Month: May 2018

Sen. Bam: Over 800 Negosyo Centers ready to help families find livelihood amid rising unemployment

With prices of goods and unemployment both on the rise, Senator Bam Aquino said the 800-plus Negosyo Centers in the country play an even bigger role in providing Filipino families livelihood.

“Sa harap ng mataas na presyo ng bilihin at mataas na bilang ng walang trabaho sa bansa, higit na kailangang kumilos ang ating Negosyo Centers para mabigyan ng tulong ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and author of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

Sen. Bam commended the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for effectively implementing his law and ensuring the establishment of over 800 Negosyo Centers in the country.

Sen. Bam also invited the public to visit the closest Negosyo Center to meet and consult with accommodating business counselors from DTI, who can guide them in finding steady livelihood through small business ventures.

“Sa panahon ng mamahaling bilihin at mataas na unemployment, kailangan ng kabuhayan at dagdag kita ang ating mga kababayan. Baka mahanap nila ito sa pagnenegosyo,” said Sen. Bam, a long-time advocate of micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) development.

A recent SWS survey showed that the number of unemployment Filipinos rose to 10.9 million, the highest since 2016.

The latest Pulse Asia survey also revealed that 86 percent of 1,200 respondents claimed they were strongly affected by the increase in prices of goods.

Sen. Bam’s first enacted law, 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.

Negosyo Centers 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.

There are now more than 800 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country, ready to cater to the needs of startups and MSMEs.

Sen. Bam on China’s deployment of missile systems on 3 PH-claimed reefs

Ang paglalagay ng missile sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo ay siyang sukdulan ng ilang buwang pagpapabaya at pagbalewala ng pamahalaan sa isyu ng China.
 
Hindi pinahalagahan ng Malacañang ang kasarinlan ng ating bansa kaya naisantabi na rin ang kaligtasan nating mga mamamayan.
 
Muli nating hinihiling na maging bukas na ang administrasyon sa mga kasunduan nito sa China upang patunayan na hindi natin isinuko ang ating teritoryo at iba pang yaman sa pagkakaibigang ito.

Sen. Bam backs teachers, calls for waiving of tax on honoraria

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to spare from withholding tax the honoraria of teachers who will render poll duties in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.

“Nang isulong natin ang Election Service Reform Act, layunin natin ang bigyan ng karampatang pabuya ang mga volunteers sa eleksiyon, tulad ng mga teachers. Hindi intensiyon ng batas na buwisan pa ang bayad dito,” said Sen. Bam, principal author of Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).

“Pataas na nga ng pataas ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sa tax reform, kakaltasan pa muli ang honoraria ng mga guro. Bigyan naman natin sila na kakaunting ginhawa sa dami ng buwis,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pushed for the law’s passage in the 16th Congress to increase the election service benefits for public school teachers and make election service optional for public school teachers.

In addition, the law also increases honoraria for board of election inspector (BEI) and their support staff.

Under the law, compensation for BEI chairman will be increased to P6,000 from P3,000 while BEI members will receive P5,000 from P3,000.

From P3,000, DepEd supervisor/official will earn P4,000 while support staff will receive P2,000 from P1,500.

The teachers and all persons who rendered election service would also be entitled to a travel allowance of P1,000 each.

All government officials and employees serving as members of the electoral boards, DepEd supervisor/official and support staff will be given five days of service credit. 

The ESRA also increases the death benefits from P200,000 to P500,000 and the medical assistance in such amount as may be “sufficient to cover for medical and hospitalization expenses until recovery” of injuries sustained while in the performance of election duties.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Protect Filipinos from killer combo of rising prices and unemployment

Senator Bam Aquino called the increase in prices of goods and the rising unemployment a killer combo that needs to be addressed immediately.

“Huwag natin i-knockout ang pamilyang Pilipino sa combo na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at kawalan ng trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, one of only four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

A recent Pulse Asia survey indicated that 98 percent of respondents claimed the prices of basic goods they usually purchase have increased due to the tax reform law, and around 86 percent said they were strongly affected by the prices increases.

In addition, a latest survey by SWS showed that the number of unemployment Filipinos rose to 10.9 million, the highest since 2016.

“Hindi na biro ang epekto ng TRAIN sa mga Pilipino, kaya tayo tumutol dito. Ngayon na mas malala pa pala ang kinalabasan nito, dapat lang na pag-aralan at solusyunan ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said he will present stories of Filipinos affected by the TRAIN Act from the series of community dialogues that he conducted in different parts of the country when the Senate conducts a hearing on the tax reform program on May 9 (Wednesday).

“Mahalagang mailabas natin ang bigat na ibinibigay ng TRAIN upang ito’y marepaso at nang maibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also urged Congress not to move forward with TRAIN 2, as it may exacerbate the problem of unemployment by removing incentives for certain businesses.

 Sen. Bam has filed Proposed Senate (PS) Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Act, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, mostly the poor.

Sen. Bam: Working Filipinos should be supported, not burdened further

In commemoration of Labor Day, Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to prioritize the welfare of Filipino workers and protect their livelihood through sound policies and actions.

 “Dapat isipin ng pamahalaan sa bawat desisyon at reporma ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho tulad ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at OFWs. Subalit sila ngayon ang binibigo ng administrasyon,” said Sen. Bam, one of four who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

Sen. Bam insisted that the recent tax reform packages proposed by the government only burden the working class with increasing prices of goods and potential loss of livelihood.

 The administration’s push to enact the second tax reform package, which will remove incentives for companies, could lead to loss of jobs for many Filipinos.

“Nagdurusa na nga ang marami nating mga kababayan sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin sa unang bugso ng tax reform ng gobyerno, ngayon naman aalisan natin sila ng ikabubuhay,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the TRAIN Act.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Law, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, especially ordinary workers.

Sen. Bam also submitted Senate Resolution No. 597, urging the appropriate Senate committee to scrutinize the implementation of the unconditional cash transfer to ensure that it is sufficient to cover the increase in prices of goods and other services.

 In addition, Sen. Bam pointed out that the government’s decision to remove restriction on rice importation could be detrimental to the work of Filipino farmers, who rely heavily on their harvest for their livelihood.

“Posibleng makasama pa sa ating mga magsasaka ang ura-uradang desisyon ng deregulasyon ng rice imports. Hindi quota ang problema natin kundi ang kakayahan nga NFA na gawin ang kanilang trabaho,” said Sen. Bam.

 In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam has filed several measures that focus on the welfare of Filipino workers, includingg overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), freelancers and reservists.

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