law, particularly the excise tax on fuel.
 
Under Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will automatically be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
 
Sen. Bam successfully included this safeguard during the TRAIN deliberations, but the provision was removed from the final draft of the law during the bicameral conference.
 
“Sagad na ang pagtitiis ng mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gawin naman natin ang ating makakaya para bigyan sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the targeted collections for excise tax on fuel in 2018 is only P70-billion, compared to government underspending last year amounting to P390 billion.
 
“Hindi lang TRAIN ang pinagkukunan ng budget. We can ‘Build, Build, Build’ and provide Filipinos free college tuition in SUCs even without collections from the excise tax on fuel,” Sen. Bam asserted.

Sen. Bam strengthens call to suspend TRAIN amid cries for fare increase

A senator stressed the need to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the government’s tax reform program, saying the transport sector is already crying out for support amid the increase in fuel prices.

“Para sa mga driver, operator at pasahero, i-ipreno na ang TRAIN para mapagaan naman ang kanilang sitwasyon,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Ibalik na ang mekanismo para masuspindi ang excise tax dahil sa inflation upang mabawasan na ang pasanin ng parehong driver, operators at mga commuter,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after several jeepney operators filed a petition asking for a P2 fare increase and the possible surge pricing during rush hours due to the recent increase in prices of petroleum products.

Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 1798, seeking to stop the collection of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

In Sen. Bam’s measure, the collection of excise tax will be suspended once the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam introduced that specific provision during the TRAIN’s deliberation and was approved by fellow senators. However, the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

“Bigyan naman natin ng kaunting ginhawa ang ating mga kababayan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo at iba pang mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam Aquino on Senate resolution against SC’s quo warranto decision

The Supreme Court violated the Constitution with their decision to grant the Quo Warranto petition of the administration which unlawfully ousted Chief Justice Sereno.  
 
Nilagay nila sa peligro ang demokrasya at karapatan ng mamamayan.    
 
Hinahamon ngayon ang Senado na manindigan para sa taumbayan at demokrasya. Ang resolusyong ito ay pagtanggap sa hamon.  
 
We now call on the public to support the Senate in restoring the checks and balances in government, enforcing the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution.

Sen. Bam: PH start-up bill is passed by Senate

A measure that seeks to empower and encourage Filipino innovators and entrepreneurs to build better solutions for the nation was approved by the Senate on third and final reading, according to its principal author and sponsor Sen. Bam Aquino.

Via an overwhelming 18-0 vote, Senate Bill No. 1532 or the Innovative Startup Act was approved by the Senate, bringing it closer to becoming a law.

“This is great news for our innovators and entrepreneurs! We’re one step closer to giving them the support they deserve,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“It isn’t easy building a successful start-up, specially in the Philippines. Still, they find ways to bring better solutions to problems in transportation, healthcare, agriculture, and other industries. Tama lang na tulungan sila ng gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam, a former social entrepreneur.

If enacted into law, the measure will provide support to innovative and tech startups, which pertain to businesses that provide unique and relevant solutions to pressing problems, such as transportation, financing, agriculture and healthcare.

“Our country has a number of promising start-ups and we need to provide them with the environment where they can grow and succeed, just like what their counterparts in other countries like United States and Israel are enjoying,” said Sen. Bam.

If enacted into law, innovative startups will enjoy benefits such as tax breaks and grants and other forms of assistance, including a faster process for business registration.

Innovative start-ups could also avail of technical assistance and training programs, use of equipment, facilities and support for patenting or licensing of their product through the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The measure also includes a P10 billion Innovative Startup Venture Fund that entrepreneurs can apply for.

Sen. Bam is an advocate of start-up, micro, small and medium enterprise (SMSME) development. During the 16th Congress, he passed the Go Negosyo Act, the Youth Entrepreneurship Act and other laws to empower local businesses.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Use your power to limit price increases, ease Filipinos’ burden

While there are many elements contributing to the increase in prices of goods and services, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need to focus on factors under the government’s control, like the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 

“Maaaring kontrolin ang TRAIN at pagpataw ng buwis sa petrolyo. Bigyan natin ng kaunting ginhawa ang mga pamilya, isuspindi natin ang excise tax,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his measure to stop the collection of excise tax on fuel under TRAIN once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

 

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

 

During the TRAIN’s deliberation, Sen. Bam introduced an amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once inflation rate breaches the “target range.”

 

Fellow senators approved Sen. Bam’s amendment but the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

 

“Kailagang aminin na nahihirapan na ang mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gawin naman natin ang ating makakaya upang tulungan ang mga pamilya,” added Sen. Bam.

 

Sen. Bam expects his colleagues to support his measure since many of them approved it during the deliberation of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Abolishing PCGG endorses corruption, historical revisionism

If the government is serious in eradicating corruption, it should work to strengthen the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), rather than move to abolish it, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Kung talagang determinado ang gobyerno na labanan ang katiwalian, bakit nais nitong buwagin ang PCGG na siyang naghahabol sa nakaw na yaman ng pamilya Marcos,” said Sen. Bam, alluding to the move of the House of Representatives to abolish the PCGG.

“Sa halip na buwagin, mas magandang palakasin pa ang PCGG dahil marami pang pera at marami pang bank accounts ang hindi pa naibabalik sa mga Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

The senator said the unrecovered money from the Marcoses, amounting to billions of dollars, could be put to good use and for the benefits of the Filipino people.

Sen. Bam also questioned the move to abolish the PCGG, saying it could be a part of a ploy to revise history about the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses.

“This will institutionalize historical revisionism. Pilit na binabago ang kasaysayan sa pagkilos na ito,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the measure has no counterpart measure in the Senate.

In its 30 years of existence, the PCGG has succeeded in recovering $3.6 billion or P170 billion pesos of the estimated $10 billion of Marcos ill-gotten wealth. 

The recovered funds have been used to support the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and reparation of Martial Law victims.

Sen. Bam on Senate’s stand against SC’s quo warranto

We appeal to the Senate to stand together and call out the Supreme Court for violating the rule of law and denying the Filipino people their right to hear the truth through a public impeachment trial.
 
A resolution is making the rounds in the Senate to categorically oppose the SC’s unconstitutional quo warranto decision.
 
This abuse of power threatens every Filipino and now we senators must make a stand and fulfill our mandate to uphold checks and balances, whatever our political color.
 
Together with the public, we must dissent this abuse to our rights and our sacred Constitution.
 
And we must now be fiercely vigilant and discerning of every decision made by the SC. They should know that the Filipino people are watching.

Sen. Bam to new barangay leaders: Listen to the community, find the best solutions

Senator Bam Aquino congratulated elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) leaders and advised them to begin by listening to the people they have sworn to serve.

“Hindi lang tayo dapat magaling mangampanya, magaling din tayo dapat magserbisyo. Nagsisimula ito sa pakikinig sa komunidad. Alamin natin ang kanilang mga kuwento at kanilang pangangailangan,” Sen. Bam stressed.

To address the concerns of the community, Sen. Bam said our barangay and SK leaders should learn from one another and should not be afraid to try new, innovative solutions.

“Kailangan handa tayo na gawin ang mga bagay na kakaiba. Alamin natin ang mga best practices mula sa isa’t isa. Huwag tayong makulong sa laging nakagisnan pag naghahanap ng mga solusyon sa problema,” said Sen. Bam, an advocate of innovations, start-ups and social enterprises.

“Kailangang alam natin ang kailangan ng ating pinagsisilbihan at kailangang handa tayong matuto kung paano maibibigay sa kanila ang mga ito,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that Republic Act 10742 or the SK Reform Act will provide the new SK officials with training and advise through the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC) to help them become good leaders.

The SK Reform Act, which Sen. Bam co-sponsored and co-authored during his tenure as chairman of the Committee on Youth, is the first law in the country with an anti-political dynasty provision. It prohibits relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.

The law adjusts the age limit for 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.

The law also mandates the creation of the 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.

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