Author: teambam

Sen. Bam’s Privilege Speech on China issues

Magandang araw, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, majority floor leader! Magandang, magandang  hapon po sa inyong lahat!

To quote a very popular love song, a picture paints a thousand words.

Well, this particular picture inspired a thousand memes and thousands of comments.

Several of our countrymen raised their eyebrows and voiced their confusion and outrage.

Sabi nga ho ni Defense Sec. Lorenzana “Maybe Malacañang thinks that it is correct dahil ginawa nila yun. Do not torture our minds about giving meaning to these very trivial things.”

Well, Mr. President, marami po sa mga kababayan natin, hindi naisip na trivial iyong pagkawala ng ating bandila sa pagdating ni President Xi Jinping.

Hindi naman siguro masamang tanungin kung may violation nga ba o hindi iyong ginawang pagparada sa bandila ng China, na wala po ang ating three stars and a sun.

To be honest, Mr. President, the pivot to China opened a Pandora’s Box of questions regarding the Philippines’ dealings with a powerful and more domineering neighbor.

These, dear friends, are questions and concerns that have already been raised in the past 2 years, even before the 2-day state visit of China’s president.

Hindi rin naman sigurong masamang magtanong tungkol sa sarili nating teritoryo, sa sarili po nating karagatan na mas malawak pa sa kabuuan ng ating lupain at naglalaman ng sang-katutak na isda, langis at iba pang kayamanan – kayamanang pag-aari ng ating taumbayan.

Ngayon napanalo na ng Pilipinas ang kaso laban sa China sa International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas o ITLOS at kinlaro na sa mundo ang ating exclusive economic zone sa West Philippine Sea, anu-ano ang paraan kung paano po mapoprotektahan itong sariling atin?

Just to remind everyone, based on satellite photos obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in February 2018, China appeared to be in the final stages of constructing air and naval bases in seven reefs in the Spratlys Region, including Mischief or Panganiban and Subi or Zamora Reefs, over which the Philippines has exclusive right and jurisdiction as ruled by the UN Tribunal.

Worse, last May 2018, US Intelligence reports revealed that China had installed anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles on these reefs. Again, let me clarify Mr. President, these are missiles installed within our own country – within the Philippines’ jurisdiction.

To this incident, President Duterte was quoted in saying: “In the play of politics, now, I will set aside the arbitral ruling. I will not impose anything on China.”

However, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Peter Cayetano said: “We have to put aside our territorial and sovereign rights claims but not abandon them. The preliminary agreement is based on: let’s cooperate first, and let’s talk about who owns what, and who has jurisdiction, later on.”

Clearly, Mr. President, mayroon talagang paglilinaw na dapat gawin sa ating pakikitungo sa China.

Napakahalaga rin kwestyunin ang legalidad ng militarization ng China sa West Philippine Sea.

Uulitin ko po, mayroon Chinese air and naval bases sa loob ng ating karagatan. Mayroon pong anti-ship at surface-to-air missiles ang China sa loob ng karagatan ng Pilipinas.

Ang isa sa mga tinayuan ng Chinese military base ay ang Mischief o Panganiban Reef na 250 kilometers lang ang layo sa Palawan. Ito’y kasing layo ng Baguio sa dito ngayon sa Senado – a 4-hour drive ang layo.  In fact, kung iisipin natin, 250 kilometers mayroon nang missiles at armas dito.

I will also clarify that Article XVIII, Section 25 of our 1987 Constitution it states that – and I quote – “…foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.” – end quote.

That said, is it not prohibited under the Philippine Constitution to consent to the presence of Chinese air and naval bases, now armed with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, unless a treaty is signed with China? Hindi naman siguro masamang usisain ang legalidad ng mga military base na ito.

Ito pong isyu na ito, diretso po sa tingin po namin, ang contradiction sa ating Saligang Batas. Mahalaga po na maklaro agad kung mayroon ngang violation sa ating Constitution ang pagpayag dito sa China air bases sa ating teritoryo.

This leads us to even more painful and personal questions – mga tanong tungkol sa pang-aabuso ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino, sa pananakot sa ating media at mga reporter, at sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga Tsino imbis na mga Pilipino.

Just last November 8, China stopped a Filipino TV crew from conducting interviews in the West Philippine Sea, stating that the Filipino reporters cannot proceed without the permission of China.

Ang sabi ng isang miyembro ng Chinese Coast Guard kay Jun Veneracion ng Reporters’ Notebook: “Without the permission of China, you cannot carry out the interview here.”

Earlier this year, on May 20, a video showed two men boarding the boat of a Filipino fisherman.

Sinabi po ng ating mangingisda: “Wala po silang paalam. Halungkatin nila ‘yun, basta maghalungkat sila, Sir. Kukunin nila ‘yung gusto nila. Ilagay nila sa plastic, magaganda pa ang kunin nila.” I’m assuming that he’s talking about the fish na hinuli ng ating mangingisda.

Sabi pa ni Manong Rony, na isa ring mangingisda: “Sa tingin ko po parang sila rin ang boss dito. Sila po ang nasusunod eh. Wala po kaming magagawa kung sabihin nilang aalis kami. Wala kaming power na ipaglaban ‘yung sarili namin. Batas din nila yung nasusunod dito sa Scarborough.” (Reporter’s Notebook)

Hindi naman po masamang tanungin kung tama ba itong nangyayari sa ating media, kung tama ba ang nangyayari sa ating mangingisda, sa ating mga kababayan sa sarili po nating teritoryo.

Punta rin tayo Build-Build-Build na malaki ang koneksiyon sa China.

Ilang proyekto na ang nabigyan ng go-signal?

Ilan na po ba ang nasimulan na?

Kailan po ba matatapos ang mga ito?

Anong part ng Build-Build-Build program ang uutangin sa China?

Ano ang napagkasunduang terms at interest rate?

Kasama ba sa kontrata na mga Tsino at hindi Pilipino ang magtatrabaho sa mga proyektong ito?

Ilang trabaho ba ang nakalaan talaga sa mga kababayan nating Pilipino?

So far, Mr. President, this is what we do know:

One: In 2016, the President visited China and came home with $24 Billion of Chinese loans and investment pledges for Build Build Build. So far, only 2 bridge projects worth 62.28 million U.S. dollars, and these are grants, and one irrigation project worth 62.09 million U.S. dollars are ongoing.

Second: The government’s Pipeline of Programs and Project for Official Development Assistance as of September 28, 2018 includes 16 projects that will be funded with loans from China amounting to a total of 740.45 Billion Pesos.

Three, Mr. President: Chinese loans are not only “tied” loans or loans with conditions, but they have a higher interest rate roughly anywhere up to 3% than the “untied” loans we are getting from other countries like Japan.

Isang Pandora’s Box po talaga ang nabukas dito po sa ating pagkiling natin sa China.

At mga kaibigan, kailangan talagang maklaro sa ating mga kababayan ang mga sagot sa mga tanong na ito.

Pagdating sa paglaban sa ating teritoryo, pagdating sa paglaban para sa ating mangingisda, pagdating po sa mga proyekto na posible pong pumasok sa ating bansa at narinig na rin natin ng debt trap gaya ng Sri Lanka na kung saan iyong mga bansang nabaon sa utang ay nangangailangan na magbigay o magpaubaya ng kanilang kasarinlan.

Isa pong Pandora’s Box ng mga tanong mga kaibigan, at tingin ko po ang Senado ay may kapangyarihan at mayroong tungkulin na isara ang isyung ito , na sagutin ang mga isyung ito tungkol sa China sa pamamagitan ng paghanap at paghingi ng makatotohanang mga sagot.

The Senate does not only have the power and privilege to search for these answers; we have a duty to shed light on these issues and ensure that the government is in the favor of the Filipino people and not in favor of China in its dealings.

Mr. President, let me share a short history lesson. In September of 1991, Philippine senators made history by ending years of U.S. military presence in the Philippines, even when many believed that the presence of U.S. bases was good for livelihood and for the economy, and, therefore, in the best interest of the Filipino people.

It was a difficult decision then, Mr. President. Sen. Gordon is here, my aunt President Cory Aquino was on the side of retaining the US bases. But the Senate at that time, Mr. President, made a fateful decision.  To this day, that decision is lauded as one that upheld the independence of our country.

Ngayon po, tinatawag tayo muli ang Senado na mamuno at pumanig sa kapwa nating Pilipino. We are again called to take the lead in terms of transparency, sovereignty and national security.

Umaasa po kami na kaya po ng Senado na klaruhin ang mga tanong na ito upang mapanatag naman ang kalooban ng ating mga kababayan na sa ating teritoryo, para sa ating kabuhayan, trabaho, imprastruktura, mga kontrata at mga benepisyo – sigurado po na dapat una ang Pilipino at panalo ang Pilipino dito sa sarili nating bansa at sa anumang pakikitungo sa anumang bansa dito sa ating mundo.

Umaasa ang ating mga kababayan na dito sa Pilipinas, mauuna ang Pilipino.

Let the Senate hopefully, Mr. President, take the lead and shed light on the myriad issues on China for fellow Filipinos, for our country, and, of course, for the future of our children. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. Thank you.

Sen. Bam: No to secret deals with China, put Filipinos first

Sen. Bam Aquino maintained that the administration should not enter into secret deals with China and ensure that the welfare of Filipinos is prioritized in its agreements with the Chinese government.
 
“Wala po dapat secret deals, dapat malinaw iyan. Pagdating sa teritoryo, pagdating sa ekonomiya, pagdating sa trabaho,” Sen. Bam said in a senatorial forum hosted by CNN Philippines. 
 
“Hindi naman masamang mangarap na sa ating bansa, ang Pilipino ang una at hindi dayuhan,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam lamented the government’s unclear policy when it comes to its relationship and dealings with China, especially when it comes to our territory in the West Philippine Sea and the agreements entered into during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping.
 
“Ano sa mga build, build build projects ang natuloy na? Magkano ba yung interest rate ng bawat proyekto? Ilang Chinese workers na ba talaga ang nandito? Lahat iyan, hindi malinaw sa atin,” Sen. Bam pointed out.
 
Sen. Bam added that the country’s economy has not improved since the government decided to pivot to China.
 
“Kasama sa kanilang pangako, gaganda ang ekonomiya natin if we pivot to China. Gumanda nga ba? Hindi naman. Darami raw ang trabaho. Dumami ba? Hindi naman,” Sen. Bam emphasized.
 
Sen. Bam challenged the Senate to take the lead in investigating the government’s dealings with China and look into whether the country will benefit from them.
 
On September 19, 2016, Sen. Bam filed Resolution No. 158 seeking to clarify the country’s foreign policy direction and determine the administration’s position on several issues, including the West Philippine Sea, Benham Rise and other dealings with China.

Sen. Bam speaks about his memories of Ninoy Aquino during the late senator’s birthday

(Sen. Bam’s speech during commemoration of Ninoy Aquino’s birthday in San Manuel, Tarlac)

 

Ang kuwento po ni Ninoy Aquino ay isang kuwento ng pagbabago. Ako po ay ipinanganak noong 1977. Kaunti lang po ang oras ko na nakasama ko si Tito Ninoy. Noong ako ay pinanganak, siya ay nakakulong sa Fort Bonifacio. Yung mga panahong nakasama ko siya at madalian lang kasi bibigyan lang kayo ng kaunting oras para makasama yung mga nakakulong. Ang kuwento sa akin ng aking mga magulang ay kapag dinadala daw ako sa Fort Bonifacio, ang sasabihin ni Tito Ninoy ay: “Paul at Melanie, iwan niyo na si Bam dito para may kasama naman ako!” Sabay iiyak naman ako at sasabihing, “Ayoko po, gusto ko pong umuwi.” Iyan po ang experience ko kay Tito Ninoy.

 

Noong namatay siya noong 1983, ako po yung isa sa mga nagsalita sa entablado, 6 years old pa lang po ako noon. Umikot po kami sa buong Pilipinas noong 1983 kasama ang aking lola. Nagsalita kami sa mga protesta laban sa pagkamatay ni Ninoy Aquino at laban sa Martial Law. Yun po ang simula ko bilang speaker sa entablado. Habang tumatanda, laging binabanggit ng mga tao na kamukhang kamukha ako ng Tito ko. Kahit nung nagpunta ako dito, “Uy si Sen. Bam, kamukhang kamukha ni Ninoy.” Totoo po iyan. Because of that, naging malalim sa akin ang buhay ng aking Tito Ninoy. Inaral ko po ang buhay niya. Masasabi ko na idolo ko siya kahit hindi ko siya nakilala nang matagal.

 

Para sa akin, ang buhay ni Ninoy Aquino ay matingkad. Sadly, hindi ito napag-uusapan sa ating panahon sa eskwelahan at sa media. Ang napag-uusapan lang ang kanyang pagkamatay. Ang hindi napag-uusapan kay Ninoy Aquino ay ang kanyang pagbabago dahil ang kuwento ni Ninoy ay isang kuwento ng pagbabago. Dito po ako nakakarelate. Mahirap makarelate dun sa kanyang pagkamatay kasi wala naman sa atin dito, ay gustong mamatay. Kahit gaano pa kalakas ang ating pagmamahal sa bayan at handa tayong mamatay, palagay ko wala sa atin ang may gustong mamatay ngayon. Nakakarelate ako sa kuwento ng pagbabago. Dahil noong siya ay kinulong, ang tawag sa kanya noon ay “Wonder Boy”, number one Senator, at Presidentiable. Isa pong tradisyonal na politiko si Tito Ninoy noon. Siya ay ambisyoso – may ambisyon na maging presidente.

 

Noong siya ay kinulong ng 7 years at 7 months, may panahon ng solitary confinement din. May panahon na wala siyang makitang pamilya. Talagang naubos po si Ninoy Aquino. Sabi niya, “I started from the beginning.” Noong siya ay nakulong at wala nang makausap, nawala lahat ng suporta, nawala lahat ng media, nawala lahat ng kapangyarihan, doon niya nahanap ang kanyang pagmamahal sa Diyos, at sa kanyang pamilya. At doon niya nahanap muli ang kanyang pagmamahal sa kanyang bayan. Kung makikita po ninyo ang Ninoy Aquino bago siya makulong, at pagkataon niya makulong, may pagbabago talaga. Lumalim ang kanyang pagiging pinuno ng kanyang bansa. Lumalim ang kanyang pagmamahal sa bayan. Kung noon, ang pagmamahal sa bayan lamang ay makakamit sa pagiging Senador o pagiging Presidente, pagkatapos niya makulong, ang kanyang pagmamahal sa bayan ay  nandun na sa pagsasakripisyo at pag-aalay ng kanyang sarili nang buong buo.

 

Ngayon pong birthday ni Ninoy, huwag nating kakalimutan na ang kanyang pagkamatay ay hindi lang dahil nabaril siya. Iyan po ay dahil sa napakalalim niyang pagmamahal sa ating bayan na mas ginusto niyang umuwi kahit na baka makulong at mapanganib ang kanyang buhay kaysa sa manatili sa Amerika na mapayapa naman at ligtas. Ganyan ang pagmamahal niya. Handa niyang harapin ang anumang pagbatikos, pagkakulong, at panganib basta makasama niya tayo dito sa ating bayan. Of course, noong siya ay bumalik noong 1983, siya ay pinatay. Kaya ang kuwento ni Tito Ninoy ay isang kuwento ng pagbabago. Isang kuwento ng paghahanap muli ng totoong mahalaga sa ating buhay – pagmamahal sa pamilya, pagmamahal sa Diyos, at pagmamahal sa ating bayan. Napakalalim na kahit ano ay handa nating ibigay para sa ating mga minamahal.

 

Sana po, ang kabataan natin ay marinig iyan. Kasi kapag tinatanong ko po sila kung sino si Ninoy Aquino, ang sagot po ay nila ay “Yung nasa 500 po!” o kaya naman “Ang tatay po ni Kris!” Hanggang doon na lang. Kaya sana, tayo na nandito ngayon, yung mga senior na buhay na buhay noong 80s, ay ibahagi ang kanyang kuwento. Na kung paanong ang ating mga lingkod-bayan noon ay hindi lang nandiyan upang palakpakan, kundi nandiyan para ialay ang sarili para sa ating bayan. Yun po sana ang ikwento natin sa ating mga apo. Palagay ko, marami sa mga lider ngayon ay takot na takot at hindi makapagsalita. Nakita natin na si Ninoy Aquino ay hindi natakot na makulong at mapanganib ang buhay dahil napakalalim ng kanyang pagmamahal sa Diyos at sa bayan. Iyon sana ang maging paalala natin sa araw na ito.

 

Si Tito Ninoy, palaging nagpaparamdam sa akin. Noong 2012, bago ako tumakbo sa Senado, nakatanggap ako ng isang award na “Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World” noong December 2012. By that time, naka-file na po tayo pero hindi pa nagsisimula ang kampanya. Ang award ay ibibigay sa Taiwan. Pagdating ko doon, dinala ako ng organizer sa hotel. Noong palapit na ako sa napakalaking hotel na Grand Hotel, ang sabi ko sa organizer, “This looks very familiar.” Ang sabi niya sa akin, “Oh Bam, that’s where your uncle stayed before he went to the Philippines.” Doon po siya nagstay bago lumipad pabalik ng ating bansa. Kaya pala pamilyar sa akin kasi nakikita ko ito sa mga picture. Paglapit ko sa front desk, sabi sa aking noong manager “We know the room of your uncle!”. Alam nila yung room noong August 21 at dumiretso siya sa airport papunta sa Pilipinas. Mayroon daw silang plaque doon sa kuwarto na iyon, baka gusto ko daw puntahan. But there’s a guest in the room so baka hindi ako payagang pumasok. Pero pumunta po ako doon sa kuwarto, kinatok ko at walang sumasagot kaya inisip ko walang tao. Paglingon ko, may lumapit na Koryano at lumapit sa akin “Yes? This is my room.” So inexplain ko na my uncle stayed in this room before he was killed in the airport. “Can I go inside?” Pinayagan niya ako at nakita ko yung desk kung saan siya huling nagsulat, yung kama kung saan siya huling natulog at nag rosaryo, yung balkonahe kung saan na-picturan siya na nakatingin sa malayo kasi alam niya na ang buhay niya ay magbabago pag-uwi niya sa ating bansa.

 

Noong gabi, nagkaroon na po ng awarding sa Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World. Yung intermission number ay isang Chinese Opera na may Chinese instruments. Ang kanilang tinugtog ay puro Chinese songs. Yung pinakadulo, sinabi ng organizer “For the last song of this Chinese-Taiwanese Orchestra, we are going to share with you a Western Song.” Ang kanta na tinugtog nila ay “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”. Iyon ang tinugtog ng orchestra noong event na iyon. Sa lahat ng kinanta nila, sa lahat ng kanta na pwede nilang tugtugin sa Grand Hotel kung saan nagstay ang tito ko, ang tinugtog nila ay “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”. Sabi ko nga, “Nagpaparamdam yata si Tito Ninoy.”

 

Ngayon po, ang pagpaparamdam niya ay hindi na ganyan ka supernatural. Ang pagpaparamdam niya ay simple lang. Kapag tayo ay nasa Senado, pinaglalaban natin ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan. Pinaglalaban natin ang edukasyon, ang mahihirap sa ating bansa na makaranas ng kaunting yaman ng ating bansa, pinaglalaban natin yung mga magsasaka, yung mga mahihirap na nagiging biktima ng karahasan, doon po nagpaparamdam si Tito Ninoy sa akin. Ang sinasabi niya, “Gayahin mo ako – yung katapangan at pagmamahal sa bayan. Huwag kang mawawala sa landas. Gayahin mo ako.” Kaya sa aking opisina, may malaking picture doon. Siya lang ang may malaking picture doon. Araw-araw pinapaalala ko sa aking sarili na kailangan natin ng mga pinuno na nagmamahal sa Diyos, sa ating pamilya, at sa ating bayan. Matapang at hinaharap ang lahat ng kailangang harapin para sa ating mga kababayan at mamamayan. Iyon po ang pagpaparamdam ni Ninoy Aquino sa aking pang araw-araw na buhay. Sana sa inyong pang araw-araw na buhay, maramdaman niyo ang kanyang pagmamahal at pagsakripisyo sa ating bansang Pilpinas.

 

Bilang pagtatapos, gusto ko ishare sa inyo ang isang maikling video mula sa Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation. Naisip ko na magandang magtapos gamit ang salita mismo ni Ninoy. Marami po tayong nakita pero ito ay isang 5-minute short video – Ninoy Aquino on his own words. Sa kanya mismong salita, makikita natin ang kanyang pagmamahal sa bayan, sa Diyos, sa pamilya, at sa ating lahat.

 

Maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat!

Sen. Bam files bill to empower OFWs to start businesses in the PH

Sen. Bam Aquino filed a bill to provide incentives and benefits to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who wish to start a business in the Philippines, following the suggestion of an OFW from Batangas City during a local consultation session.

“Ito’y isang reporma na hiniling mismo ng ating mga OFW. Marami sa kanila ay nais magkaroon ng kabuhayan sa Pilipinas at makapiling ang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam in his Senate Bill No. 2101 or the “Business Incentives for OFWs Act.”

“Isa sa mga pagkukunan ng kabuhayan ng ating OFWs ay ang pagkakaroon ng matagumpay na negosyo. Bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng kabuhayan sa Pilipinas upang makasama nila ang kanilang pamilya at makitang lumaki ang kanilang mga anak,” added Sen. Bam.

If enacted into law, OFW-owned enterprises will be given benefits and incentives once they decide to invest their hard-earned money in the Philippines, including exemption from payment of income tax for five years following registration.

Other benefits for an OFW-owned business enterprise include 50-percent reduction on real property taxes and tax and duty free importation of raw materials, capital equipment, machineries and spare parts exclusively used in the operation.

Enterprises owned by OFWs will also receive preferential access to financing from government financial institutions at rates below the market rates for five years following registration.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam has filed several measures concerning the welfare of Filipino workers, including OFWs.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act to boost support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

If passed into law, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to equip OFWs with knowledge to start their own business.

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

He has been a fierce advocate for entrepreneurship as a means to overcome poverty and provide livelihood to Filipino families.

Sen. Bam to conduct Senate hearing on increasing telco players in PH

The government should keep the market open to more telecommunications companies to give the public a better choice for quality and affordable internet connection, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Kailangan natin ng dagdag-kumpetisyon sa ating bayan. Why limit the industry to 3 players? The more, the merrier the consumer,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law providing free internet in public places.
 
“Iyong mga bansa gaya ng Singapore na pagkaliit-liit, tatlo hanggang apat ang kanilang telco, tayo dalawa lang,” added Sen. Bam.
 
As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam will conduct a hearing tomorrow, November 20, to look into the possibility of adding more telco players to the mix.
 
“Habang marami ang player at open ang playing field, mas maraming pagpipilian, mas gaganda ang serbisyo, at mas magmumura ang presyo para sa ating mga kababayan. Bakit natin ito pipigilan?” said Sen. Bam.
 
The senator added that the hearing will also investigate other issues about the third player Mislatel, including concerns about national security and accusations of spying against one of its partner China Telecoms.
 
Sen. Bam has been investigating the slow and expensive internet connection in the country since the 16th Congress during his time as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
 
Aside from determining necessary legislation to boost internet speed, the hearings also compelled the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to come out with guidelines on minimum internet speeds and conducted speed testing in various areas of the Philippines to check compliance of telcos.
 
Sen. Bam also led the ‘Nakaw Load’ hearings in the Senate, allowing for irate customers to push for changes in the telcos’ policies on load deductions.

Sen. Bam: Patibayin ang paghanga sa mga Pilipinong manunulat, ituro ang Panitikan sa kolehiyo

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the Supreme Court’s decision excluding Panitikan and Filipino as core subjects in college, saying that we should strengthen our Filipino identity and appreciation for our national language.

 “Sa kolehiyo lumalim ang pagmamahal ko sa bayan. Kaya mahalaga na hanggang tertiary level, tuluy-tuloy ang pag-aaral at pagpapalalim sa ating pagiging Pilipino, at malaking bahagi dito ang ating literatura,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law granting free education in state universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam shared that it was in his college years that he became more aware of the country’s needs, and he emphasized that Filipino literature can help deepen the youth’s love and appreciation for the struggles, revolutions and victories of fellow Filipinos.

“Kilalanin at ipagmalaki natin ang mga kababayan nating makata’t manunulat na maaaring maging inspirasyon sa ating mga estudyante sa kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education.

Currently, Sen. Bam is also pushing for other education-related measures, including Senate Bill No. 1278 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

The measure aims to establish a job placement office in every public high school and SUC in the country, which will provide industry matching, career counseling, and employment facilitation.

Trabaho Centers must also address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

Overall, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name.

Sen. Bam thanks government for fuel tax suspension, appeals for complete repeal of TRAIN Law tax on petroleum

Sen. Bam Aquino lauded the government for listening to the people’s plea and suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying this could lead to its eventual removal.
 
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa Presidente at sa kanyang economic managers sa pag-aksyon sa isyu na matagal nang daing ng mga pamilyang nahihirapan sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
“Ito’y tagumpay ng mga Pilipinong matagal nang humihiling ng tulong sa matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam, who has been calling for the suspension and roll-back of TRAIN Law’s tax on fuel since May this year.
 
Sen. Bam made the reaction after Budget Sec. Ben Diokno announced that the government will suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law in 2019.
 
Sen. Bam hopes that the government’s move is an indication of its willingness to eventually remove the all of the excise tax on fuel under its tax reform program, which could lead to lower prices of food and other goods.
 
“Mahalaga po itong suspension ng dagdag-buwis sa Enero, pero mahalaga rin tanggalin ang buwis na nakapataw na sa ngayon. Kailangan pa ring tugunan ang problema ng mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Despite this development, Sen. Bam is determined to push for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, which he filed last May.
 
The measure attempts to change and fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of fuel tax once the country’s inflation rate is too high.

Sen. Bam: Improve employability, address underemployment by passing job placement bill

As way of providing livelihood for Filipinos amid the high prices of food and other goods, Sen. Bam Aquino has renewed his push for the enactment of his measure that seeks to establish job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Dubbed as Trabaho Center in Schools Act, Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1278 aims to establish a job placement office in every public high school, college and university in the country.

“Ang diploma hindi pwedeng nakasabit lang sa dingding, dapat nagiging trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law granting free college.

“Kailangan ang panukalang ito para makatulong sa pamilyang Pilipino na nalulunod sa taas presyo. Kailangan madagdagan ang budget ng pamilya na panggastos sa araw-araw,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam added that the measure, if passed into law, will help address unemployment and underemployment, which currently stands at 2.36 million and 9.8 million Filipinos, respectively.

Under the measure, a job placement office must provide industry matching, career counseling, and employment facilitation, according to Sen. Bam.

They will also address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Don’t sacrifice children’s welfare for revenue

Alarmed by report that children’s nutrition is affected by inflation and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that their health should be prioritized over government revenue.

“Nakakabahala na mga bata ang pinakatinding tinamaan ng TRAIN Law at mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, referring to a report by Ateneo de Manila University researchers that Filipino children were deprived of needed nutrients due to high inflation from February to September.

“Huwag ipagpalit sa dagdag na buwis ang kalusugan ng ating mga anak,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Reiterating his willingness to work with the government to lower prices of food and other goods, Sen. Bam said there is an urgent need to suspend and roll back of the excise tax on petroleum products imposed by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 1798 or the “Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill” last May to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law and roll it back to December 31, 2017 levels.

The only measure in the Senate that seeks to amend the TRAIN Law, Senate Bill No. 1798 aims to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate surpasses the government’s inflation target for three consecutive months.

Furthermore, Sen. Bam said the government should ramp up the rollout of the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and even the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.

Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implement Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, which aims to eradicate hunger and undernutrition by providing free nutritious meals to public day care, kindergarten and elementary school students.

Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of the measure as principal sponsor and co-author during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam joins MFIs in celebrating anniversary of significant law, MFI NGOs Act

CEBU CITY – Sen. Bam Aquino joined the microfinance community here to celebrate the third anniversary of the enactment of Republic Act 10693 or the Microfinance NGOs Act, which he spearheaded as principal sponsor in the Senate.

The reform was signed into law on Nov. 3, 2015 and has since saved the sector P479.5 million, allowing MFI NGOs to help more Filipinos in need of low-interest, no-collateral loans.

In his speech during the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) Microfinance Entrepreneurs Summit, Sen. Bam thanked MFI NGOs for their role in crafting RA 10693 to help them become more effective in providing assistance to millions of Filipinos.

“Talagang maganda ang ating nakakamit kapag tayo’y nagtutulungan. Kaya po natin gumawa ng mga repormang nakakatulong sa ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Bam said.

“Thanks to our law, there are more micro-loans and more training programs from MFI NGOs for Filipino families and micro-entrepreneurs,” said Sen. Bam.

The senator also said that many micro-enterprises and local entrepreneurs inspired him to push for the passage of the law in the Senate, saying RA 10693 provides them the needed assistance and opportunity to succeed.

“Kaunting tulong, kaunting oportunidad at kaya nang iangat ng Pilipino ang kanilang pamilya. Kaunting tulong at matinding pagkayod at umaasenso ang pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

Before he became a senator, Sen. Bam worked closely with MFI NGOs during his time as social entrepreneur and co-founder of Hapinoy program, which assists sari-sari store owners.

“Noong binigyan namin sila ng training sa negosyo, noong iniugnay natin sila sa MFIs para makakuha ng puhunan, nagawa nilang palaguin ang kanilang munting tindahan, mapaaral ang mga anak, at makalikha ng mas mabuting kinabukasan para sa kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam. 

Republic Act 10693 gives incentives to MFI NGOs to continue helping Filipinos overcome poverty not just through financing but also through financial literacy, livelihood, and entrepreneurship training.

The law also provides MFI NGOs needed support and incentives that includes access to government programs and projects, technical assistance and exemption from taxes.

Sen. Bam’s advocacy for micro, small and medium enterprises inspired him to push for the enactment of several laws, such as the Go Negosyo Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act, Credit Surety Act and the Personal Property Security Act.

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