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Bam: Education for youth is the best investment

Education for the youth is the best investment our government can make.

Sen. Bam Aquino issued the pronouncement after several government agencies opposed the measure that seeks to provide free tuition fee in all SUCs. 

The senator affirmed the government’s commitment to provide free tuition in state colleges and universities, saying “If we have the money, why not invest in the future of our youth?”

 “The Senate has chosen this as one of its main priority measures in the 17th Congress,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “Too many students fail to graduate college because of financial problems. Suportahan natin ang mga estudyante na makapagtapos. Let’s give them a chance at a better life through education,” added Sen. Bam.

 “If we’re willing to spend over P15 billion to host the ASEAN anniversary this year, why shouldn’t we spend roughly the same amount to make tuition free for our students in SUCs?” the senator pointed out.

 Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, which is currently being tackled in the plenary.

 Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 177 was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1304 together with other similar measures, which seek to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from the Pagkaing Pinoy Bill, the Free Higher Education for All has received the most support in the 17th Congress.

 Along with Sen. Bam Aquino, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

 Sens. Recto, Ejercito, Angara, Legarda, Villanueva, Gatchalian and Zubiri co-sponsored the measure.

 Providing free tuition fee in SUCs is only one of many reforms Sen. Bam is pushing in the field of education.

Bam eyes safety, livelihood of OFWs

Recognizing their immense contribution in keeping the country’s economy afloat, a senator has filed a measure that aims to ensure the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while abroad and secure their livelihood once they return to the Philippines.

In his Senate Bill No.  648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act, Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to bolster support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

“They aren’t only keeping their loved ones above water financially, they are also keeping the Philippine economy afloat with remittances reaching $16.21 billion or P764 billion from January to August 2015,” Sen. Bam said in his measure.

“Even with their contribution, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers. In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success,” the senator added.

 In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last September 2015, only 38.2 percent of the 563 householdrespondents 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.

 The measure mandates the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a helpdesk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.

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

The measure requires all embassies and consular offices to designate at least one social media officer who will be responsible for the efficient and timely dissemination and communication through social media of pertinent information related to the welfare, protection and security of migrant workers, especially in hotspots and vulnerable areas.

Furthermore, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to truly achieve prosperity for every Filipino family.

“This is our opportunity to show our gratitude for and appreciation to our overseas Filipinos while fulfilling our duty as public servants,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Bam: Ingatan ang padala ng mga OFW, iwasan ang port congestion

Senator Bam Aquino called on concerned government agencies and private stakeholders to work together to prevent congestion in the Port of Manila to avoid delays in the arrival of products and packages, especially from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to their loved ones.

 “Maraming pamilya ang nag-aabang ng mga padala mula sa minamahal nilang OFWs ngayong panahon ng kapaskuhan. Sayang naman kung mabubulok lang ito sa ating mga pantalan kapag may congestion,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made the call after an official of the Department of Transportation warned that port congestion may occur with the influx of goods and products from other countries as Christmas season approaches.

“If you remember, two years ago the port congestion was a big headache for Filipinos in Metro Manila – delivery of goods was delayed, cargo trucks caused traffic, and balikbayan boxes remained stranded in the port. We were able to solve the problem then, but we must guard against another port congestion,” the senator stressed.

During his term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam initiated a probe on the congestion that occurred at the Port ofManila two years ago.

 After bringing government agencies and private stakeholders in one table, the problem was ironed out after several months of investigation.

But Aquino said that the heavy volume of containers from September to December may revive the problem.

“Sa ngayon, maaaring normal ang operasyon at maluwag pa ang ating mga pantalan pero baka maulit ang port congestion sa pagdagsa ng mga kargamento sa huling bahagi ng taon. Kailangan na natin itong paghandaan ngayon pa lang,” added Sen. Bam.

Bam on Sen. De Lima’s ouster, LP in Senate majority

Transcript of media interview after the Senate hearing of the Committee on Education on Martial Law Education 

Q: What’s your take sa nangyari kahapon?

 

Sen. Bam: Well, I voted no because I thought it was unnecessary. Palagay ng ibang mga kasama namin na dapat mas maayos iyong pag-presinta ni Sen. De Lima. Puwede naman siyang kausapin. I don’t think it was necessary na palitan siya nang basta-basta. It was also unprecedented. Hindi pa nangyari iyan sa ating kasaysayan sa Senado. So, I’m hoping that Sen. Gordon who is now the new Justice Committee Chairman can lead the committee well, but I’m one of those who voted na hindi kinakailangan [palitan ang chairperson]. I felt that puwede pa naman mag-usap-usap iyong mga Senador bilang mga co-equals, bilang isang collegial body. 

 

Q: What will happen to the alliance between LP and PDP considering what happened na obviously, majority flexes its muscles. Will you stay in the majority given na ginawa nila ito?

 

Sen. Bam: We’re talking about that, to be very frank. We’ll be discussing it today and in the succeeding days. 

 Medyo nabigla kami kahapon na nangyari iyon so pag-uusapan namin iyan and I’m sure that will be the subject of our discussion for the next couple of days.

 We also want to check if the reforms that we want to push in the different committees can still be pushed in the current setup. 

 

Q: Sir, puwede i-consider na mag-join na kayo sa minority? 

 Sen. Bam: Well, again, iyan ang mga pag-uusapan pa. I’ll be very frank with you, nagulat kami kahapon sa mga pangyayari. We are part of the majority and usually, iyong mayorya, nag-uusap-usap muna iyan bago may gawin na ganiyan. 

 

Q: So hindi kayo nakonsulta?

Sen. Bam: Hindi kami na-consult, hindi ni-raise sa amin. Honestly, if it were raised earlier, probably that might not have been the outcome yesterday. Baka puwede pa pag-usapan ang mga bagay-bagay. But with regard to kung anong gagawin – anong mga next steps, I’ll have to admit to you, pag-uusapan pa iyon. 

 

Q: A little bit disappointed ba kayo? 

Sen. Bam: I was very disappointed with what happened yesterday, which is why I voted “No”.  

Usually, sa mga bagay-bagay na ganyan pinag-uusapan muna. If there were concerns about the way that she was sharing, that could have been raised in a caucus.

In fact, si Sen. Drilon was trying to call for a caucus yesterday noong nalaman namin na that would have been the subject matter of the privilege speech ni Sen. Alan.


There was an attempt. Baka puwede muna itong pag-usapan bilang isang majority.  We are part of the majority after all. But, mukhang a number of our colleagues, desidido na sila na tanggalin siya. So tinanggal na siya.

 

Q: Kailan iyong meeting?

Sen. Bam: It will happen over the next couple of days. We’ll have a series of meetings. Ayaw rin naman namin na rushed iyong aming mga desisyon tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay na iyan. Pag-uusapan. We’ll also consult with our other stakeholders, our other colleagues. We’ll talk about it. 

But definitely, I was very disappointed with the vote yesterday. I think it could have been a different outcome.

Senate Bill No. 665: Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council Act

Bamboo is gaining in popularity as construction material as a result of the declining supply of wood and is now widely distributed in private lands in the lowlands as well as in forest lands.

On a global scale, the value of the world’s bamboo market was estimated to be US$8 billion1for traditional and non-traditional bamboo products.

It can be concluded that the development of the bamboo industry in the Philippines can be a vehicle for generating more jobs and self-employment opportunities, especially in the rural areas. However, this potential cannot be met until we address the issue of the low supply of the raw bamboo materials.

The reported demand for bamboo poles in the country by all industry sectors is about 22 million culms a year while the estimated supply of the preferred species bamboo, such as kawayan tinik, giant Bamboo, bulo, buho, bayog, kawayan killing, kayali and laak, is only about 10 million culms.

Though the government has previously attempted to spur the bamboo industry’s growth through Executive Order No. 879 in May 2010, which created the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), we have yet to draft a national bamboo development plan.

One of the main reasons for this is that the Council was not imbued with sufficient power to direct other government agencies and the private sector that are members of the Council to formulate the industry development program. Furthermore, The Secretariat of the Council does not have permanent personnel and the Council does not have a regular budget.

The twenty million pesos (PhP20 million) that was originally allocated for the operations of the Council has long been expended and it has not been replenished. Furthermore, the budget request for the Council for 2016 has been scrapped by the Department of Budget and Management.

This Act seeks to remedy these issues so that the Council can effectively develop the bamboo industry to generate employment, help the bamboo export sector capture a greater market, promote environmental sustainability and help mitigate the impacts of climate change, and assist the government in achieving inclusive economic growth.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 


PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 665

Bam: Target funding for rehab centers achievable

With government putting utmost priority in the fight against illegal drugs, Sen. Bam Aquino said the needed fund for the establishment of additional rehabilitation centers for thousands of drug dependents must be ensured in the national budget.

 “Now that everybody wants to support the war on drugs and the rehabilitation efforts, puwede kayong umasa sa Senado para sa budget item na ito,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs

 “Dapat nating matiyak na may pondo sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nag-surrender na drug dependents,” added Sen. Bam.

 Currently, the Department of Health plans to establish four regional drug rehabilitation centers of 500 beds each, or a total of 2,000.

 According to the Department of Health (DOH), the government is also looking to put up a drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija that can house 5,000 to 10,000 dependents.

 The government also plans to establish rehabilitation centers in military camps in Bohol and Capiz.

 During the hearing, it was discovered that less than 0.6 to 1 percent, or around 30,000 to 37,000, of 3.7 million drug dependents in the country need treatment in rehabilitation centers.

 For the remaining percentage, resource speakers mentioned that they should be provided with outpatient intervention in local communities.

 Sen. Bam brought up the effectiveness of peer counseling to address both rehabilitation and prevention in the country’s fight against illegal drugs.

 “We need more barangay-level interventions to address the rehabilitation of drug dependents,” the lawmaker added.

 “Makatutulong sa ating anti-drug drive kung hindi lang ang PNP ang mangunguna sa laban. It should be a multi-sectoral effort – may simbahan, local, may mga organizations – para lahat ay makatulong sa pag-kontra sa droga,” the lawmaker added.

 The senator also mentioned that the Sangguniang Kabataan can play a crucial part in combating the illegal drug problem among the young Filipinos.

 

Senate Bill No. 174: End ENDO Act

Over the past decade, the Philippines has been experiencing GDP gains and exponential economic growth. However, the unemployment and underemployment rates remain high.

There are almost a million new jobseekers that enter the labor force each year and, sadly, employment opportunities are simply not enough to absorb them. Worse, with many skilled and experienced employees agreeing to entry-level jobs just to have a steady source of income, first-time jobseekers with limited or low-level skills are left with no job opportunities.

 This is where contractors and subcontractors help job seekers in skills-building, particularly in developing occupational skills that match industry demand. Contractors and subcontractors also help employees in upgrading existing skills, learning new skills and opening up more opportunities for them.

 On the other end, contractors and subcontractors also help employers and companies expand their businesses with minimal costs and freedom to focus on their core business. Consequently, when these businesses expand, more jobs are created.

 Seeing the impact of this flexibility, the government and contractors/subcontractors must work together to establish a framework, filling the gaps in current industry practices and protecting both employers and employees.

 

PDFicon  DOWNLOAD SBN 174

 

 

 

Bam on the Abu Sayyaf problem

Malaking perhuwisyo na ang idinulot ng paghahasik ng lagim ng Abu Sayyaf sa ating bansa. 

Naapektuhan na nito ang ating imahe na nagdulot ng malaking epekto sa turismo, ekonomiya at maging sa pamumuhay sa ilang bahagi ng Mindanao.

Panahon na upang gawin ang lahat ng nararapat na aksiyon upang mapulbos na ang bandidong grupo sa lalong madaling panahon.

Suportado natin ang anumang hakbang na gagawin ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan at ng papasok na administrasyon ni President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, basta’t ito’y naaayon sa batas.

Subalit sa pagkilos na ito, dapat unahing bantayan ang kapakanan ng sibilyan na posibleng maipit sa labanan. 

 

Negosyo Center Tracker

negosyocenterheader

 

 Below is the list of Negosyo Centers in the Philippines as of  August 11, 2015

 

ISLAND GROUPS REGION PROVINCE AREA LAUNCH DATE (2015) LED BY LOCATION CONTACT NUMBER
LUZON NCR Benguet R-CAR / Baguio City 6/10/15 DTI Jesnor Bldg., 4 Cariño St., 2600 Baguio City Fax: (+6374) 442.5688
Email: CAR@dti.gov.ph
MyrnaPablo@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0908) 884.0526
      Benguet 6/11/15 DTI 3F Manongdo Bldg., 17 Private Rd.
Magsaysay Ave., 2600 Baguio City
Phone: (+6374) 304.1129
Telefax: (+6374) 619.2722
Email: CAR.Benguet@dti.gov.ph
FredaGawisan@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 572.8250
  CAR Kalinga Tabuk City, Kalinga 6/26/15 DTI 2-3F Lua Annex Bldg., Poblacion
3800 Tabuk City, Kalinga
Email: CAR.Kalinga@dti.gov.ph
GraceBaluyan@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 597.3035/519.6985/
(0920) 423.3910
    Ifugao Lagawe, Ifugao 6/29/15 DTI 2F ABC Bldg., Rizal Ave., Poblacion West
3600 Lagawe, Ifugao
Email: CAR.Ifugao@dti.gov.ph
ValentinBaguidudol@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 597.3013/592.7362
    Mt. Province Bontoc, Mt. Province 6/30/15 DTI 2F Walter Clapp Centrum, Loc-ong, Poblacion
2616 Bontoc, Mt. Province
Email: CAR.MountainProvince@dti.gov.ph
JulietLucas@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 597.3028/(0921) 973.6655
    Apayao Luna 7/15/15      
    Abra Bangued 7/29/15      
  REGION I Pangasinan Alaminos 6/30/15 LGU    
    Ilocos Sur Vigan 7/29/15   Ground Floor, Judy Chiu Building, Mabini St. Brgy 1, Vigan City  
  REGION II Cagayan Cagayan PO 6/30/15 DTI 11 Dalan na Pappabalo
Regional Gov’t. Center, Carig Sur,
Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
Telefax: (+6378) 896.9865
Email: R02@dti.gov.ph
EsperanzaBanares@dti.gov.ph
NERBAC-R2: (+6378) 396.0052
NERBACCagayanValley@gmail.com
    Isabela Isabela PO 6/30/15 DTI 3F Jowell’s Bldg., Calamagui 2nd,
Ilagan, Isabela
Telefax: (+6378) 624.0687 Email: R02.Isabela@dti.gov.ph
MaSalvacionCastillejos@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0920) 900.6120
      Santiago City 6/30/15 DTI    
    Nueva Viscaya Nueva Viscaya PO 6/30/15 DTI GF Rosalina L. Lo Bldg., National Highway, Sta. Rosa, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya Telefax: (+6378) 362.0251
Email: R02.NuevaViscaya@dti.gov.ph
RubenDiciano@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 533.1836/(0999) 992.4578
    Quirino Quirino PO 6/30/15 DTI DIP Bldg., San Marcos, Cabarroguis, Quirino Email: R02.Quirino@dti.gov.ph
PreciosaMaglaya@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 856.4899
  REGION III Bataan Balanga City 6/26/15 DTI 3F Crizelda Marie Bldg., Capitol Drive
San Jose, Balanga City, 2100 Bataan
Phone: (+6347) 791.4221
Telefax: (+6347) 237.3005
Email: R03.Bataan@dti.gov.ph
NelinCabahug@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 801.4889
  REGION IV-A Quezon Lucena City 6/17/15 DTI 2F Grand Central Terminal,
Ibabang Dupay, Lucena City, Quezon
Telefax: (+6342) 795.0442
Email: R04A.Quezon@dti.gov.ph
MarcelinaAlcantara@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0920) 906.3807
      Gumaca 7/24/15      
    Batangas Batangas 6/29/15 LGU 2nd floor, GKK Building, P. Burgos St., Batangas City (043) 723-2032
    Cavite Trece Martirez 6/30/15 DTI 2F Government Center Bldg., Capitol Compound, Trece Martires City, Cavite Phone: (+6346) 514.0461
Telefax: (+6346) 419.1028
Email: R04A.Cavite@dti.gov.ph
NolyGuevara@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0928) 502.2078
  REGION IV-B Romblon Odiongan, Romblon 2/2/15 DTI GF LFH Suite, Promenade, J.P. Rizal St., Cocoville, Dapawan, Odiongan,5505 Romblon Telefax: (+6342) 567.5090
Email: R04B.Romblon@dti.gov.ph
RodolfoMariposque@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 724.7577
      Romblon, Romblon 6/16/15 LGU Romblon West Central School, Brgy. IV, Romblon, Romblon Cellphone: (0918) 957.6428       Email: dtiromblon@yahoo.com
      San Fernando, Romblon 6/18/15 LGU 2nd Floor, San Fernando Municipal Building, Poblacion, San Fernando, Romblon Cellphone: (0918) 957.6428       Email: acehallegadofontelo@yahoo.com
    Occidental Mindoro San Jose, Occidental Mindoro 3/13/15 LGU SME Center, Municipal Compound, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro Email: negosyocenter.sjom@yahoo.com
      Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro 6/19/15 LGU    
      Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro 6/30/15 LGU    
    Oriental Mindoro Victoria, Oriental Mindoro 3/25/15 LGU Municipal Hall, Victoria, Oriental Mindoro Phone: (043) 285-5522           Email: mpodvictoria@yahoo.com
      Calapan, Oriental Mindoro 11/15/14 LGU Provincial Capitol Compound, Brgy. Camilmil, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro Phone: (043) 441-3187, 2867093           Email:R04B.orientalmindoro@dti.gov.ph
    Marinduque Sta. Cruz Marinduque 6/23/15 LGU    
      Boac, Marinduque     Old Chinese School Bldg., San Miguel, Boac, Marinduque  
    Palawan El Nido 6/29/15 LGU    
      Taytay, Palawan 6/29/15 LGU    
      Roxas, Palawan 6/30/15 LGU    
      Brooke’s Point, Palawan 7/6/15 LGU    
      Puerto Princesa, Palawan     4F ERC Plaza, National Highway, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan Phone: (048) 434-1092                Email: dtipalawan@yahoo.com
      Coron, Palawan 7/16/15      
  REGION V Camarines Norte Camarines Norte 6/24/15 DTI Merchant’s Ave., Central Plaza Complex
Lag-on, Daet, Camarines Norte
Telefax: (+6354) 440.13389
Email: R05.CamarinesNorte@dti.gov.ph
Cynthia.Olaguer@dti.gov.ph
Cynthia.Olaguer@dti05.org
Cell Phone: (0918) 907.4191
      Daet 6/24/15 LGU    
               
VISAYAS REGION VI Aklan Aklan: Kalibo 4/24/15 DTI G/F DTI-Aklan Office, Veterans Avenue, Kalibo Aklan (036) 268-5280/ (036) 268-3405
    Iloilo Iloilo City 2/6/15 DTI DTI Building, JM Basa-Peralta Streets, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City (033) 335-0548
      Iloilo: Iloilo Province 7/29/15      
    Negros Occidental Bacolod 7/31/15 LGU 3/F Prudential Life Building (DTI), San Juan and Luzurriaga Streets, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental (034) 433-0250
  REGION VII Siquijor Siquijor 7/28/15 DTI    
    Negros Oriental DTI – Negros Oriental (Dumaguete) 7/16/15 DTI    
    Bohol San Isidro 6/23/15 LGU    
      DTI – Bohol Provincial office 7/22/15 DTI    
  REGION VIII Leyte Tanauan 6/22/15 LGU    
      Carigara 6/22/15 LGU    
      Palompon 6/24/15 LGU    
      Hilongos 6/25/15 LGU    
      Abuyog 6/26/15 LGU    
      Palo 6/29/15 LGU    
      Naval, Biliran 7/2/15      
    Samar Catbalogan 7/3/15 LGU    
      Calbayog 7/2/15 LGU One Stop Shop, Calbayog City Hall, AH 26, Calbayog City, Samar (+6355) 2093357
    Eastern Samar Borongan 7/22/15 DTI    
    Northern Samar Catarman 7/29/15 LGU Singson Apartment, corner Balite & Quirino Streets, Catarman, Northern Samar (+6355) 2518334
               
MINDANAO REGION IX Zamboanga del Sur Pagadian 5/25/15 DTI NACIDA Bldg., Capitol Complex, Pagadian City,
Zamboanga del Sur
Phone: (+6362) 214.3326/214.2516
Fax: (+6362) 850.7001
Email: R09.ZamboangaDelSur@dti.gov.ph
MariaSocorroAtay@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 300.3059
    Zamboanga Sibugay Ipil, Sibugay 5/29/15 DTI 2F Montebello Bldg., National Highway, Poblacion, Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Telefax: (+6362) 955.4054
Email: R09.ZamboangaSibugay@dti.gov.ph
NoelBazan@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0920) 922.8635
    Zamboanga Del Norte Dipolog 6/30/15 DTI GF Felicidad I Bldg., Quezon Ave., Miputak, Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte Phone: (+6365) 212.2331/212.2944
Fax: (+6365) 212.5862
Email: R09.ZamboangaDelNorte@dti.gov.ph
NoelBazan@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0920) 922.8635
  REGION X Misamis Occidental Ozamiz City 6/30/15 LGU    
      Oroquieta City 6/30/15 DTI 1F Dajao Bldg., cor. Rizal-Pastrano Sts., Poblacion I, 7207 Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental Phone: (+6388) 521.2891
Telefax: (+6388) 531.1231
Email: R10.MisamisOccidental@dti.gov.ph
DeliaAyano@dti.gov.ph
Hotline: (0917) 724.3388
Cell Phone: (0920) 902.5969
    Camiguin Camiguin     DBP Bldg., cor. Gen. B. Aranas & J.P. Rizal Sts.
9100 Mambajao, Camiguin
Phone: (+6388) 387.0036
Telefax: (+6388) 387.0037
Email: R10.Camiguin@dti.gov.ph
JoselitoEnot@dti.gov.ph
Hotline: (0906) 228.3906
Cell Phone: (0908) 892.4773
      Mambajao 7/6/15      
    Bukidnon Malaybalay 7/10/15      
    Misamis Oriental Cagayan de Oro 11/13/14 DTI G/F Antolin Building, Tiano-Akut Streets, Cagayan de Oro City  
  REGION XI Davao del Sur Davao City 7/9/15 LGU Door 7, Magsaysay Park Complex,
R. Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City
(82) 227-2860
      Digos City 7/9/15 Academe Cor Jesu College – Main Campus
Sacred Heart Avenue, Digos City,
Davao del Sur
(82) 553-5741
    Davao Oriental Mati City 7/6/15 DTI 3F Valles Bldg., Rizal St.
Mati City, Davao Oriental
Phone: (+6387) 388.3735
Telefax: (+6387) 811.4072
Email: R11.DavaoOriental@dti.gov.ph
JoseCalub@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0915) 516.3834
  REGION XII Sarangani General Santos City 5/5/15 DTI 2F National Agency Bldg.
Capital Compound Alabel
9501 Sarangani Province
Phone: (+6383) 508.2277
Fax: (+6383) 508.2014
Email: R12.Sarangani@dti.gov.ph
NenitaBarroso@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0920) 911.3864
  CARAGA Surigao del Norte LGU – Surigao del Norte 5/15/15 LGU Surigao del Norte, Negosyo Center, Provincial Capitol Compound, Surigao City (0999) 994-8065
      DTI – Surigao del Norte 7/23/15 DTI    
    Surigao del Sur Surigao del Sur 6/30/15 DTI 2F JTP Bldg., Donasco St., Tandag City
Surigao del Sur
Telefax: (+6386) 211.3029
Email: CARAGA.SurigaodelSur@dti.gov.ph
RomelOribe@dti.gov.ph
    Agusan del Norte DTI – Agusan del Norte 5/29/15 DTI Rudy Tiu Bldg., KM. 2, J.C. Aquino Ave.,
8600 Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
Phone: (+6385) 341.5221
Telefax: (+6385) 225.3341
Email: CARAGA.AgusandelNorte@dti.gov.ph
Cell Phone: (0917) 304.9729
    Agusan del Sur San Francisco, Agusan del Sur 6/29/15 LGU    

 

Bam on his Year 2 Accomplishments (Transcript of Interview)

Well, ito pong mga batas po naming ito, alam ninyo po, dalawa po itong committee po natin.  Ang una sa Youth, tsaka iyong Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.  Kaya kung napapansin po natin, lagi po ang ating usapin ay usaping pang-kabataan at usaping pang-negosyo. 

Kaya gusto ko po sanang ireport na hindi po nasayang ngayon sa pangalawang taon ko po dito sa Senado.

Responsive, Empowered Service-Centric Youth Act of 2015

Meron po tayong dalawang napakagandang batas na umuusad. Iyong isa po riyan, yung tinatawag nating RESCYouth.

Ito po iyong batas at napasa na po on third reading. So actually hinihintay na lang po natin iyong counterpart sa Kongreso.  Ang nakalagay po rito, na sa ating NDRRMC, iyong ating National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, kinakailangang may kinatawan ang mga kabataan.

Nakita po kasi namin na, sa bawat delubyong nangyayari ay mga kabataan iyong mga kauna-unahang volunteer, eh ‘di ba kabataan.  Sino ba iyong nagpupuno roon sa mga repacking stations natin, ‘di ba iyong mga kabataan?

Nakita rin naming na marami ring mga youth groups na nagbibigay ng first aid, sumasama sa red cross, nagtuturo ng mga CPR, iyong paglangoy, so marami po talagang kabataan ang involved, pero hindi sila involved sa pagpaplano ng disaster risk management.

Lahat po ng ating Disaster Management Councils, magkakaroon po ng youth representative.

Iyong kaalaman, experiences, pwedeng maibahagi ng kabataan, mapapasama na po sa National Councils, sa NDDRMC, Provincial Councils, City Councils, Municipal Councils, kahit Baranggay Councils kasi mayroon na dapat po tayong mga konseho pagdating sa pagmanage ng mga delubyo sa ating bansa.

Youth Entrepreneurship Act

Itong pangalawa po, ratified na, pirma na lang po ng presidente natin ang kailangan. So we’re hoping, bago po mag SONA, pirmado na po ito.

Ito po iyong Youth Entrepreneurship Act.  Ang kapartner po namin dito ay si Br. Armin Luistro at Deptartment of Education.

Napapansin po kasi namin na, pagdating po sa mga kabataan, mahalaga po talaga, iyong financial literacy o kaalaman sa paghawak ng pera at mga kaalaman sa pagnenegosyo.

Sa ngayon, sama-sama po iyan sa financial literacy, savings, investments, kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng sariling negosyo.  Maituturo na po finally sa ating educational system kasi po ‘di ba laging batikos sa ating educational system ay tinuturuan ka naman maging empleyado, kumbaga hindi tinuturuan para magtayo ng negosyo.

Maisasama na po iyan sa K to 12 at kadikit po niyan, magkakaroon po tayo ng fund para yung mga gustong magnegosyo na mga kabataan especially yung nasa K to 12 pwede pong mabigyan ng DepEd nang kaunting start up capital.  Hindi teorya lang yung kanilang pagtuto tapos magkakaroon pa po sila ng praktikal na kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng negosyo.

   

Sa mga Umuutang

Sanay na tayo na “ay umuutang lang iyan,” kahit iyong mga pinakamalalaking kumpanya umuutang, kahit po itong bansa natin, umuutang rin yan. Hindi po masama ang umutang, ang masama po ang umuutang ka ng hindi mo kayang bayaran.

O masama iyong umutang ka, na hindi mo naaral yung mga terms o laki ng interest.  Kahit 5-6, pero kung umuutang ka sa maayos na institusyon, hindi ho masama iyon, so iyong mga kaalaman ay mahalagang malaman ng ating mga kabataan.

We’re hoping na makatulong ito para bumaba ang bilang ng mga kabataang walang trabaho.

Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act

Mayroon po tayong batas noon na nagsasaad na kapag ikaw ay isang foreign ship, hindi ka puwedeng dumaong sa lahat ng ports ng Pilipinas.

Noon po, pag foreign vessel ka, mayroon kang i-import. Usually pipili ka lang ng isang puwedeng pagdaungan, usually Metro Manila iyan. Although international ang Davao at Cagayan de Oro, pero usually dito lang po iyan sa Metro Manila.

Kaya karamihan ng ships nasa Metro Manila kaya noon nagkaroon ng port congestion kung saan nagtaasan ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sobrang inefficient ng ating sistema.

Ngayon po, puwede nang dumaong ang ships sa multiple ports basta’t hindi siya kumukuha ng domestic goods. Kumbaga po, meron kang imported na goods, kunwari mayroon kang imported na mani, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Manila, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Cebu at sa Cagayan de Oro, hindi na lang sa iisa.

Kung kukuha ka naman, kailangang i-export mo ito patungong foreign port. Hindi ka puwedeng kumuha ng produkto sa Cagayan de Oro patungong Maynila. Para mabago po iyan, kailangang mabago ang Constitution dahil mayroon po tayong proteksiyon.

Pero pagdating sa importation at pag-e-export, puwede na po kayong kumuha kung foreign vessel ka.

Magmumura iyong cost natin ng pag-import at pag-export kasi hindi ka na kailangang mag-drop-off. Wala nang double handling. Now, bababa po niyan ang cost ng ating logistics.

Now, kahit naman po iyong local products natin, may mga imported raw materials iyan so makikita natin may mga porsiyento diyan dapat bumaba ang presyo at magsimula ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin o di kaya’y makakatulong po iyan sa para hindi tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

To quote Venus Raj, “Major! Major!” po ang batas na ito kasi matagal na po itong gustong itulak pero hindi maipasa-pasa. Naipasa po namin lahat ng cargo lahat ng foreign ships.

Isipin niyo po, nag-e-export po tayo. We try to be competitive pero iyong cost ng pagdala ng produkto palabas, napakamahal. At the end of the day, iyon po ang hinahabol natin dito, ang magmura ang bilihin.

Philippine Competition Act

Eto po, for the second year ko po makakaa-apat po tayo. Ito po ang pangako natin na ito pong Philippine Competition Act, masabi ko na isa ito sa major, kung hindi man pinaka-major sa 16th Congress.

24 years na po ito sa Kamara, 24 years na hindi maipasa-pasa and dapat po 80 years na noong nakapasa tayo ng Philippine Competition Act.

Iyong mga ibang bansa po, marami po sa kanila, after World War 2 nagkaroon ng competition.  Ang Japan after World War II, devastated sila, doon nila binuo ang competition act para maging patas-patas ang pag-angat ng mga negosyo sa kanilang bansa.

Ito pong Philippine Competition Act, nakalagay po na walang anti-competitive agreements o agreements between companies na makakasama sa kompetisyon sa ating merkado o iipitin ang ibang players, especially ang maliliit.

Iyong pagiging monopolyo mismo, hindi po iyan pinagbabawal. Ang bawal ay naging monopolyo ka dahil nang-aabuso ka. Mahalaga po na mayroon po ang batas na ito.

Isa pang nilalabanan nito ang cartel. Halimbawa, negosyante ng garlic mag-uusap-usap na huwag munang maglabas ng produkto. Hintayin natin itong tumaas ang presyo, doon natin banatan ang merkado.

Ang tawag po diyan, price fixing. Iyan po very clear na pinagbabawal ng batas na ito. Pag ginagawa mo iyan, hindi iyan fair sa consumers. Hindi rin fair sa ibang traders o ibang businesses na nasa merkado mo.

Bawal na po ang cartel, iyong competitive agreement, ang pang-aabuso ng malalaking kompanya o abuse of dominant.

Bubuo tayo ng Philippine Competition Commission na quasi-judicial. Ibig sabihin po may mga kaso na puwedeng ilapit sa komisyon na iyon, at sasabihin nila, may bawal dito, puwede mong multahan iyong mga kompanya.

Puwede mong multahan kung kriminal na iyan. Kung cartel, puwede mong ilapit sa DOJ, may prison time na iyan. Ito’y karaniwan sa iba’t ibang bansa mundo.

Kakaunti na lang po ang walang competition law. Ito po’y hindi bago sa mundo pero bago po sa ating bansa, na ngayon lang tayo nagkaroon ng batas tungkol dito.

Ano po ang analogy natin dito? Kasi usong-uso ang NBA Finals, kumbaga po noon, sa barangay covered courts lang tayo naglalaro.

Kasi ang ekonomiya natin simple lang noon kaya pambarangay lang tayo. E ngayon po, gumaganda na ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, nag-PBA at NBA level na tayo.

Pag sa barangay lang naglalaro, walang referee, kayo-kayo lang iyon. Hindi malinaw ang rules, kanya-kanya kayo.

Pero kung gumaganda na ang ekonomiya niyo, kung nasa PBA ka na, o nasa NBA ka na, kailangan na ng referee.

Ang referee po dito, ang Philippine Competition Commission. Hindi po siya nandiyan para ipitin ang mga naglalaro. Nandiyan siya para masiguro na maayos ang pakikitungo ng bawat grupo at patas ang laban.

Kunwari, isa kang Cleveland Cavaliers at mayroon kang LeBron James ay sobrang galing mo. Hindi ka puwedeng mambalya, hindi ka puwedeng maniko, tatawagan ka ng foul. Ooppss bawal iyan. Puwede kayong mag-compete pero sa tamang patakaran.

Usually po ang bicam dalawang oras, ito po apat na araw, 30 hours ang bicam pero alam niyo po, I’m proud of this bill.

Nagtulungan po diyan ang Congress, ang Senate, DTI, DOJ at NEDA. Tulung-tulong po kami para maipasa ang batas na ito. Ito po ang handog namin sa maliliit na negosyante.

Our small players na usually binu-bully ng mga malalaking kompanya, iyong ating consumers na kapag may cartel, usually mataas ang bilihin. Ito po iyong handog namin sa inyo na magkaroon ng patas-patas na presyo ng bilihin, patas-patas na rules at hindi ho tayo namamanipula ng ilang grupo sa binabayaran nating produkto.

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