teambam, Author at The Official Website of Senator Bam Aquino #BAMsaSenado

Bam hopes nat’l broadband plan will boost PH internet infra

Sen. Bam Aquino hopes that the government’s national broadband plan will help leapfrog the country’s current internet infrastructure.

Sen. Bam said newly-created Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will present its national broadband plans to the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs, on Dec. 6.

“I’m hopeful that it will be a good proposal and that we can leapfrog the current infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said in a media interview.

Sen. Bam expects the DICT to present different options on the national broadband plan: use the current infrastructure, put up its own system or find other methodologies to connect.

“We have to know how much it will cost and what are the benefits of each option. It all boils down to cost-benefit analysis,” Sen. Bam said. “I will be cautious and wait for them to present properly.”

“We have to work on solutions that will give the public cheaper, better quality internet for the long term,” he added.

According to Sen. Bam, other stakeholders will also have a chance to scrutinize and propose changes that will fine-tune the DICT’s plan.

“Hopefully, we will be able to come to a consensus on what we need to do to be able to improve our internet infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam also invited the National Telecommunications Commission to the hearing to inquire about the status of new players that will help improve the competitive landscape.

In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded several hearings on the slow and expensive Internet service in the country.

As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology in the 17th Congress, he has filed several bills that will improve internet quality in the Philippines.

BIDA KA!: Itigil na ang ‘no permit, no exam’ policy

Mga bida, isa sa madalas ireklamo ng mga magulang at estudyante ay ang tinatawag na “no permit, no exam” policy na ipinatutupad ng ilang paaralan.

Sa ganitong sistema, pinagbabawalan ng paaralan ang isang estudyante na kumuha ng pagsusulit kung walang permit dahil hindi bayad sa tuition fee o iba pang bayarin.

Isa sa mga estudyanteng nakaranas nito ay lumapit sa ating tanggapan upang iparating ang kanyang hinaing.

Ayon sa estudyante, nakahanda na ang pambayad niya sa tuition ngunit nagkaroon ng biglang emergency ang kanyang pamilya at nagamit ang pera.

Sa kabila ng pangakong babayaran ang tuition sa takdang panahon, hindi pa rin pinakuha ng pagsusulit ang estudyante bunsod ng kawalan ng permit.

Resulta, na-delay ang computation ng grade ng estudyante. Nakumpleto lang ito nang makapag-special exam siya matapos bayaran ang utang.

***

Matutuldukan na ang ganitong patakaran kapag naisabatas ang inihain kong Senate Bill No. 1235, na layong gawing iligal para sa anumang eskuwelahan na pigilan ang estudyante na makapag-exam dahil sa hindi nabayarang tuition fee at iba pang bayarin.

Ang aking paniwala, bakit kailangang pigilan ang isang estudyante na makakuha ng exam dahil sa utang kung posibleng bayaran ito ng kanyang pamilya sa malapit na hinaharap.

Kapag naisabatas ito, hindi na maaaring pagbawalan ng mga paaralan na makakuha ng pagsusulit ang mga estudyanteng hindi bayad ang tuition at iba pang bayarin o bigyan sila ng hiwalay na schedule ng exam na iba sa kabuuan ng mga estudyante.

Sa panukala, hindi na rin puwedeng obligahin ng paaralan ang isang estudyante na kumuha ng special permit para makakuha ng exam mula sa mga opisyal ng eskuwelahan bago ang pagsusulit.

Sakop ng panukala ang pribadong elementary schools, pribadong high schools, public at private post-secondary technical-vocational institutes at pampubliko at pribadong Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), kabilang ang local colleges at universities.

***

Pagmumultahin ng P20,000 hanggang P50,000 ang opisyal o empleyado ng paaralan na lalabag sa kautusan.

Saklaw nito ang deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors, principals, teachers at iba pang indibidwal na mapatutunayang lumabag dito.

Bilang proteksiyon sa mga paaralan, kailangang magbigay ang magulang o legal guardian ng estudyante ng promissory note, na naka-address sa paaralan, kung saan nakasaad ang halaga at petsa ng bayad.

***

Mahalagang matiyak natin na hindi maaantala at maaapektuhan ng anumang utang ang pag-aaral ng estudyante.

Naniniwala tayo na sa tulong ng edukasyon, mas malaki ang pagkakataon ng mga Pilipino na umasenso.

Mangyayari lang ito kung protektado ang kapakanan ng ating mga estudyante para tulungan silang makatapos sa pag-aaral.

Senate Bill No. 1249: Amending R.A. No. 7277 or Magna Carta for Disabled Persons

This bill seeks to guarantee the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits, and employment term s for PWDs as any other qualified employees. Through this legislation, government offices will be mandated to ensure that 2% o f their employees comprise of PWDs whereas private organizations will be required to employ a workforce, at least 1% of which is made up o f PWDs.

As we forge onward in building the nation better and stronger, we must take the necessary steps to ensure that we are building an inclusive society where no sector is left behind from the gains of development.

This bill will allow persons with disabilities more meaningful and productive participation in society. Furthermore, an increased PWD presence in all workforces aims to heighten public awareness and consideration for the rights o f PWDs.

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NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Tagumpay sa FabLab ng Bohol Negosyo Centers

Mga kanegosyo, binuksan sa kalagitnaan ng 2015 ang dalawang Negosyo Center sa lalawigan ng Bohol.

Ang isang Negosyo Center, na pinatatakbo ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ay makikita sa ikalawang palapag ng FCB Main Branch Bldg., CPG Avenue sa Tagbilaran City.

Ang ikalawa naman ay nakaposisyon sa kapitolyo ng lalawigan na matatagpuan din sa Tagbilaran City.

Sa huling ulat ng DTI, halos 4,000 na ang natulungan ng dalawang Negosyo Center sa pamamagitan ng seminar, konsultasyon, marketing, product development, pautang at marami pang iba.

Ang dalawang Negosyo Center ay nakakonekta sa kauna-unahang digital fabrication laboratory o FabLab sa Pilipinas na makikita sa Bohol Island State University (BISU).

Ang FabLab ay nakatutulong sa entrepreneurs na maidisenyo ang kanilang mga ideya sa negosyo, tulad ng produkto, gamit ang makabagong fabrication machines, tulad ng 3D printer, laser cutter, printer at cutter.

Ang FabLab ay nakatulong na sa maraming entrepreneurs na lumapit sa ating mga Negosyo Center sa Bohol.

***

Una na rito ang Children’s Joy Foundation ni Aling Evelyn Vizcarra, na lumapit sa Negosyo Center upang humingi ng tulong sa pagpapaganda ng packaging at labeling ng kanyang produktong pagkain.

Isa sa mga payo na ibinigay ng Negosyo Center kay Aling Evelyn Vizcarra ay pagdalo sa Food Packaging and Labeling seminar.

Sa seminar, pinayuhan din si Aling Evelyn na magtungo sa FabLab. Agad namang inasikaso ng mga lokal na designer ang bagong disenyo ng balot at label ng mga produkto ni Aling Evelyn.

Ngayon, agaw-pansin na ang mga produktong ibinebenta ni Aling Evelyn sa mga lokal na tindahan dahil sa magandang disenyo ng FabLab.

***

Isa rin sa mga natulungan ng FabLab ay Candabon RIC Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

Lumapit ang kooperatiba sa Negosyo Center upang humanap ng solusyon sa produksiyon ng kendi.

Problemado ang kooperatiba dahil ang plastic na molde ay dumidikit sa kendi. May pagkakataon din na nagkakaroon ng crack ang molde at ang maliliit na piraso nito ay sumasama sa sangkap ng kendi.

Sa tulong ng FabLab, nakagawa sila ng moldeng gawa sa silicon na nagpabilis sa kanilang produksiyon mula 500 piraso patungong 1,000 kendi kada-araw.

Maliban pa rito, naiwasan ang aksaya sa sangkap at gumanda pa ang hugis ng kanilang kendi.

***

Mga kanegosyo, ang Republic Act 10644 o ang Go Negosyo Act ay ang una nating batas noong 16th Congress.

Itinatakda ng Go Negosyo Act ang paglalagay ng Negosyo Center sa lalawigan, siyudad at munisipalidad sa buong bansa na siyang tutulong sa micro, small at medium enterprises (MSME).

Sa huling bilang ay 400 na ang Negosyo Centers sa buong bansa na handang tumulong sa ating micro, small at medium enterprises.

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

Bam wants to prohibit ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy

November 29, 2016
In Education, Issues

A senator seeks to prohibit the discriminatory “No permit, No exam” policy in schools by making it illegal for any educational institution to prevent a student from taking examinations due to unpaid tuition and other fees.

“Why should the student be barred from taking their tests and completing their requirements when there’s still a chance their family can settle payment of fees later,” asked Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1235 prohibits schools from disallowing students with due and unpaid tuition and other school fees from taking examinations or providing a different schedule of exam from the rest of the student body.

The measure also bars schools from requiring a student to secure a special permit to take the examinations from the school authorities prior to the administration of examinations, according to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

A fine of P20,000 but not more than P50,000 will be imposed on any educational institution official or employee.

This includes deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors, principals, teachers and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the aforementioned acts.

However, the parents or legal guardian of the student must provide a promissory note, addressed to the school, indicating the amount and the date of payment as protection to the school’s right to fair payment.

The measure covers private elementary schools, private secondary schools, public and private post-secondary technical-vocational institutes and public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including local colleges and universities.

“By penalizing this unlawful practice, Filipino families stand to gain by ensuring that students unable to settle educational fees on-time, may still benefit from the continuity of their education once outstanding balances are fully paid,” Sen. Bam said.

“Tulungan po natin ang pamilyang Pilipino na umasenso sa tulong ng edukasyon,” he added.

By protecting the welfare of students, Sen. Bam pointed out that they will have a fair opportunity to complete their education.

Bam eyes more livelihood, business opportunities for OFWs

A senator wants to integrate programs on entrepreneurship for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to help them start their own business, making it unnecessary for them to leave their families to work abroad.

“Mas maganda kung hindi lang tuwing Pasko o kada dalawang taon lang nabubuo ang pamilya ng OFWs. Mangyayari ito kung mayroon silang sapat na pagkakataon at kaalaman na makapagsimula ng negosyo,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

Sen. Bam has 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.

“Sa pamamagitan nito, magkakaroon sila ng sapat na kaalaman para magtayo ng sarili nilang negosyo upang hindi na sila mangamba sa kanilang pagbalik sa Pilipinas,” the senator stressed.

In addition, Sen. Bam also encouraged families of OFWs to visit the nearest Negosyo Center to get a proper advice on what kind of business to establish while their loved ones are working abroad.

“Mahalaga na pag-uwi ng ating mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas, makikita nila ang bunga ng kanilang pinaghirapan,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from the livelihood aspect, Senate Bill No. 648 mandates the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a help desk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.

“It also sets effective and efficient information dissemination on labor, employment, and migration data through various mediums, including social media, to provide OFWs with credible formation” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam recognizes the immense contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy, saying that from January to August 2015, their remittances reached $16.21 billion or P764 billion.

Despite this, OFWs remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers. In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success.

In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last September 2015, only 38.2 pecrcent of the 563 household‐respondents said that a portion of the money from OFWs are set aside for savings.

“This is very alarming since many OFWs come home without a plan for retirement,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam eyes more jobs for PWDs in govt agencies, private firms

More jobs await persons with disabilities (PWDs) in government offices and private entities if the bill submitted by Sen. Bam Aquino will be enacted into law.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1249 seeks to amend Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to mandate government agencies to ensure that two percent of their employees comprise of PWDs.

Private organizations, for their part, will be required to employ 1 percent of their workforce from PWDs.

“This bill seeks to guarantee the inclusion of PWDs in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits and employment terms for PWDs as any other qualified employee,” Sen. Bam said.

“Let’s give our PWDs more opportunities to generate livelihood,” he added.

If passed into law, Sen. Bam believes the measure will give PWDs a more meaningful and productive role in society.

“Furthermore, an increased PWD presence in the workforce aims to heighten public awareness and consideration for their rights,” Sen. Bam said.

In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam tirelessly worked for the welfare of PWDs, with the passage of Republic Act 10754 that exempts them from paying the value added tax (VAT).

The law also gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

BIDA KA!: Maging mapagbantay

Mga bida, magsisinungaling ako kung sasabihin kong hindi ako nabigla at naapektuhan sa ginawang paglibing kay dating Pangulo Ferdinand Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani (LNMB) noong Biyernes.

Parang nadaganan ng ilang sako ng semento ang aking dibdib nang mabalitaan kong patagong inilibing ang diktador sa lugar na inilaan para lang sa mga bayani at mga sundalong tapat na nanilbihan at nagbuwis ng buhay para sa bayan.

Sa Pilipinas lang po may ganitong nangyari — na ang isang diktador na nasa likod ng pagkamatay, pagkawala at pagnanakaw ng bilyun-bilyong piso sa bayan ay itinuring pang bayani.

Sa Germany, nagpasa sila ng batas para ibaon na sa limot ang alaala ng madugo at malupit na panunungkulan ni Adolf Hitler. Ang kanyang libingan ay parking lot na lang sa Berlin.

Hindi naman pinayagang mailibing sa kanilang bansa ang diktador ng Uganda na si Idi Amin at Slobodan Milosevic ng Serbia.

Ganito kung ituring ng ibang bansa ang mga taong nang-api sa kanila.

Pero sa atin, hindi pa nga malinaw kung paano itinuturo ang Martial Law sa mga paaralan.

Ang matindi pa nito, binigyan ng parangal at itinabi pa sa mga totoong bayani ang mga labi ng dating Pangulo na siyang nasa likod ng pinakamadilim na bahagi ng kasaysayan ng bansa.

***

Nakadagdag pa sa sakit ang panakaw na paglilibing sa dating diktador. Nagulat ang buong bansa nang marinig sa mga balita na dadalhin na ang mga labi ni Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

Marami ang nagsabi na hanggang sa huli, niloko pa rin ni Marcos ang taumbayan sa patago at panakaw na paglilibing sa kanya.

Dobleng sakit ang inabot ng mga biktima ng Martial Law sa nangyaring ito. Sa pangyayaring ito, muling nabuksan ang mga sugat at mistulang nilagyan pa ng asin.

Sa pagpayag ng pamahalaan na ilibing si Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani, parang niyurakan na ang alaala ng mga namatay, nawala at mga pinahirapan noong panahon ng Martial Law.

Sila ang mga lumaban sa diktadurya upang matamasa natin ang kalayaan at demokrasya na ating nararanasan ngayon. Ngunit lahat ng kanilang sakripisyo ay nauwi lang sa wala sa nangyaring ito.

Sa halip na itakwil ang katiwalian at itigil ang tinatawag na cronyism, inilibing pa natin ang mismong simbolo nito sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

***

Parati kong naririnig na ang Martial Law daw ay laban ng pamilyang Aquino at Marcos pero ito’y malayo sa katotohanan.

Sa isang rally sa People Power Monument pagkatapos ng libing ni Marcos, karamihan sa mga dumalo, hindi ko kakilala at lalong hindi namin kamag-anak o kaya’y kaibigan.

Ang totoo, marami pa nga sa mga dumalo ay mga kritiko rin ni dating Pangulong Aquino.

Kaya maling-mali na sabihin na ito’y tungkol lang sa dalawang pamilya.

Ang laban na ito ay tungkol sa ating bayan, tungkol po sa ating kasaysayan at tungkol po sa ating hinaharap.

***

Sa pangyayaring ito, dapat na tayong magising at maging mapagbantay dahil hindi na normal ang nangyayaring ito sa ating panahon.

Kaya sa atin pong nagmamahal sa demokrasya, kailangan lagi tayong gising at mapagmatyag sa anumang nagaganap sa ating bansa.

Bam lauds public, private sector for success of Negosyo Centers

Senator Bam Aquino credited the success of Negosyo Centers to the continued cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of government as well as the private sector.

“Maayos po iyong batas, nakapondo po ito. Ngayon po ipinasa na sa executive. In fairness to our DTI family, buong-buo ang kanilang pagtanggap sa Negosyo Center. They’ve made the Negosyo Center one of their priorities,” said Sen. Bam during the launching of the 400th Negosyo Center in Marikina City.

Sen. Bam is the principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in the Senate.

Through the Negosyo Center, Sen. Bam said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) now has a frontline service organization that will cater to the needs of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.

“May 400 na sentro na pong pupuntahan ang ating mga maliliit na negosyante para makahingi ng tulong, kahit saan pa sila bansa,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Sen. Bam also lauded the private sector and non-government organizations for its participation in the success of the Negosyo Centers.

“In many areas, the Negosyo Center has become a focal point for support, even NGOs, microfinance groups, basta may kinalaman sa pagtulong sa maliliit na negosyante, ito na ang kanilang bahay,” the senator pointed out.

The Go Negosyo Act, the first law passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress, mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

The Negosyo Center will provide access to bigger 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.

Sen. Bam continues to work closely with the DTI to ensure the effective implementation of the law.

According to the DTI, the number of Negosyo Centers will increase to 420 by the end of 2016.

Author: teambam