Author: teambam

Sen. Bam breaks into winning circle in Pulse Asia survey, stresses importance of people’s support

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed his entry into the winning circle in the Pulse Asia survey even as he stressed the importance of the people’s support in his re-election bid in the 2019 elections.

Natutuwa tayo sa pag-angat natin sa Pulse Asia Survey subalit mahaba pa po ang laban,” said Sen. Bam, who placed 10th to 16th in survey conducted from Dec. 14 to 21 with 32.6 percent.

 “Bagkus mabigat ang laban na ating susuungin, buo ang tiwala ko na ito’y kakayanin sa tulong at suporta ng ating taumbayan,” added Sen. Bam, whose percentage improved from his September ranking of 18 to 23 spots with 20.1 percent.

 In a statement, Sen. Bam underscored the importance of the voters’ role in the 2019 elections, especially in scrutinizing the accomplishments and performance of candidates.

 “Mahalaga po ang suporta at papel ng bawat botante, bawat volunteer, bawat supporter sa labang ito, sa pagiging mapanuri sa mga nagawa ng mga kandidato at sa pagkukumbinsi sa iba pang naghahangad ng mga pagbabago sa ating liderato at lipunan,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

“Sa inyo pong tulong, maiaangat pa natin ang ating standing at sa gayon mapagpatuloy ang mga mahahalagang reporma sa edukasyon na kailangan ng ating bayan,” he added.

The lawmaker also called on his supporters to convince their loved ones to weigh the accomplishments of all senatorial candidates in the 2019 elections as the country’s future depends on it.

“Sa mga susunod pong mga linggo, kumbinsihin natin ang ating mga minamahal sa buhay na suriin ng mabuti ang bawat sa amin na naghahangad ng pwesto sa Senado,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name in his first term as senator, including the landmark free college law and the Go Negosyo Act, which has now established more than  1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Act quickly on latest price increases, shelve excise tax on fuel

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the government to quickly address the latest increase in prices of goods due to Typhoon Usman and the projected rise in cost of petroleum products from the expected increase in fuel prices in the world market along with the additional excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Kailangang umaksyon agad ang gobyerno para maibsan itong bagong hataw ng taas-presyo ng bilihin at halaga ng produktong petrolyo sa ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Kawawa ang mahihirap nating kababayan dahil sa dobleng hagupit ng bagyong Usman at dagdag-buwis sa petrolyo. Itigil muna natin ang pagpapatupad ng excise tax sa produktong petrolyo,” added Sen. Bam.

The senator said the government should be sensitive to the plight of consumers and poor Filipinos, who are expected to carry the additional burden of high prices of goods due to the latest levy on oil products under the TRAIN Law.

“Hindi pa bumababa yung presyo ng bilihin, tinira na kaagad iyong pagtaas ng petrolyo. Panibagong pasanin na naman ito para sa ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the government’s decision to implement the second tranche of excise tax under the TRAIN Law.

“Hindi dapat pinapatawan ng buwis ang petrolyo dahil hindi natin kontrolado ang presyo nito,” Sen. Bam stressed, adding that the country’s inflation rate remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent range.

Sen. Bam’s reaction came amid the reported increase in prices of vegetable and other agricultural products after the onslaught of Typhoon Usman and the expected increase in fuel prices with the implementation of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel.

Sen. Bam said the passage of his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill will help ease the burden of Filipinos as it suspends and rolls back excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018.

Adding tax to fuel, worrisome start to the new year – Sen. Bam

Sen. Bam Aquino is worried the government is starting the year on the wrong foot by adding taxes to petroleum products based on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying it may worsen the burden of high prices on the Filipino people.

“Ang pinakamainam na New Year’s resolution para sa bayan ay bawasan ang pahirap sa mamamayan,”said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Nalulunod pa nga sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin ang ating mga kababayan, may dagdag buwis pa ulit. Tulungan sana natin ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” added Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the 100% implementation of the law for free college.

Sen. Bam said he hoped the government would defer the implementation of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel until inflation normalizes or until prices of food and other goods go down.

Under the second tranche, an additional two pesos excise tax will be imposed on gasoline and diesel and one peso on kerosene and LPG in 2019.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the rollback of the tax on fuel through the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018.

The measure aims to fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam: New Year’s resolution should be 100% implementation of free college

Sen. Bam Aquino is hoping for the complete implementation of the free college law in 2019, with students in public universities and colleges not having to spend a single centavo on tuition, miscellaneous and other mandatory fees.

 “Gawin sanang New Year’s resolution ang 100% compliance sa batas na Libreng Kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Siguraduhin natin na kahit kapos ang pamilya, makapagtatapos pa rin ng kolehiyo dahil libre na ang tuition, miscellaneous at iba pang mandatory fees sa public schools,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam orchestrated the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as principal sponsor in the Senate during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

Earlier, Sen. Bam received a commitment from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that it will issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

During the CHED’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam informed its officials that he received complaints from students that some SUCs still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931.

 Sen. Bam told CHED officials that the law should be properly implemented so that students and their families can enjoy its benefits, allowing them to cope with daily expenses amid the high prices of food and other goods.

 “Sa halip na gamiting pambayad sa gastusin sa paaaralan, mas maganda kung mapunta ito sa ibang pangangailangan ng pamilya, lalo na sa pagkain, damit at iba pang kailangan,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full release of the budget for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

Sen. Bam: Free College is Rizal’s Legacy

Ang mahusay na pagpapatupad ng ating batas sa Libreng Kolehiyo ang pinakamakahulugang parangal kay Gat Jose Rizal.
 
Sa totoo lang po, ang isa sa mga naunang nangarap ng abot-kayang edukasyon tulad ng Libreng Kolehiyo para sa mga kabataang Pilipino ay si Jose Rizal.
 
Kalidad na edukasyon para mga Pilipino ang pangarap ni Crisostomo Ibarra sa Noli Me Tangere. “Paaralan ay siyang aklat na kinasusulatan ng hinaharap ng mga bayan. Ipakita ninyo sa amin ang paaralan ng isang bayan at sasabihin namin sa inyo kung ano ang bayang iyan.”
 
Ang pangarap ni Rizal dati nagkakatotoo na. Sa araw ni Gat Jose Rizal, bigyang buhay natin ang diwa ng ating pambansang bayani sa pagtiyak na kahit kapos ay makapagtatapos.

Sen. Bam to CHED: Release full budget for TES program

While he welcomes the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) release of around P4.8 billion for its Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program, Sen. Bam Aquino said the allocated budget for its full implementation should be distributed immediately to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

“I welcome the release of the said amount as it proves the administration’s commitment to implement the program under the law,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he pushed during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

The CHED recently announced the release of P4.8 billion for the TES program under the free higher education law to students in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs).

However, Sen. Bam stressed that the remaining P11.2 billion fund allocated for the TES in the 2018 budget should also be released immediately for the benefit of students under the program.

“Siguraduhin natin na ang buong budget na nakalaan para sa TES ay mailabas sa lalong madaling panahon, kasama na rito ang mga scholarship para sa mga estudyante ng private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),” added Sen. Bam.

Recently, Sen. Bam convinced the CHED to issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

During the CHED’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam informed the department that several SUCs still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931.

“Sana gawin nating New Year’s resolution ang 100 porsiyentong pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo sa lahat ng state university at college. Dapat hindi na maningil ang SUC ng tuition at mandatory fees sa mga estudyante ngayong 2019,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to youth: Libre mangarap, libre na rin mag-kolehiyo!

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed concern over a report that 70 percent of Filipino youths don’t have a dream, urging them to continue hoping and working for a better future.
 
“Libre ang mangarap at, ngayon, libre pa ang kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
“Nakakalungkot ang resultang ito lalo na dahil source of inspiration ko ang kabataang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, referring to a study by Dream Project PH showing that seven out of 10 Filipino youths don’t have a dream in life.
 
Sen. Bam said the free college law empowers Filipinos to make their dreams come true, as it opens opportunities to better jobs and a better life through education.
 
“Ngayong libre na ang kolehiyo, bukas na ang oportunidad para sa kabataang Pilipino na magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education, the law provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools. 
 
The law allows students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.
 
“Sa batas na ito, hindi hadlang ang kahirapan para maabot ang pangarap. Kahit kapos, siguradong makapagtatapos,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Recently, Sen. Bam got a commitment from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that it will fully implement the law, especially when it comes to miscellaneous and mandatory fees.
 
During the CHED budget hearing, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera told Sen. Bam that he will issue a draft memorandum that will clarify and warn SUCs that students should not pay a single centavo to enroll in an SUC, LUC or TESDA-run TVIs.

CHED commits to Sen. Bam 100% compliance to Free College Law

Thanks to Sen. Bam Aquino’s prodding, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will soon issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.
 
“Sa batas natin, bawal nang mangolekta ng mandatory fees ang mga SUC. Dapat ituloy ang laban para sa 100 percent compliance ng mga kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam during the CHED’s budget hearing.
 
During interpellation of the CHED budget, Sen. Bam expressed his concern that a few SUCs may still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
“Sa pag-iikot natin sa mga SUC, nalalaman naming may balak pa ang ilan na mangolekta ng miscellaneous fees,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
“Hindi dapat ito nangyayari dahil may batas nang nagsasabi na bawal ang paninigil ng miscellaneous at iba pang mandatory fee,” added Sen. Bam. “Sa batas na ito, sinisiguro na ang kapos, makapagtatapos.”
 
Sen. Bam insisted that the law should be properly enjoyed by students and their families so they can cope with daily expenses amid the high prices of food and other goods.
 
“Halos aabot din sa daan-daang piso ang kinokolektang miscellaneous fees sa mga estudyante, pera na dapat ginagamit nang panggastos ng pamilyang Pilipino na pambili ng pagkain at iba pang pangangailangan,” added Sen. Bam.
 
In response, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera agreed to issue a draft memorandum that will clarify and warn SUCs that students should not pay a single centavo to enroll in an SUC, LUC or TESDA-run TVI
 
In addition, Sen. Bam sought to expand the coverage of the free college law to cover on-the-job training, affiliation fees for nursing students, and other Related Learning Experiences (RLEs). 
 
Sen. Bam also pushed for the better support for SUCs through additional plantilla position for non-teaching personnel, such as security personnel, registrar, guidance counselors, resident ombudsman, among others.
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for its part, committed and allocated money for this endeavor and was simply waiting for the recommendation from CHED.
 
Sen. Bam said once the CHED gave its recommendation, SUCs can start hiring non-teaching personnel next year.

Sen. Bam: Ayusin ang TRAIN Law, i-rollback ang tax sa petrolyo

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the House of Representatives’ move to tackle measures to shelve the excise tax on petroleum under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, hoping that the Senate could follow suit and work for its complete removal.
 
“Magandang balita na kumikilos na ang Kamara para maitama ang ilang probisyon sa TRAIN Law na dahilan ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Kailangan talagang ayusin ang TRAIN Law mahihirap ang nasasagasaan nito,” he pointed out, adding that the 6 percent inflation rate for November remains above the government’s target of 2-4 percent.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the Senate can start tackling his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill and the minority’s Joint Resolution No. 15, which are both seeking to suspend the excise tax under the TRAIN Law and mandate the rollback of levy on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates.
 
“Hopefully, the Senate can follow suit and tackle these crucial measures before the end of the year,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam said the passage of these measures is crucial after Malacanang decided to implement the excise tax on fuel in 2019 after initially expressing desire to suspend it.
 
“Mas mahalagang madaliin ang pagsasabatas nito dahil hanggang ngayon, mahal pa rin ang presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin na ikinalulunod na ng marami nating kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the government to reconsider its decision to push through with the collection of excise tax on fuel in 2019.

Sen. Bam: Inflation rate still high, shelve plan to implement excise tax on fuel in 2019

The government should reconsider its decision to implement the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law for 2019 as inflation rate remains far from its original target, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Walang basehan itong pagbawi ng pangako ng gobyerno dahil mas mataas pa rin ang inflation sa sarili nilang target,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the November inflation rate of 6.0 percent, which remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent range.

“Ibig sabihin, nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng krisis ng taas presyo kaya mali ang desisyong patungan ng excise tax ang produktong petrolyo sa susunod na taon,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the government should have based the suspension of excise tax on fuel on inflation rate and not on world crude prices, which he is pushing in his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018.

“Matagal na nating ihinain ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na nagsisikap na baguhin at ayusin ang mga problemadong probisyon ng TRAIN. Ito na lang sana ang binigyan ng pansin ng economic managers, imbis na ulitin ang mga pagkakamali ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam lamented the decision of economic managers to implement the excise tax on fuel for 2019, days after recommending its suspension.

“Nakakapagod ang mga urong-sulong na pangako, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas-presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Pinakinggan sana ang taumbayan at hindi na gatungan ng buwis sa petrolyo ng TRAIN Law, habang alam naman ng lahat na ang pag-akyat nito ang dahilan sa mataas na presyo sa merkado,” he added.

Scroll to top