Issues

Sen. Bam seeks additional P1,000 social pension for senior citizens

A senator wants to increase the social pension of senior citizens as gratitude to their valued contribution to the development of the country and to provide them with additional income to help them deal with the prevailing high prices of goods.

In his Senate Bill No. 2142, Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to mandate the government to give a social pension of P1,000 to all senior citizens who do not have social pension or to those receiving a pension not exceeding P3,000.

 “Kailangang-kailangan ng ating senior citizens ang dagdag na pensiyon para makatugon sa kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan at makatulong sa gastusin ng kanilang pamilya. Mahalaga ito lalo na’t mataas ang presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Napakalaki ng kontribusyon ng ating senior citizen sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa. Panahon na para bigyan natin sila ng karampatang kalinga at pag-aala bilang pagkilala sa kanilang sakripisyo para sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam.

According to Sen. Bam, a study conducted by the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) indicated that social pension contributed on average almost a third of household income.

 However, Sen. Bam said that the same study showed that only 32 percent of eight million senior citizens in the country receive social pension of P500 a month, while 38 percent do not receive any pension at all.

 When it comes to the 1.5 million Social Security System (SSS) pensioners, less than half receives not more than P3,400 per month.

“With no or inadequate pension for many Filipino senior citizens, they are forced to rely on the modest incomes of their families who are also struggling to make a living,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Giving them social pension will greatly help to address their daily needs, and provide some relief to their households,” the senator added.

 Aside from additional social pension for senior citizens, Sen.Bam is also working for the creation of a National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC) through his Senate Bill No. 674.

 The bill seeks to amend Section 11 of Republic Act 7432 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, abolishing the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board and replacing it with NCSC.

 The council will be spearheaded by a chairperson and commissioners from a list submitted by senior citizens organizations and associations.

Sen. Bam renews call to suspend excise tax on fuel after big-time oil price hike

Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated his call to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law following the recent big-time fuel price hike due to increase in oil prices in the world market.

“Hindi pa nga nakakahinga ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin, unti-unti na namang umaakyat ang presyo ng langis sa world market,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Kaya mas magandang itigil na ng pamahalaan ang excise tax sa langis sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law bago pa ito magdulot ng dagdag pang pasanin sa taumbayan, lalo na sa mahihirap,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

On Tuesday, oil companies have announced increase of a least P1.40 per liter for gasoline, P2.30 per liter for diesel and P2.00 per liter for kerosene due to increase in world crude prices.

The second part of the excise tax hike under the TRAIN Law is not yet included in the increase.

Earlier, Sen. Bam slammed the government decision to implement the second part of excise tax under the TRAIN Law, emphasizing that the country’s inflation rate remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent.

“Nalulunod pa rin sa mahal na presyo ng pagkain at bilihin ang ating mga kababayan kaya napakalaking pagkakamali na payagan ang ikalawang bahagi ng excise tax sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to DBM: Don’t resort to delaying tactics, use MPBF to cover 1st month of salary hike

Instead of resorting to delaying tactics, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must look for ways to deliver the government’s obligation to increase salary of its workers, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Kung ayaw may dahilan, kung gusto may paraan,” said Sen. Bam as renewed his call to the DBM to use the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) for the salary hike of government workers.

“Delay is not an option. The Budget Department should find ways to deliver on its duty to implement the fourth tranche of salary increase for public servants,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam contended that the MPBF is enough to cover the first month of the fourth and final part of the salary increase for government workers under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

In the 2018 budget, the MPBF is close to P100 billion while the salary increase requirement for January 2019 is less than P5 billion.

“Hindi naman natin hinihingi sa DBM na pondohan ang buong taon kundi ibigay lang ang unang buwan ng umento sa sahod habang inaantay na maipasa ng Senado ang 2019 national budget bago matapos ang Enero,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the salary increase could ease the burden of Tuesday’s oil price hike due to increase in world oil prices that could lead to further rise in prices of goods.

“Huwag na sanang pag-antayin ng DBM ang mga manggagawa sa gobyerno. Napakalaking tulong ng salary increase para sa ating government workers para kayanin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng langis at lalo pang pagmahal ng presyo ng bilihin,” added the senator.

On Monday, Sen. Bam filed a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the DBM should utilize the MPBF for the fourth instalment of the salary increase for government workers.

Aside from Sen. Bam, fellow opposition senators –Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes, Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros – signed Resolution No. 982.

In his Resolution, Sen. Bam insisted that the DBM is authorized to release and pay the salary increase immediately, without the need for further approval from Congress.

Sen. Bam: Free college law not affected by re-enacted budget

Sen. Bam Aquino assured that the implementation of the free college law will not be hampered by the re-enacted budget.

“Walang dapat ipangamba ang mga estudyante at mga magulang dahil tiniyak ng Kongreso na mayroong pondo ang libreng kolehiyo, kahit sa ilalim pa ng re-enacted budget o ng 2019 budget,”  said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Sen. Bam made the clarification to allay fears of students and parents after different government agencies experience funding issues due to the re-enacted budget.

 “Dahil tuluy-tuloy ang pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo, makatutulong ito para kayanin ng mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino ang pasanin ng mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam, who pushed for the law’s passage during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam called for the full implementation of the free college law in 2019, where students in public universities and colleges won’t have to shell out a single centavo on tuition, miscellaneous and other mandatory fees.

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

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

Sen. Bam to DBM: Don’t hold salary increase hostage, use MPBF now!

Don’t hold hostage the salary increase of government employees and public school teachers!

Sen. Bam Aquino issued this call to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), saying the agency can tap the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to finance the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law in January 2019.

“Bakit kapag dagdag buwis mabilis pero pahirapan kapag dagdag sweldo ang usapan?” said Sen. Bam as he questioned the DBM’s continued refusal to use the fund for the salary increase of government workers. 

“Huwag naman po sanang gamiting hostage ng gobyerno ang umento sa sahod ng ating kaguruan para iratsada ang pagpasa ng budget sa Senado. Hindi po totoo na walang pagkukunan ng pondo para dito,” added Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.

The lawmaker said there’s no reason for the DBM not to release the salary increase, which can help government employees deal with the prevailing high prices of food and other goods.

”Dapat ibigay na ngayon ang dagdag sweldo sa ating public servants at public school teachers. Walang dahilan para ipagpaliban pa ito, lalo ngayong mahirap ang buhay dahil sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam intends to file a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that DBM can disburse the MPBF for the salary increase of government workers.

According to Sen. Bam, the 2018 re-enacted budget provides for a MPBF, which can be used to fund authorized personnel and benefit items, including pay increases.

“Ibig sabihin, maaari nang ibigay ng DBM ang umento sa sahod kahit wala pang clearance mula sa Kongreso. Hindi rin lalabag ang DBM sa Saligang Batas kapag ginamit ito sa dagdag-sahod ng ating mga lingkod bayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to admin: Don’t delay salary increase of gov’t workers, public school teachers

The government should not delay the scheduled salary increase of its workers, especially public school teachers, as it could help them cope with the prevailing high prices of food and other goods, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, hindi dapat mabinbin ang umento sa sweldo ng mga empleyado ng pamahalaan, lalo na ng ating public school teachers,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the scheduled release of the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law in January 2019.
 
“Sa panahon ngayon kailangang kailangan ng mga guro natin ang ayuda para makaagapay sa hirap ng buhay,” added Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
Sen. Bam pointed out that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) could utilize the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to ensure that government employees receive their salary increase on time.
 
“Huwag naman sanang ipagkait sa mga empleyado ng pamahalaan at sa mga guro itong agarang ayuda na matagal na nilang hinihiling at hinihintay,” Sen. Bam stressed.
 
During his term as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam worked for the enactment of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as the law’s principal sponsor.
 
Sen. Bam is also pushing for the passage of the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018 to help address the high prices of food and other goods.
 
The measure aims to fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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