Author: teambam

Sen. Bam Aquino’s speech during necrological service for Former Senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani

Senate President Pimentel, the former Senate Presidents here, my colleagues former and current members of the Senate, distinguished colleagues, of course, the members of the Ramos and Shahani families, mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, magandang hapon po sa ating lahat.

Before anything else, I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to the loved ones of former senator Leticia Ramos-Shahani.

The country has lost another brilliant and emphatic legislator, public servant and advocate.

Today, the Senate of the Philippines and everyone gathered here mourns the passing of an esteemed Filipina who served the Philippines as a diplomat, a lawmaker and an educator.

I am deeply humbled to be speaking before you today as we remember her legacy and embed her ideals within our hearts.

My first memory of Tita Letty was back in 1987, when a 9-year old Bam Aquino joined the campaign for the Lakas ng Bayan slate many of whom are still here.

Who could forget her catchy jingle? I would say one of the most famous and best political jingles ever. “Sha, sha, sha, Letty Ramos siya.”

Who could forget that jingle? I think it is embedded in all of our minds until today.

I may not have known it then, but today, more than ever, we realize the significance of electing a true advocate for women’s rights and gender equality into the Philippine Congress.

Even before she served as a senator, Letty Ramos-Shahani was already a champion for women in the Philippines and all around the world, serving as assistant secretary general for social development and humanitarian affairs in the United Nations from 1981 to 1986.

She was co-author of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and was given the chairmanship of the UN Commission on Women and the National Commission on the Role of the Filipino Women in 1987. Thankfully, she took her zeal from the United Nations into the Senate of the Philippines where she passed legislation that, in her words, “contributed much to raising the status of women in our country.”

In her two terms serving as a senator, she authored, among others, the Anti-Rape Law of 1997 and the Shahani Law – which strengthens the fight against gender discrimination among others.

More than just exhaustive pieces of paper signed by our country’s leaders, these laws have made a real and palpable impact on the lives of Filipinas and, in fact, every Filipino.

Just last year, our country ranked as the world’s seventh most gender-equal society, number one in Asia according to the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Global Gender Gap Report – a great achievement for our country, thanks in part to the contributions of the fierce women’s advocate who is Tita Letty.

And though there is still a lot of work to be done to rid our country of discrimination and to truly achieve social equity among Filipinos, I am grateful for the foundation laid down by Tita Letty.

Many regard the 8th and 9th Congresses, spanning the late 80s to early 90s, as a bright spot in Philippine legislation.

Personally, members of this batch many of whom are here today serve as my personal heroes.

For many of us who have come after this esteemed batch of senators, we feel deep gratitude for many of them because they charted the course that many of us are leading today.

May Tita Letty’s excellence, her experience, and her grace inspire and encourage more Filipinos to break through glass ceilings, and push our country forward to achieve equality for all.

Paalam po, Tita Letty.

It was an honor to campaign for you in 1987 and it is my distinct honor and privilege to pay homage to you today.

Maraming salamat, Senador Letty Ramos-Shahani.

Maraming salamat po.

BIDA KA!: Ginhawang hatid ng libreng tuition sa mga state U at colleges (SUCs)

Mga bida, maliban sa mahihirap na nais makatapos sa kolehiyo, isa pang nais suportahan ng Affordable Higher Education for All Act ay ang mga magulang na hindi sapat ang kinikita upang maitawid ang pag-aaral ng mga anak.

Sa botong 18-0, nakapasa sa Senado ang Affordable Higher Education for All Act na ang isa sa mga pangunahing layunin ay magbigay ng libreng tuition sa state colleges at universities (SUCs).

Ang inyong lingkod ang tumayong sponsor at co-author ng nasabing panukala, na layon ding palakasin ang scholarship programs ng pamahalaan sa mga nais namang magtapos sa pribadong educational institutions.

Inaasahan naming maipapasa ito sa House of Representatives at maisasabatas bago magsimula ang susunod na school year.

***

Mga bida, kadalasan, marami sa mga estudyante sa SUCs ay mga anak ng karaniwang empleyado na pinagkakasya lang ang buwanang kita para makatapos sa pag-aaral sa kolehiyo.

Kabilang na rito sina Carolyn Dale Castaneda ng Mountain Province Polytechnic State College, Cristina Jane Rentino ng Aklan State University at Clodith Silvosa ng Davao del Norte State College.

Iba’t iba man ang pinanggalingang lugar sa Pilipinas, iisa lang ang sitwasyon ng tatlong estudyante na sumasalamin din sa kalagayan ng marami pang estudyante sa ating SUCs.

Nasa 4th year na ng kursong BS Teacher Education si Carolyn. Noong nagtatrabaho ang kanyang ina bilang teller, nag-aaral siya sa St. Louis University sa Baguio.

Nang pumanaw ang ina sa liver sclerosis, naiwan ang kanilang ama bilang tanging bumubuhay sa pamilya bilang geodetic engineer na may P30,000 suweldo kada buwan.

 

Dalawa sa mga kapatid ni Carolyn ay nasa kolehiyo na at ang isa ay nasa junior high school. Dahil kapos sa pera, napilitan si Carolyn na lumipat sa Mountain Province Polytechnic State College, kung saan ang tuition ay P4,000.

Mura man ang tuition ni Carolyn, kailangan namang maglaan ng kanyang ama ng P10,000 para sa tuition ng dalawa pa niyang kapatid. Kung susumahin, kalahati ng kita ng ama ay napunta na sa tuition pa lang. Paano pa ang kanilang pagkain at iba pang gastusin sa araw-araw?

***

Tulad ni Carolyn, si Cristina ay nasa ikaapat na taon na sa kursong BS Education.

Ang kanyang ina ay accountant sa Aklan State University at ang kanyang ama ay technician sa Agricultural Training Institute. Sumusuweldo sila ng kabuuang P45,000 kada buwan.

Nasa P4,000 lang ang tuition si Cristina ngunit umaabot naman sa P50,000 ang bayarin sa eskuwela ng iba pa niyang kapatid.

Kaya napilitang mangutang sa kooperatiba, bangko at ma­ging sa mga kaibigan at katrabaho ang kanyang mga magulang upang matustusan ang kanilang pag-aaral.

Sa dami ng utang, kinailangang maghigpit ng sinturon ang pamilya. Naapektuhan ang panggastos sa kanilang tahanan, pati na sa mga pangangailangan sa eskuwelahan.

***

Sa sitwasyon ni Clodith, nanay lang niya ang nagtatrabaho sa pamilya dahil may prostate cancer ang ama. Sa suweldong P35,000 ng ina bilang Senior Aquaculturist sa Provincial Agriculturist Office nabubuhay ang pamilya.

Nasa P10,000 ang tuition ni Clodith habang P1,000 naman ang gastos ng kanyang kapatid sa pag-aaral.

Nauubos ang suweldo ng kanyang ina sa pagpapagamot sa amang maysakit at sa iba pang gastusin sa bahay.

Para makatulong, nagtatrabaho si Clodith bilang student assistant para matustusan ang kanyang pang-araw-araw na allowance.

***

Naniniwala ang tatlo na napakalaking tulong ang Affordable Higher Education for All Act sa pagpapagaan ng kanilang kalagayan sa buhay.

Sa halip nga naman na ibayad sa tuition, magagamit ng pamilya ang pera sa iba pang mahalagang gastusin at pangangailangan sa bahay.

Ito ang ginhawang hatid ng Affordable Higher Education for All Act sa mga magulang na hindi sapat ang kita upang mapagtapos sa kolehiyo ang mga anak.

Kaya siguraduhin po natin na mapirmahan ito ng pangulo at maisabatas and libreng tuition sa ating mga state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Bam lays down priority measures of SciTech committee

Sen. Bam Aquino met with scientists and other stakeholders to tackle and iron out the priority measures of the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs.

 “Ngayong naipasa na ng kumite ang libreng internet sa mga pampublikong lugar, sunod naman nating tututukan ang Balik Scientist Bill at Innovative Startup Act para matulungan ang ating mga kababayan sa larangan ng agham at teknolohiya,” said Sen. Bam.

 During the round-table discussion, Sen. Bam presented Senate Bill 1183 or the Balik Scientist Bill, Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act and Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue as priority measures of his committee.

 Before the Senate went on a session break, it passed Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act on third and final reading via 18-0 vote.

 “There are initiatives that should be beyond politics. As Chairman of the Committee on SciTech, we need to lay the foundation of a modern and prosperous society. Proper utilization of SciTech will be crucial in this aspiration,” added Sen. Bam.

 The Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

 The measure aims 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 address development gaps in the Philippines.

 The Balik Scientist Program provides financial incentives for overseas Filipino scientists and facilitates their return to work on either a short-term or long-term basis.

 “We also want the Balik Scientist Program to involve our schools and the private sector. Let’s exhaust all efforts to repatriate our talented Filipino scientists,” Sen. Bam said.

The Innovative Startup Act, for its part, seeks to give necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market.

The amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists aims to streamline the process of providing benefits and incentives to S&T government personnel.

Sen. Bam hopes to craft a working draft before session resumes on May 2 for the amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists (RA 8439) and the institutionalization of the Balik Scientists Program.

During the round-table discussion, stakeholders also raised several issues that hamper the development of science and technology in the country, including lack of support from government.

Sen. Bam said the government’s science and technology initiatives must be fine-tuned to address these problems.

Bam renews call to probe PH foreign policy, gov’t stand on Panatag Shoal, Benham Rise

A senator renewed his call to look into the country’s foreign policy direction following President Duterte’s latest pronouncements over Benham Rise and Panatag Shoal.

Last Sept. 19, 2016, Sen. Bam Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issues. It was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations chaired by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.

 Sen. Cayetano expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter. However, six months had passed and, until now, no date has been set for the hearing.

 In addition, Sen. Bam insisted that the government must enlighten the Senate on the agreement that President Duterte allegedly entered into with China in connection with the Benham Rise. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), for its part, was not informed about the deal.

“Mayroon ba talagang kasunduan na nangyari? At kung mayroon man, dapat ipaalam ng pamahalaan sa Senado ang nilalaman nito upang mapag-aralan at malaman ng taong bayan,” said Sen. Bam, who plans to call officials of the DFA, Department of National Defense and the Office of the President to clarify the matter.

Last year, Sen. Bam filed the resolution due to President Duterte’s different pronouncements on important foreign policy issues.

Aside from Sen. Bam, three other senators backed the resolution, including Sens. Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Leila de Lima.

In a joint statement, the four senators expressed support behind Duterte’s push for an independent foreign policy but stressed that it must protect and champion the interest of the Filipino people.

The lawmakers also want the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Trade and Investments to “explain the ramifications of the President’s latest foreign policy pronouncements on Filipinos living here and abroad”.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyo sa tourist spot

Mga kanegosyo, “ma­ikli ang buhay kaya gamitin natin ito sa mga bagay na kapaki-pakinabang”.

Ito ang isa sa mga “hugot lines” na ginagamit ni Aling Abdulia Libarra bilang panuntunan sa buhay.

Tubong San Vicente, Palawan, iniwan si Aling Abdulia ng kanyang ­asawa matapos ang labinlimang taong pagsasama at naiwan sa kanya ang kaisa-isa nilang anak na si Jay Lowell.

Upang matustusan ang pangangailangan nilang mag-ina, nagtrabaho si Aling Abdulia bilang ­tutor at landscaping artist sa isang resort sa Puerto Princesa.

Noong 1991, nagpasya si Aling Abdulia na iwan ang trabaho upang tutukan ang pag-aalaga at pag-aaral ng anak sa Port Barton, na kilala bilang tourist destination sa lalawigan.

Sa tulong ng itinayong sari-sari store sa Port Barton, natupad ang pangarap niyang mapagtapos ang anak sa kolehiyo.

***

Sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin nawala ang pangarap ni Aling Abdulia na mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanyang anak at mga apo.

Noong 2007, nang magbukas ang isang ­sangay ng Taytay sa Kauswagan Inc. (TSKI), isang microfinance organization (MFI), sa kanilang lugar, agad siyang sumali rito at nakakuha ng dagdag na kapital para sa kanyang sari-sari store.

Maliban sa regular na tinda, nagdagdag din si Aling Abdulia ng iba pang paninda, gaya ng ‘ukay-ukay’.

 

Noong 2009, nagpasya silang mag-ina na mamuhunan sa bangka upang magamit ng mga turista sa kanilang island hopping.

Itinayo nila ang ­“Manunggol Booking Office” at bumili ng isang bangka na pinangalanan nilang Uno, na palayaw ng kanyang apo.

Ilang beses ginamit ang kanilang bangka sa shooting ng “Survivor Philippines” ngunit ito’y nasira nang tumaob sa lakas ng alon.

Malaki ang pasalamat ni Aling Abdulia dahil nakakuha siya ng loan sa TSKI upang mapaayos ang bangka.

Sa tulong ng mas ­malaking pautang ng TSKI, nakabili si Aling Abdulia ng ikalawang bangka na tinawag nilang Dos, na palayaw ng ikalawa niyang apo.

Sa paglakas ng kani­lang negosyo, nakaipon si Aling Abdulia ng pambili ng maliit na lupa na tinaniman nila ng rubber tree, na ngayon ay kanila ring pinagkakakitaan.

***

Para kay Aling ­Abdulia, ang ginhawa na tinatamasa ng kanyang pamilya ay bunga ng kanyang paggising tuwing alas-kuwatro ng mada­ling-araw para magbukas ng tindahan at sakripisyo para patakbuhin ang kanilang booking office.

At kahit angat na sa buhay, malaking bahagi pa rin ng kanyang negosyo ang TSKI para makakuha ng dagdag na kapital.

***

Ang TSKI ay isang ­miyembro ng ­Microfinance Council of the ­Philippines Inc. (MCPI), na nag-o-operate sa Visayas at Mindanao.

Ang main office nito ay matatagpuan sa National Highway, Brgy. Mali-ao, Pavia, Iloilo. Ang kanilang mga telepono ay 033-3203-958 at 033-3295-547.

Para malaman ang kanilang mga sangay, bisitahin ang http://www.tski.com.ph.

***

Kung nangangaila­ngan kayo ng tulong at suporta sa pagtayo o pagtakbo ng inyong negosyo, bumisita lang sa Negosyo Center sa inyong lugar. Bunga ang mahigit 400 na Negosyo Center sa bansa ng kauna-unahang batas ko bilang senador – ang Republic Act No. 10644 o Go Negosyo Act.

Upang malaman ang pinakamalapit na Negosyo Center sa inyong lugar, magtungo sa https://www.bamaquino.com/gonegosyoact/negosyo-center-tracker/.

Bam: Democratic institutions must not succumb to intimidation, pressure

“Our democratic institutions, especially the Senate, must show that we can operate justly without succumbing to intimidation and pressure”.

Sen. Bam Aquino issued this challenge to fellow lawmakers amid plans by the House leadership to file impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo.

 “Democratic institutions must stand up and fight for our freedom and democracy while we still enjoy it”,” said Sen. Bam, the deputy minority leader in the Upper Chamber.

According to Sen. Bam, the impeachment complaint may reach the Senate if the House leadership “will bully and threaten the Congressmen, like what happened in the death penalty vote”.

 “But I have faith that my fellow legislators can still stand up to pressure that may be put on them and act fairly on the matter,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Clearly, this reaction from leaders of this administration is coming from the obsessive need to curb dissent or disagreement,” he added.

Earlier, the Liberal Party, to which Sen. Bam belongs, described as “baseless and orchestrated lies” accusations linking Vice President Robredo to moves to undermine the administration.

The LP stressed that Robredo is not and will not be part of any destabilization moves. The party added that President Duterte himself declared that Robredo had nothing to do with destabilization efforts against him.

Bam to push for passage of Trabaho Centers in Schools Act

After the overwhelming support for the passage of the Affordable Higher Education for All Act, Sen. Bam Aquino hopes his measure seeking to expand and strengthen job placement offices in schools can get the same backing in the Senate.
 
“While we will strive to provide free, quality education to Filipinos, we should ensure this translates to jobs and job security, and the Trabaho Centers in Schools Act can help make this happen,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act.
 
Sen. Bam has been defending the measure during interpellation before the Senate adjourned its session last March 15. The bill will be tackled anew when session resumes on May 2.
 
Before the Senate adjourned, it approved Senate Bill No. 1304 or the Affordable Higher Education for All Act via 18-0 vote on third and final reading. Sen. Bam was the principal sponsor and co-author of the measure.
 
In his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1278, Sen. Bam said the bill will help address the problems of unemployment and underemployment by ensuing that suitable jobs await both high school and college graduates.
 
“By strengthen linkages between school and companies through the Trabaho Centers, we can lessen the number of unemployment and underemployment in the country,” said Sen. Bam.
 
By institutionalizing job placement offices in public schools and SUCs, Sen. Bam said it will help create employment opportunities and address the prevalent jobs mismatch in the country by serving as bridge between the job market and supply of graduates.
 
Based on latest data from the Philippine Statistics Office, the country’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent with over 2 million jobless Filipinos. The number of underemployed Filipinos is pegged at 7.51 million.
 
“Clearly, there is a need, not only to generate employment opportunities, but also to address the jobs mismatch in the country,” Sen. Bam said.
 
The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.
 
The Trabaho Center must maintain an updated database of employers, contacts, and job opportunities in the locality and utilize this to provide students counseling on lucrative field of study and what specific jobs they can expect to apply for upon graduation.
 
The Trabaho Centers can address the skills mismatch by giving feedback for teaching modules and working with TESDA to better develop the skills of graduates and ensure employability upon graduation.

Bam: Ensure full implementation of Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act

With the graduation season coming up, a senator called for the strict implementation of the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act to ensure fair treatment and opportunities for everyone.

 “Mauuwi lang sa wala ang layunin ng batas na ito kung hindi lang ito maipatutupad nang husto,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, a co-author of the measure in the Senate during the 16th Congress.

“With graduation season coming up, more Filipinos, young and old, will be competing for available jobs. Let’s ensure that there is equal opportunity for all,” added Sen. Bam.

Republic Act 10911 or the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act seeks to promote equality in the workplace by mandating companies –including national and local government, contractors and organizations — to hire workers based on their competence, and not on their age.

The law prohibits printing or publishing any notice of advertisement relating to employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications, and discrimination based on age

 It also prohibits job applicants to declare their age during the hiring process and other acts such as declining an applicant, providing less compensation and benefits and denying promotions or training opportunities.

Republic Act 10911 also outlaws forced dismissal of older age workers, imposing early retirement and reducing wage of all employees to comply with RA 10911.

According to Sen. Bam, violators will be fined between P50,000 and P500,000, and will be imprisoned from 3 months to two years, at the court’s discretion.

Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on Confirmation of Sec. Leonor Magtolis Briones as DepEd Secretary

Mr. President, majority floor leader, dear colleagues, magadang hapon.

 I stand before this Chamber as the Chairperson of the CA Committee on Education, Culture and Sports to recommend the approval of the confirmation of Secretary Leonor “Liling” Briones of the Department of Education.

 Mr. President, just this week, the Senate sent a strong signal to the Filipino people with an 18-0 vote for the passage of the Affordable Higher Education for All Act.

The message? As a country, we prioritize is education. The investment to educate our countrymen and arm them with the knowledge and skills to overcome poverty is the best investment we can make as a country.

 So today, Mr. President, it is my distinct privilege to manifest support for an esteemed Filipina who can lead the charge to provide quality education for every Filipino.

 Isa po siyang katangi-tanging lingkod bayan na kilala sa pagsulong ng de kalidad na edukasyon kasabay ng mabuti at maayos na pamamahala — she is no other than the incumbent Secretary of the Department of Education, Sec. Leonor Liling Briones.

Mr. President, our nominee has always exhibited excellence.

She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Business Administration major in Accountancy at Silliman University in 1958.

In 1967, she completed her Master’s Degree in Public Administration and was awarded Dean’s Lister for Local Government and Fiscal Administration in the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus.

 In 1968, she completed her Diploma course with distinction in Development Administration with a major in Public Enterprises in Leeds University, England.

 She also completed specialized studies in governance at Harvard University in 1984 and then again in 2004.

 But, distinguished colleagues, Sec. Briones has extended her reach beyond academic excellence. She has also embraced her passion for public service.

She served as the Secretary of the Commission on Audit for 9 years, from 1978 to 1987.

In 1996, she became the Vice President for Finance and Administration of the University of the Philippines System for two years before serving as the Presidential Adviser for Social Development.

Then, in 2001, Sec. Briones served as the country’s Treasurer. And as we are all aware for the past months, she lent her expertise, talents, and skills as the incumbent Secretary of the Department of Education.

Mr. President, kaakibat ng kanyang paglingkod sa bayan ang kanyang pagmamahal sa edukasyon.

As a technocrat in public administration, she maintained her involvement in the academe.

For forty years, she served as a professor and a faculty member at the graduate level of her alma mater – the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, which we all know as NCPAG.

And in March 2013, the board of Regents of the same University conferred to her the honorary title Professor Emeritus.

 Not one to be confined – whether as a member of the academe or as a government official – Sec. Briones was also the Lead Convenor of Social Watch Philippines where she led a civil society campaign to increase the budget for social services, especially for education.

Mr. President, her service in various capacities, not to mention her consultancy engagements across sectors, has merited her numerous awards – perhaps too many to mention this afternoon.

What is evident is that Sec. Briones has made a lifelong commitment to exceptional public service. And we are fortunate to have her serve as a leader in our country’s pursuit of excellence in education.

 Honored colleagues, based on the accomplishments alone, it is clear that Sec. Briones is qualified for this job.

 And based on my personal experience working with her over the past 8 months, I can say that she truly is champion for education – one who can make our hopes and dreams for every Filipino student a reality.

And with that, Mr. President, dear colleagues, it is my distinct honor to endorse Sec. Leonor Liling Briones for the position, Secretary of the Department of Education.

Maraming salamat po, Mr. President!

BIDA KA!: Mabungang walong buwan

Mga bida, dalawang mahala­gang panukalang batas na dumaan sa ating komite ang nakapasa sa ikatlo at huling pagbasa ng Senado sa unang walong buwan ng 17th Congress.

Noong Lunes, sabay na ina­prubahan ng Senado sa parehong boto na 18-0 ang “Affordable Higher Education for All Act” na nagbibigay ng libreng tuition sa state colleges at universities (SUCs), at ang Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.

Ang inyong lingkod ang tumayong principal sponsor at co-author ng Senate Bill No. 1304 at Senate Bill No. 1277, na parehong itinuturing na prayoridad na panukala ng administrasyon.

Ang Senate Bill No. 1277 naman ang unang panukalang naipasa ng Senado ngayong 17th Congress mula sa Committee on Science and Technology, na akin ding pinamumunuan.

Masaya tayo’t mabunga ang ating panahon sa mayorya at nakapagpasa tayo ng dalawang malaking panukala bago natin tuluyang yakapin ang papel bilang minorya sa Senado.

***

Nagpapasalamat tayo sa mga indibidwal at mga grupo na nagsama-sama upang suportahan ang  panukalang nagbibigay ng libreng tuition fees sa SUCs at scholarship sa pribadong kolehiyo.

Ang kredito sa pagpasa ng batas sa Senado ay hindi lang para sa iisang tao o iisang tanggapan. Ito’y sama-samang pagsisikap ng mga senador, mga indibidwal at mga organisasyon na kasama natin sa layuning ito.

Una nating nais pasalamatan sina Senator Recto na matagal nang isinusulong ang adbokasiyang ito at Senate President Koko Pimentel sa pagbibigay prayoridad sa panukalang ito.
Malaki rin ang kanyang papel upang mapalakas pa ang pinal na bersiyon ng panukala ng Senado, kasama na ang mga amyenda nina Sens. Richard Gordon, Panfilo Lacson at Risa Hontiveros.

Nais rin nating pasalamatan ang mga kapwa ko may-akda na sina Senador Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar at Juan Miguel Zubiri.

 

Isang espesyal na pasasalamat din ang nais kong ipaabot kay Sen. Chiz Escudero sa kanyang pagpayag na ipagpatuloy natin ang pagsusulong ng Senate Bill No. 1304 hanggang sa huli kahit inalis tayo bilang chairman ng Committee on Education.

***

Malaki rin ang naitulong nina Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Patricia Licuanan, commissioners Minella Alarcon, Alex Brillantes, Prospero de Vera at Ronald Adamat sa pagbuo ng panukala sa kabila ng minsa’y ‘di pagkakaunaawan.

Nagpapasalamat din tayo kay Nikki Tenazas at sa mga kaibigan natin sa Unifast, PIDS, COCOPEA, PAPSCU at PBED sa kanilang tulong sa pagtalakay sa iba’t ibang probisyon ng panukala.

Salamat din kay Dr. Ricardo Rotoras ng Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) sa pagbibigay niya ng mahalagang pananaw mula sa SUCs. Bilang panghuli, nais kong pasalamatan ang ating mga estudyante na ating inspirasyon sa pagsusulong ng panukalang ito.

Batid natin kung gaano kahirap ang kanilang pinagdadaanan at kinalalagyan at alam natin na kailangang-kailangan nila ang batas na ito.

 Ang pagpasa ng panukalang ito ay isang malinaw na mensahe sa bawat Pilipino na prayoridad ng Senado ang edukasyon at nais natin itong palakasin para sa kasalukuyan at susunod pang henerasyon.

Ang pagbuhos ng pondo sa edukasyon ay pinakamalaking puhunan na maaaring gawin ng pamahalaan dahil ito’y para sa kinabukasan ng kabataan na itinutu­ring nating pag-asa ng bayan.

Scroll to top