Consumer Protection

Ensure Supply of Food in Typhoon-Hit Areas – Sen. Bam to DTI, LGUs

 

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units (LGUs) to ensure supply of basic goods and other important commodities in areas devastated by typhoon Glenda to avoid hike in prices.

“We must ensure that there’s enough supply of basic goods and other commodities in areas severely damaged by the recent typhoon, especially in the Bicol region,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Usually, prices of basic products in areas devastated by typhoons and other calamities increase because of supply problems,” added Aquino.

Aquino also reminded businesses in areas placed under a state of calamity to abide by the 60-day price freeze imposed by the DTI.

 These areas are Obando, Bataan, Muntinlupa, Cavite, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and Gumaca, Quezon.

Under Republic Act No. 7581 or the Price Act, an automatic price freeze is imposed in areas placed under state of calamity to ensure that goods remained at prevailing prices until the state of calamity is lifted.

“The clearing of roads due to fallen trees and other debris is crucial to the delivery of goods to typhoon stricken areas. We call on communities to help out our agencies to ensure our thoroughfares are passable,” Aquino added.

Aquino said among the products covered by the price freeze are basic non-agricultural necessities, including canned fish and other canned marine products, processed milk, coffee, laundry soap, detergents, candles, bread, and salt.

Also included in price freeze are fresh vegetables, roots crops, sugar, cooking oil, firewood, charcoal and medicine classified as essential by the Department of Health.

A fine of up to P1,000,000 and a maximum 10-year jail sentence await violators of the Price Act.

“The Price Act ensures availability of basic necessities and prime commodities at reasonable prices at all times without denying legitimate business a fair return on investment,” the senator said.

In addition, the lawmaker also appealed to businessmen to keep the cost of construction and building materials as a way of helping those rebuilding their homes destroyed by the typhoon.

Recently, Sen. Aquino has filed a bill seeking to establish emergency depots to combat hoarding, price manipulation and inflation during calamities.

In his Senate Bill No. 2215, Aquino said that emergency depots will provide survivors of natural or man-made calamities quick access to affordable basic goods and other prime commodities.

“Community depots will ensure that goods in the market would be available to avoid hoarding in affected areas and protect survivors from price manipulation during times of crisis,” said Aquino.

 

Photo source: Inquirer.net

 

 

Sen. Bam, Gov’t Agencies, Private Groups Set Up MSMEs Hotline vs. Graft and Corruption

 

The days of corrupt government officials and employees are now numbered through hotline numbers 16565 and 0908-8816565.

The Office of Senator Bam Aquino (OSBA) and concerned government agencies and private groups have joined forces to form WASAK or the “Walang Asenso sa Kotong” campaign where small businessmen can air their complaints and other issues against government agencies.

“Our office’s main advocacy is to fight poverty and unemployment through entrepreneurship. However, our small businesses have become milking cows for crooked government employees and private individuals,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The launching of the hotline was held at the Civil Service Commission (CSC) in Quezon City.  It was attended bySen. Aquino, CSC Chair Francis Duque and COO Donald Dee of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Other partners of the campaign include the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Bantay.ph and the National Competiveness Council (NCC).

“This hotline gives the micro and small entrepreneurs an avenue to air their complaints and other issues against illegal practices such as graft and corruption, red tape and extortion that are detrimental to their growth,” the senator added.

Aquino said graft and corruption in government must stop because it drives away potential entrepreneurs and other investors and prevents existing businesses from expanding.

The CCB is a platform for citizens to forward their complaints on red tape, kotong and tongpats, and under-the-table incidents through text messages, email and phone calls.

“The hotline also provides an avenue where complaints and issues are resolved in an effective and timely manner. Now, entrepreneurs have a dependable ally in Wasak,” stressed Aquino.

Wasak also seeks to provide developmental advice for micro and small entrepreneurs regarding product development, marketing, business growth and financial management.

 

Apply full force of law on hoarders – Sen. Bam


Senator Bam Aquino calls on the government to apply the full force of the law on hoarders of rice, garlic and other market products, saying they must be severely punished for their illegal acts that resulted in sudden prices increases.

The senator made the pronouncement even as he lauded Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan for their successful crackdown on several rice hoarders recently.

“Hoarders of rice, garlic and other products must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Their illegal act has resulted in higher prices, placing additional burden on our consumers,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“The recent success against hoarders should serve as warning to those who are still doing it. The government is serious in going after those who compromise the public’s interest for their own profit,” the senator added.

Aquino lauded Roxas and Pangilinan for personally spearheading the government’s campaign against rice hoarders.

Recently, the two government officials led the inspection and raid of several warehouses where they discovered that NFA rice were being repacked and sold as commercial rice.

The campaign led to the confiscation of an estimated 4,000 metric tons of rice and the filing of charges against a company for violation of Presidential Decree No. 4 for diversion of price and price manipulation under the Price Act.

“If found guilty, hoarders face five to 15 years imprisonment under the Price Act,” said Aquino.

Aquino said the passage of the Fair Competition Act of 2014 will end monopolies, cartels and other trade practices that affect businesses, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The senator stressed that the bill’s passage is long overdue since the Philippines is one of only few countries that don’t have a competition policy that will protect its consumers and private industries.

 

Photo source: gmanews.tv

 

Statement of Sen. Bam Aquino on Senate President Franklin Drilon’s Call for Probe on High Prices

Lubhang naapektuhan ang kakayang bumili ng publiko, lalo na ang mahihirap, dahil sa biglaan at hindi maipaliwanag na pagtaas ng presyo ng bawang, bigas at iba pang pangunahing bilihin.

Kaya kaisa ako sa panawagan ng Senate President na imbestigahan ang ugat ng biglaang pagtaas ng presyo at magbalangkas ng mga solusyon upang agad na matugunan ang problema at mapagaan ang pasanin ng mamimili.

Dapat gawin ang lahat upang malaman kung nagkaroon ng sabwatan sa pagitan ng market players na nauwi sa artipisyal na kakulangan ng supply at pagsirit ng presyo. Ang sinumang mapatutunayang nagmanipula sa presyo at supply ay dapat papanagutin sa batas.

Handa ang Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship na pangunahan ang imbestigasyon.

Senator Bam Aquino’s Statement on the Price Increase of Garlic

The government should focus and expedite its investigation on the sudden rise of garlic prices. We must ensure that there’s no group or personality manipulating garlic prices.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) should conduct extensive monitoring to ensure the welfare of the buying public.

We must further intensify support to our garlic farmers to meet the country’s demand at an affordable price for consumers.

Let us not allow the interest of abusive personalities or groups to inflict further burden on our farmers and take away the hard-earned money of consuming public.

The DA should not only focus on garlic but on other agricultural products such as rice, onions, and chicken and pork.

Community Disaster Warehouses to Combat Hoarding, Price Manipulation – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino believes the establishment of community disaster warehouses is an effective way to combathoarding, price manipulation and inflation during calamities.

In his Senate Bill No. 2215, Aquino said community disaster warehouses would provide survivors of natural or man-made calamities quick access to affordable basic goods and other prime commodities.

“Community disaster warehouses will ensure that goods in the market would be available to avoid hoarding in affected areas and protect the survivors from price manipulation during times of crisis,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“This measure is important for the days and weeks right after the calamity for communities to be able to smoothly transition to rehabilitation mode and for people to start rebuilding and normalizing their lives,” the senator added.

Aquino stressed that every community in the country must be equipped and prepared for any disaster, including the immediate availability and delivery of basic goods.

“The first few days after storms or earthquakes hit are crucial in mitigating further tragedies to individuals and families,” said Aquino.

The senator added that the measure is important with the rainy season just weeks away.

The need for community disaster warehouses was underscored after super typhoon Yolanda devastated major parts of Eastern Visayas, including Leyte and Samar.

“Yolanda survivors needed to contend with an insurmountable shortage of food, clean water, medicine and first aid, and clothing to weather the storm,” the senator said.

 

Photo source: Gov.ph Twitter

 

 

Squeezed! Lemon Law Hurdles Bicam, Nears Enactment into Law

After years of waiting, a law that protects buyers from defective motor vehicles has finally been passed, Senator Bam Aquino announced.

The Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Philippine Lemon Law of 2014 before the body’s sine die adjournment Wednesday.

After that, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino’s approval.

Earlier, the bicameral conference committee adopted the House version of the Lemon Law, authored by Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar.

“The passage of the Lemon Law is crucial since owning a vehicle is crucial in today’s fast-paced life, especially for businessmen and entrepreneurs,” said Aquino, sponsor of the consolidated bill filed by Senators Cynthia Villar and Jinggoy Estrada.

“Aside from consumer protection, the Lemon Law will provide consistent standards of quality and performance in the auto industry,” he added.

The law calls for the return to consumer the full value of money if the motor vehicle that was bought would not be of standard and quality, 12 months or 20,000 kilometers from date of original delivery.

If the consumer remains unsatisfied with the efforts to the repair of the vehicle up to four times, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will exercise exclusive and original jurisdiction over disputes.

Bicam Approves Go Negosyo Act, Lemon Law

Go, go, go!

The Go Negosyo Act is now closer to becoming a law after it hurdled the bicameral conference committee.

Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, and his House counterpart, Las Pinas Rep. Mark Villar, have adopted the Senate version of the Go Negosyo Act authored by Aquino.

On the last day of session, the Senate has ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Go NegosyoAct. It will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino’s approval.

“No amount of words will get the people’s trust back in the Senate,” Aquino said.

“If our countrymen would see that we have been working for them despite the scandals, maybe at some point, we would be able to gain their trust again.”

“With the imminent passage of the Go Negosyo Act into law, small businessmen – micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are given a much needed boost that will lead to job creation in different parts of the country,” Aquino said.

Aquino stressed the importance of the Go Negosyo Act, saying 66 percent of jobs in the labor force are generated by the MSME sector, which in turn comprises 99 percent of all enterprises in the Philippines.

“The Go Negosyo Act gives Filipinos – from a simple housewife to ordinary employee – a chance to establish their own business that will help sustain their everyday needs and for their families,” the senator said.

The Act mandates the creation of Pinoy Negosyo Centers, under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in each city and municipality around the country. These Pinoy Negosyo centers are meant to make it easier for entrepreneurs to register and start up their businesses, as well as gain access to sources of financing.

In addition, the Pinoy Negosyo Centers will provide courses and development programs, training, give advice on business conceptualization and feasibility, financing, management, capability building, human resources, marketing and other support services.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Lemon Law will provide protection against poorly manufactured cars and other motor vehicles.

The bicameral conference committee has adopted the House version of the Lemon Law, authored by Villar.

“The passage of this Act is timely since vehicles are crucial in present time where mobility is needed to thrive daily, especially for businessmen and entrepreneurs,” said Aquino.

Aside from consumer protection, Aquino expects that the Lemon Law will provide consistent standards of quality and performance in the auto industry.

When a motor vehicle has had a defect that cannot be repaired up to four times, the buyer can have the lemon car, or substandard vehicle, be replaced, or have their money back.  The Act is applicable to motor vehicles purchased only in the Philippines and within a year or 20,000 km, whichever comes first.

 

 

Statement of Senator Bam Aquino on Janet Lim Napoles

Do we have to thank her for her offer to return the money she stole from us?

Is this our utang na loob to her?

Even if she doesn’t return it initially, in the course of our justice system, we expect to recover the billions of pesos that Janet Lim Napoles stole from the public.

Napoles may be remorseful but it’s too late. Many sectors were deprived of important projects that were supposed to be funded by the billions of pesos that Napoles stole from government funds.

Sen. Bam, DTI Inspect Prices, Quality of School Supplies in Divisoria

Days before the start of classes, the Office of Senator Bam Aquino and concerned government agencies conducted a joint test-buy operation Thursday (May 29) to check prices and ensure quality of school supplies in Divisoria, Manila.

The group, led by Aquino and Trade Secretary Gregory purchased school supplies from different stores in Tutuban to check on their prices and quality.

Also, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials joined the operation and inspected several school supplies, including crayons, for safety issues.

“As we all know, Divisoria is a favorite destination for budget-conscious shoppers of school supplies so we want to know if stores follow the suggested retail prices set by the DTI,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Aside from checking prices, there is also the need to check the labels of school supplies being sold to ensure that consumers are getting their money’s worth down to the last centavo,” Secretary Domingo added.

Aquino warned that violation of existing quality standards and labeling requirements is punishable under the Consumer Act.

School supplies covered by PNS are crayons, wood-cased black lead pencils, pencil sharpeners, writing chalk, bond paper, notebooks, grade school pad, ruler, white board marker, correction fluid, paper clips, glue, ball point pen and refill, and, eraser.

The Trade Secretary said that stalls that sell non-conforming school supplies would be issued a show-cause letter and given 48 hours to respond.

“If they are found to have a violation, a notice of violation can be immediately issued,” Domingo said.

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