Bam Aquino Speech

Sen. Bam’s speech after endorsement as LP senatorial candidate

Mga kaibigan unang una Magandang Umaga sa ating lahat! Mga kaibigan iniisip ko kanina ang pangyayaring ito ay parang ibang iba para sa amin na matagal na dito sa partido. Kaya naisip ko na itong Liberal Party mayroong tatlong L na siyang sumasagisag rin sa araw natin ngayon.

Ang unang L natin ay “Laylayan”. Bago ang 2016 tinest namin ito, hindi alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng salitang laylayan. Pero noong tumakbo si VP Leni at dala-dala niya ang nasa laylayan ng lipunan ngayon, lahat ng Pilipino alam na ang ibig sabihin ng laylayan. Bakit mahalaga ang unang L na iyon? Mahalaga iyon dahil yung partido natin, yung samahan natin, yung oposisyon ang siyang nakatutok sa totoong pangangailangan ng ating bansa. Ang partidong natin, ang oposisyon, ang siyang nakatingin ano ba ang kailangan ng nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Sa aking limang taong pagiging Senador umiikot tayo, marami tayong nakakausap, nandiyan si Melvin Castro mula sa TarlacAgricultural University ano ba ang kwento niya? Gumigising siya 3amkada araw at namimitas ng mangga doon sa bukid kung saan siya nakatira, dalawa na ang anak niya pero college student pa rin siya. Pagdating ng 5am naggigisa ng bagoong, by 6am nagbebenta na ng mangga’t bagoong sa labas ng gate ng TAU (Tarlac AgriculturalUniversity) pagdating ng 8amstudent siya sa loob ng TAU. Ang ang sabi ni Melvin? Sabi niya “Senator Bam itong libreng tuition iyan ang nakapagtawid sa akin kaya naka-graduate po ako”. Si Melvin Castro ngayon ay isa ng guro at mayroon nang kinikita para sa kaniyang pamilya.

Nakatutok tayo sa pangangailangan ng taumbayan. Noong nakaraang dalawang linggo kasama ko si VP Leni, nasa Zamboanga kami at pumunta kami doon dahil nakita namin sa Zamboanga a few weeks ago umabot ng P75 per kilo ang bigas, at bumalik si VP Leni doon sinamahan ko siya para macheck ang palengke kung magkano na, bumaba naman sa P52 pero mataas pa rin. Yung katabi ko doon si Allan, si kuya Allan isang tricycle driver ano ang sabi ni kuya allan? “Senator Bam, Mam Leni apat kami sa aming pamilya pero ang pinaghahatian namin ay kalahating kilo ng bigas sa isang araw”. Apat na tao kalahating kilo ng bigas pinaghahatian nila, kaya kami, tayo dito, ang binibigyang pansin natin yung talagang mabigat sa taumbayan, yung talagang pangangailangan ng taumbayan, kung ano yung hinaharap nila sa kanilang araw araw na buhay. Iyon ang binibigyan natin ng pansin at kailangan natin ng isang grupo na tututok sa mga totoong problema at magbibigay ng solusyon dito sa mga problema ng mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ang pangalawang L ay “Laban”.  Dahil yung mga taong nandito, marami pang taong nanunuod, at mga online, ay handa pong lumaban. Lumaban para sa ating mga kababayan, lumaban sa makapangyarihan, lumaban para sa tama sa ating lipunan.

Hindi kayo pupunta dito kung hindi kayo handang lumaban. Yung salitang “laban”, makasaysayan po yan sa ating lipunan. Kapag nilalabas natin ulit ang salitang laban, ibig sabihin niyan ay hanggang sukdulan.  Kaya itong laban na ito, aaminin ko ay hindi magiging madali. Uphill climb ito para sa oposisyon pero naniniwala ako na gaya ng lahat ng naging laban sa ating bansa, kung nagkakaisa ang Pilpino, nagkakaisa ang mamamayan at hindi tayo nagpapatakot kung kaninuman, kahit anong laban ay kakayanin nating manalo at magtagumpay.

Ano na ang pangatlong L? Ang una ay Laylayan, ang pangalawa ay Laban, ang pangatlo ay para sa mga millenials: syempre, Love!

Hindi pwedeng mawala ang Love. Bakit? Ano po ang nagbubuklod-buklod sa atin dito? Isang tao po ba? Si VP Leni po ba? Hindi! Si PNoy po ba? Hindi! Kami po bang mga kandidato? Hindi rin! Nandito tayong lahat dahil nagmamahal tayo sa ating bayan.

Lahat tayo ay nagmamahal sa ating bayan. Alam nating maraming hinaharap at pinagdadaanan ang mga kababayan natin. Marami sa kanila ay naghahanap ng liderato, naghahanap ng mga masasandalan, naghahanap ng mga solusyon. Tayong lahat dito, sa pagmamahal natin sa ating bayan, yan ang magdadala sa atin sa tagumpay. Ang isang napakahalagang isipin natin ay hindi lang tayo ang nagmamahal sa ating bayan, maraming maraming Pilpino ang nagmamahal sa ating bayan. Baka ngayon lang, hindi lang maintindihan ang mga nakikita sa social media. Baka kaya natakot na dahil marami nang nakitang namatay sa kanilang baranggay. O baka tumahimik na lang dahil mas mabigat ang mga pang-araw-araw na problema ng ating bayan. Pero lahat tayo ay nagmamahal sa ating bayan. Kailangan natin silang maabot. Yung “Makinig Project” ni Senator Kiko nandyan yan, ang ating kakayanan na mag reach-out, kumausap, magkumbinsi, katukin natin ang bawat kapitbahay natin, bawat komunidad, bawat baranggay. Ipakita natin ang pagmamahal sa ating bayan at sabay-sabay nating tulungan ang lahat ng mga kandidato ng partido Liberal sa susunod na taon.

Laylayan, Laban, Love!

Isang napansin ko pa yung tatlong initial list ng kandidato: Aquino, Tañada, Diokno. Ano ang pagkakaparehas? Unang-una, lahat ay may kapamilya na naging senador. Pangalawa, lahat po ay nakulong din! Si Tito Ninoy, 7 years 7months. Si Ka Pepe, 2 years. Si Ka Taning, 2 weeks. Lahat yan nakulong. I hope yung pagkakaparehas namin sa 2019, hindi kami makukulong. Sana lahat kami ay magtagumpay! Sa mga susunod na linggo, dadami pa ang mga mababanggit na kasama ng LP at Opposition Coalition. Sanamatulungan natin silang lahat.

Para sa aking mga kasama dito sa initial list, hihilingin natin yung tulong nating lahat. Nakikita naman natin na tayong lahat ay nahuhuli sa survey. Hindi ako natatakot sa mga numerong yun. Ibig lang sabihin, kailangan pa tayong magtrabaho. Hindi tayo pwedeng makuntento na tayo-tayo lang ang mga kausap natin. Kailangan mag reach out tayo. Lahat naman tayo may kamag-anak, may kaibigan, at may officemate na tingin natin kaya naman natin makumbinsi. Ganun dapat.

Pero ngayong araw na ito, gusto ko lang i-highlight yung dalawa nating kasama. Palakpakan po natin, isang batikang youth leader, iniidolo namin noon sa Sanggunian, naging magaling na Kongresista, magaling na legislator, kailangan nating ibalik sa lehislatura, walang iba kundi si Congressman Erin Tañada! Pangalawa, huwag nating kakalimutan na kahit di siya napunta sa gobyerno, matagal na siyang naglilingkod sa ating bayan. Isang abogado ng mahihirap, tumutulong sa mga mahihirap na walang pambayad sa abogado, Chairman ng Free Legal Assistance Group, Dean ng La Salle Law School, palakpakan natin ang isang taong napakatapang at handang-handang lumaban sa panahon na ito, Atty. Diokno!

Mga kaibigan, ang laban na ito ay hindi magiging madali. Alam niyo po iyan, alam din namin yan. Pero sabi ni VP Leni lagi, “sa dulo ng lahat, ang mananaig ay katotohanan at kabutihan.” Ang mananaig sa dulo ng lahat ay ang handang magtrabaho para sa ating bayan. Tulong-tulong tayo sa susunod na taon. Tulong-tulong tayo na katukin ang mga bahay ng ating mga kasama sa barangay at ipakilala natin ang mga kandidato ng Partido Liberal.

Maraming maraming salamat po at magandang araw sa ating lahat. Thank you very much.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech on Martial Law and the Price Crisis

 

Maraming salamat, Mr. President, Mr. majority floor leader. Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan.

Yesterday, there was talk about the opposition’s alleged plans to overthrow the government. But today, I would like to share with you our true and real plans.

As history would have it, forty-six years ago, a devious plot against our democracy was uncovered by a young senator by the name of Ninoy Aquino. He was 39 years old back then. On September 13, 1972, former Senator Ninoy Aquino stood before his colleagues and addressed the nation through a privilege speech on one Oplan Sagittarius.

He said, and I quote:

“In astronomy, Sagittarius is the 9th sign of the zodiac – denoted by the symbol of the arrow or dart.

The ancient Greeks represented this constellation as a centaur in the act of shooting an arrow…

I wonder if this plan is intended to shoot down our cherish[ed] civil liberties with the arrow or dart of a Marcos military rule.

Or could this be an arrowhead of the spearhead of a more devilish plot to transform our Republic into a garrison state?”

In his speech, former senator Ninoy Aquino went on to outline military and police resources and where they would be deployed to effectively blanket our beloved country in intimidation.

He also warned that the Marcos Administration would use the recent bombings – bombings which he alleged to be orchestrated by the government itself – as reason to declare martial law.

Martial law, they will say, is the solution to the country’s problems. They will say, it is the answer to this nation in crisis.

Ninoy Aquino stood courageous before the Senate and asserted, and I quote:

“I do not know what is going on in the mind of the President. I will never attempt to [divine] what his thinking is.

But let me say that at the height of the Huk depredations in 1950, when the armed partisans numbered more than 15,000, when the Huks were actually maneuvering in squadron and battalion strength, tying up the entire military command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines… never was martial law declared in our country.

I do not recall when martial law was ever declared since the birth of this Republic. If the President is thinking of clamping down martial law… I dare say that there must be another more devious plot.

Therefore, I should conclude that Operation Sagittarius is properly named because as the arrow and the dart, it may spearhead what we may actually find as the end of the Republic.” End quote.

Ten days after these words were spoken, former president, dictator and plunderer Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and our beloved country came to know the consequences of absolute power and absolute impunity.

For the veneer of safer streets and the appearance of a disciplined society, the Filipino people paid in pain and in blood. And of course, as we know, Sen. Ninoy Aquino was prisoner No. 1.

In the nine (9) years under Martial Law rule: there were three thousand, two hundred and forty (3,240) victims of salvage or extra-judicial killings; thirty-four thousand (34,000) Filipinos were tortured; seventy thousand (70,000) were detained for being so-called ‘Enemies of the State’; and seventy-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty (75,730) cases of human rights violations were filed.

For the roads, bridges and buildings touted by Marcos apologists, the Filipino people incurred a debt of three hundred ninety-five billion, five hundred and nine million pesos (P395,509,000,000). Today, this is equivalent to three trillion, three hundred sixty-two billion, five hundred seventy-two million, three hundred eighty-four thousand, and six hundred pesos (P3,362,572,384,600).

Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya.

For their service to the Filipino people, the Marcos family was paid in personalized gold bars, jewelry, property around the world, invaluable art, an infamous collection of shoes and a lifetime of luxury. Ang martial law na sinabing magiging sagot sa sugat ng lipunan, pantakip lang pala sa kanilang kasakiman.

Mga kababayan, hindi sagot ang martial law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon. Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.

Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar ngayong taong ito. Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang [kumustahang] bayan. Ang kinokonsulta namin, mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, mga urban poor, mga market vendors, mga jeepney at tricycle drivers. Ano po iyong sinasabi nila?

“Sen. Bam, nalulunod na kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin.”

“Hindi na kami makahinga sa laki ng gastos ng aming pamilya.”

“Kahit anong kayod, hindi na kami maka-ahon.”

Mga kababayan, may krisis muli ang ating lipunan – ito po ang kataasan ng presyo ng bigas at kataasan ng presyo ng bilihin. Mga kaibigan, nababalot muli sa takot ang mamamayan – may isang senador na ang kinulong at isa naman pong pinapatihimik. Mayroon na pong pinapatay na mga pari, , mga mayor at vice mayor, at pati mga kabataang Pilipino. Gayun pa man, hindi pa rin martial law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura.

Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon. At solusyon, aksyon, at malasakit mula sa gobyerno ang lunas na hinahanap ng taumbayan.

Last May 23 of this year, I gave a privilege speech outlining solutions to the rising prices. Many of us were here. It would like to note that back then, inflation back in April was at 4.5% – already beyond the 2-4% target range set by the government. Last August, alarmingly, inflation hit 6.4%. We have not seen inflation this high in almost 10 years.

In that privilege speech last May, I mentioned 3 things government can do to provide Filipino families with some relief from soaring prices:

First, the government should ensure that the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law is fully implemented. Doon po lahat tayo nagkakaisa.

Sumasaklolo na ang ating mga kababayan – ang mga jeepney at tricycle drivers, mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, mga tindera sa palengke – hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino at hindi pa rin naibibigay ng lubos ang pinangakong tulong mula sa gobyerno.

To this day, there are gaps in the implementation of the cash transfer program and other social mitigating measures under TRAIN, such as the pantawid pasada program, na ngayon pa lang ni-ro-rollout in September of 2018, and of course nowhere to be found is the 10% discount on NFA rice.

My second suggestion back then was to address the rice issue by solving the management problem by the NFA. I think many of us here have called for the resignation of NFA administrator Jason Aquino.

Noong nag-speech ako ng Mayo, naaalarma na ang tao sa presyong 42 pesos per kilo para sa bigas. Ngayon, sa sobrang lala ng krisis, umabot po three weeks ago ng 70 pesos per kilo ang bigas sa Zamboanga at pinipilit po na pakainin ang mahihirap nating kababayan ang bigas na may bukbok. Thankfully, in Zamboanga, prices have stabilized, it’s still around P50 plus, mataas pa rin po kumpara sa presyo ng bigas last year.

Sa laki ng kasalanan ng NFA Administrator sa taumbayan, sana naman po makahanap tayo ng mahusay na pinuno dito.

My third suggestion back in May was to suspend and roll-back the excise tax on fuel from the TRAIN Law by passing Senate Bill Number 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill. I will admit, dear countrymen, that speech was actually a glimpse into the opposition’s playbook.

In the past few days, there has been talk about the opposition planning, colluding, talking about things that they want to do. Ngunit hindi po pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno ang pinaplano namin. Ang pinaplano namin ang pag-angat ng mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan. Ang plano ng oposisyon, magkaisa. Hindi lang po oposisyon, pati administrasyon, magkaisa at magtrabaho para solusyunan ang krisis sa taas ng presyo ng bigas at taas-presyo ng bilihin bago pumatak ang Enero.

Mula sa privilege speech ko noong Mayo hanggang sa press conference na kasama si Vice President Robredo noong Lunes, inilahad namin ang Oplan Ginhawa na inasahan naming magiging lunas sa hirap na hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan. Tatlong solusyon, tatlong aksyon po:

Una, na mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon at benepisyo ang ating kababayang nangangailangan. Pagbutihin ang pagpapatupad ng mga cash transfer program at iba pang social protection initiatives.

We challenge the administration to quickly facilitate the release of all these cash transfers at the soonest possible to all of the 10 million Filipino families. And we propose, at the proper time here in the Senate, to increase the 200 pesos to 400 pesos, given the alarming spike in inflation. The government must push for the complete and effective implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, the 10% discount on rice for the poorest Filipino families and the rest of the social mitigating measures in the TRAIN Law. We also propose to include tricycle drivers in the Pantawid Pasada program. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit nawala ang tricycle drivers noong ginagawa ang batas sa Pantawid Pasada Program.

Nasa kamay po ng administration and pagpapatupad ng mga programang ito. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino.

Pangalawa, at ito’y mukhang nangyayari na. Palitan ang liderato ng NFA at resolbahin ang isyu ng murang bigas sa ating bansa. Immediately, the NFA should bring back and maintain the mandated 15-day buffer stock. Ito po, order No. 1 para maibaba ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado. Naniniwala kaming kaya itong tuparin ng NFA sa loob ng isang buwan, basta’t mayroon silang matino at mahusay na NFA Administrator. With a 15-day buffer stock, NFA can make rice available and affordable for Filipinos and hopefully, this rice crisis will be over before the Christmas holidays.

Nasa NFA at administrasyon ang sandata para talunin na ang krisis sa bigas. Kailangan lang nilang gawin ang trabaho nila.

Pangatlo, itigil na sana ang excise tax sa petrolyo. Huwag po tayo papayag na magdadagdag na naman ng dalawang piso sa diesel at gasoline ngayong Enero. Ipasa po natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill. Suspindihin po natin ang mga probisyon ng TRAIN Law na nagpapataas ng presyo ng diesel at gasolina.

Marami naman pong pumunta na dito, kahit miyembro ng Gabinete, aminado na ang pagtaas ng diesel at gasolina ang mga nagpapataas sa presyo ng bilihin. Ngayon na napakataas ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo, di na ata tama na dito pa tayo huhugot ng pera para sa gobyerno. Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso – at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko.

We need to bring down prices and provide relief to poor Filipino families. We urge the President to take the lead on this matter, the opposition is ready, members of the administration are also ready. Kailangan lang natin itong itulak.

Iyong NFA, magandang pangitain na umalis na si NFA administrator Jason Aquino. Sana ang ipalit, isang tao na kayang gawin ang mandato ng NFA. Sana po wala nang pumipila para sa bigas sa mga palengke at hindi po nirarasyon ang NFA rice. Iyan po, isang kaagad-agad na puwede nating gawin. Maybe within a month or two, we can do this already para ang Christmas naman po, hindi ganito kalala ang sitwasyon ng bigas sa ating bansa.

Iyong presyo, alam naman natin na iyong presyo ng krudo sa mundo ang nagtutulak ng presyo pataas. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa gamit ang excise tax mula sa TRAIN Law. Ito pong second round ngayong Enero, kung itutuloy natin iyan, saan pupulutin ang inflation rate natin sa Enero.

Kailangan na nating gawin ang makakaya natin para maibaba ang inflation, maibaba ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, hindi iyong dinadagdagan pa natin.

Ito pong tatlong solusyong ito, kayang gawin. This can be done before Christmas. Ang kailangan natin, pagkaisahan. And what we’re asking here is that all of us work together, the executive, the legislative, and even if some economic managers don’t want to see some of these provisions. Puwede nating gawing ito.

I remember that when we passed the Free Tuition Act, initially the economic managers were against it. The Senate and Congress and the President took a stand. Sinabi nating itutulak natin ang libreng tuition para sa kapakanan ng ating kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.

Again, we’re called to be independent. Hinihiling sa atin na gawin ang ating makakaya para masolusyunan ang problemang ito – at kaya natin itong gawin bago mag-Pasko.

Ang kasaysayan ang unang magpapakita na hindi martial law, hindi propaganda ang sagot sa sakit ng bayan. Ang sagot ay nasa pagkakaisa, pagkayod, pagtrabaho at pag-aksyon ng gobyerno, pag-aksiyon ng lahat ng may pakialam at may malasakit sa bayan.

 Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga puwedeng gawing solusyon na ito.

Solusyunan, aksyunan natin ang mga totoong pangangailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino.

Maraming salamat Mr. President. Maraming salamat, Majority Floor Leader. Thank you very much.

Sponsorship Speech on the Full Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

P.S. RESOLUTION NO. 620

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE 

FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS 

OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT BY ADMINISTERING AND AFFORDING THE STUDENTS 

FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES AT THE START 

OF THE SECOND SEMESTER OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018 

  

  

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV 
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, February 12, 2018

  

Good afternoon, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. 

It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor a Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Immediate Implementation of the Provisions of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by administering and affording the students free tuition and other school fees, including this current semester, which is the second semester of Academic Year 2017-2018. 

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2017, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining all of us to stand behind free college education in the Philippines, as principal sponsor of the now enacted Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, 

 Thanks to your support and thanks to the hard work and strong will of a great number of advocates in and outside Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines ratified this landmark bill on May 30, 2017. 

On August 3, 2017, Mr. President, amidst rumors and threats of a veto, the President signed this revolutionary reform into law as Republic Act No. 10931. 

Mr. President and fellow lawmakers, I remember how we all worked together and crossed  party lines to champion education in the Philippines! 

 Together, we enacted a progressive new policy that prohibits our public universities and colleges from charging their students tuition fees and other school fees. 

 Sa totoo lang, Mr. President, pag binabalita ko po ito sa mga estudyante at magulang, hindi po sila makapaniwala na wala na silang babayaran sa kolehiyo. 

 Sa mga hindi pa po makakapaniwala, totoo po! Naisabatas na po noong August 3 at naging effective ng August 18! Bawal na mangolekta ng tuition fees at miscellaneous fees ang mga state universities at colleges sa ating bansa. 

 And more than this, Mr. President, on December 19, 2017, the General Appropriations Act was signed and sealed with a 41-billion-peso allotment for the implementation of this landmark legislation. 

— 

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we all know that we secured significant funding to cover this law. 

 In fact as early as 2016, thanks to our colleagues Sen. Lacson and budget chairperson, Sen. Legarda, an 8.3 billion peso budget was inserted into the 2017 General Appropriations Act. 

Thanks to this insertion, all 112 state universities and colleges eliminated the tuition fee charge for about 1.6 million students! 

 Take note Mr. President, dito sa P8.3 bilyon na ito, mayroon pa ring natitirang 4.9 billion na nasa budget allocation pong ito.

 This year, Mr. President, there is an additional 41 billion pesos in the 2018 budget to ensure that our countrymen will receive the full benefit of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. 

 Mr. President, this P41 billion is divided into two. 17.7 billion pesos for our newly created Tertiary Education Subsidy for college scholarships, and this can be availed of by students from both public and private universities. Of course, the remodeled and improved student loan program. 

 Of course, Mr. President, and more importantly, we have 23.3 billion pesos to cover tuition fees and other school fees, like miscellaneous fees, in our SUCs, LUCs and TESDA-run technical vocational schools. 

 Mr. President, this astounding 23.3 billion pesos can fund, not only the current second semester of Academic Year 2017-18, this the ongoing semester right now Mr. President, but it can also fund Academic School Year 2018-19. In short, sobra-sobra pa ang nailaan natin para sa budget sa libreng kolehiyo sa bansa.

— 

 Mr. President, the question is no longer should provide students with a free college education. The answer, Mr. President is yes because we passed the law. The question, Mr. President, is no longer whether we can afford it because in the 2018 GAA, sobra-sobra pa, from the 2017 GAA, mayroong P4-plus billion pang natitira. 

 The question, Mr. President is when? When will we implement this landmark law kung saan tayo nagkaisa at pinasa ang nakapagandang batas na ito? Kailan?

 When will our public universities and colleges provide free tuition and free miscellaneous expenses for the benefit of the students? 

When will this landmark law be fully implemented in out country? 

Pasado na ang batas. Napondohan na sa national budget at sapat na sapat ito.

 Kailan makikinabang ang mga estudyante, ang mga pamilyang Pilipino; kailan po makikinabang ang taumbayan sa libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa?

— 

 Noong January 26, sinabi po ng CHED na sa Academic Year 2018-2019 pa raw ipapatupad ang libreng kolehiyo, which includes tuition and school fees.

 Ngunit, Mr. President, noong bicameral conference, at marami sa atin ang nandoon, and this was chaired by Sen. Escudero, nagkasundo ang kumite na on the record, nilagay natin na ang intensiyon ng mambabatas ay kasama ang 2nd semester sa implementation ng batas.

Sa ating nakalaang 2018 budget, Mr. President, kasama po ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees ng kasalukuyang semester sa ating napondohan. Alam ho natin ito dahil kasama natin ang CHED.

Senator Legarda can attest to this. We worked with CHED to include the second semester and the language needed to include the current semester in the 2018 budget.

In short, Mr. President, wala tayong nakikitang funding or legal requirement kung bakit hindi sinasama ang current semester sa implementation ng ating batas. Hindi po pondo ang problema, hindi po legalities and problema, ang problema, hindi ito ipinatutupad ng CHED.

 Mr. President, we witnessed this CHED employees and our LBRMO, through our office, worked together during the budget deliberations to ensure that the language of the budget provision allows for the fund to be used to cover tuition and other school fees for this current semester.

In short, napag-usapan poi to at binoto po natin ito when we passed the GAA. 

So, Mr. President, ang tanong – kailan ba talaga natin ipapatupad ang batas? 

 When will our students and their families experience the financial relief of a free college education? 

 Mr. President, CHED says tomorrow. But with the sense of the Senate resolution signed by practically everybody here in the Senate, we say, yesterday!  Yesterday, Mr. President, dapat napatupad na.

— 

 Yesterday, Mr. President, I went through videos, photos and stories of students who dream of a college education and of course, the parents who work tirelessly to make it happen. 

Na-meet ko Mr. President si Nanay Joana, isang microfinance beneficiary sa Batangas. Mr. President, pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ang dalawa niyang anak kaya naman todo ang pagkayod ni Nanay Joana na nagtitinda ng samu’t saring produkto, nangungutang para makapagbayad ng tuition at iba pang school fees para sa kanyang anak sa Batangas State University.

Nandoon po si Aling Susana ng Zambales.  Siya’y mayroong apat na anak. Dalawa ang hindi na nakapagtuloy sa kolehiyo ngunit ang dalawa ay pursigido magtapos ng college. 

Dalawang taon nang tumigil ang kaniyang pangatlong anak ng pag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan sa buhay. Sa dalawang taon pong iyon, nag-ipon ang pamilya, nagtiyaga sa pangingisda, pagtatanim at pagbebenta ng kanilang ani. 

 Dahil sa libreng tuition, nag-aral na ng automotive course sa Ramon Magsaysay Technological University ang kaniyang anak na lalaki na 21 years old. Ito ang pinakabata ngunit nahihirapan pa rin at kailangan pa rin ng ayuda para matustusan ang lahat ng gastos.

Naririyan din si Kuya Noli, isang security guard sa Iloilo. Noong nagpunta ako kung saan siya nagtatrabaho, nabanggit ko sa isang interview na magiging libre na ang kolehiyo.  Sa kaniyang tuwa, napasigaw siya ng, “Buti na lang!” kasi mayroon siyang dalawang anak sa college.

Kahit nagtatrabaho siya bilang security at ang kanyang asawa ay labas-pasok bilang overseas Filipino, nahihirapan pa rin silang mabayaran ang gastos sa bahay at sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak. 

 “Sa libreng tuition,” sabi ni Kuya Noli, “magkakaroon na ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak namin at makakatulong rin sila sa aming pamilya.” 

 Mr. President, umaasa po sina Nanay Joana, Aling Susana, Kuya Noli, at napakarami pang magulang sa kapangyarihan ng edukasyon. 

Umaasa sila sa oportunidad na mabuksan ng isang college degree para sa kanilang anak ang isang mas magandang bukas.

Araw-araw, buwan-buwan, taon-taon, sila’y kumakayod upang matustusan ang gastos sa bahay at mapaaral ang kanilang mga anak. 

Mr. President, kailangan nating tularan ang mga magulang na ito. Tulad po nila, pangalagahan natin ang edukasyon at manalig na ito’y isang mabisang solusyon upang matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bayan. 

Tulad ng mga mabubuting magulang na iyan, gawin po natin ang lahat upang mapaaral ng kolehiyo ang ating mga kabataan. 

 Let’s take inspiration from these stories, from the work that they put in, from the love that they give to their children, and countless Filipino families who work together, who exhaust all opportunities just to achieve a dream of prosperity. 

— 

  

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2016, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining you to stand behind free college education in the Philippines. And of course, everybody responded.

 This, Mr. President, if I’m not mistaken is still one of our priority bills in the 17th Congress. Many of us, Mr. President, took a stand and said we will pass free college education in the Philippines. Today, with the sense of the Senate, we take another stand to say that we want this implemented right now. Ngayon na po.

Mr. President, with my co-authors who I’d like to thank again — Senators Recto, Villanueva, Ejercito, Gatchalian, Pangilinan, Angara, Legarda, De Lima, Villar, Zubiri, Gordon and of course Senators Lacson and Legarda for the first budget allocation in 2017.

I would like to thank everyone from getting behind the sense of the Senate and to show our country that we stand behind our students who wish to get free education.

We stand especially for the parents and the breadwinners who worked non-stop so that their children can achieve their dreams.

I call on all of us to unite and demand for the full implementation of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH: SENATE BILL NO. 1459 OR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

SENATE BILL NO. 1459 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 86

PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

 

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, May 22, 2016

 

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

 It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor Senate Bill No. 354, under Committee Report No. 86, entitled Strengthening The Secured Transactions Legal Framework In The Philippines, Which Shall Provide For The Creation, Perfection, Determination Of Priority, Establishment Of A Centralized Notice Registry, And Enforcement Of Security Interests In Personal Property, And For Other Purposes – it is otherwise known as the Personal Property Security Act.

But before I delve into the bill, Mr. President, I would like to share some trivia about basketball superstar, LeBron James, in the wake of today’s loss.

Alam niyo ba, Mr. President, na noong high school pa lang si LeBron, nais siyang regaluhan ng ina ng mamahaling sasakyan na Hummer para sa kanyang ika-18 taong kaarawan.

Ang problema? Ang Hummer ay nagkakahalaga ng $50,000 at walang pambili si Mommy Gloria.

Dahil walang pambili, lumapit si Gloria James sa isang bangko sa Ohio at nangutang.

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, ang ginamit niyang collateral ay ang future earnings ng kaniyang anak kung siya’y maging NBA player!

 Kapag napasok na raw si LeBron sa NBA, milyun-milyon ang kikitain niya.

 Ang kagulat-gulat dito, tinanggap ng bangko ang collateral!

Ang tinignan nila ay ang talento ni LeBron at ang posibilidad na ito’y magiging NBA player. 

Ang ending ay win-win-win! Gloria James got her loan. LeBron got a Hummer. And the bank was paid back with interest.

 Mr. President, this would not have happened in the Philippines.

 Currently, it is land and real property that banks consider to be the most favored form of collateral – and this is not just because of its value.

 Financial institutions see land and real estate as low-risk because it is easy to ascertain that the piece of land has not been used as collateral for any other loan.

 But with lenders fixated on real property, they miss out on the opportunity to provide loans to a broader groups of MSMEs and farmers.

Consequently, many of our countrymen have a very difficult time accessing loans from banks and result to borrowing from friends and family or, worse, resorting to informal loans like the 5/6 system with exorbitant interest rates.

This is particularly heartbreaking for micro, small and medium enterprises, Mr. President.

Friends and colleagues, sa aking pag-iikot, ang laging tanong sa akin ng mga nagnenegosyo ay, “Sen. Bam, saan po ako makaka-utang na mababa lang ang interes?”

Sayang, Mr. President!

Many of our small businesses have so much potential – potential for success and potential to lift families out of poverty.

 Mr. President, we need to address our MSME’s lack of access to loans.

The Personal Property Security Act is one of our remedies.

This measure will encourage financial institutions to lend to more Filipinos by, one, expanding what banks consider as acceptable collateral and, two, reducing the risks associated to movable collaterals.

 First, this measure will broaden the utilization of movable assets like bank accounts, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, vehicles, agricultural products, and even intellectual property rights.

Imagine a farmer using his livestock or a craftsman using a contract for a bulk order as collateral for a loan.

But, Mr. President, we already recognize a diverse set of movable assets acceptable as collateral for loan purposes, like motor vehicles, equipment, and standing crops, such as rice or sugarcane.

 The major challenge of this measure, and those tasked to implement it would be to reduce the risk of accepting movable collaterals through an efficient, comprehensive, and centralized registry.

The Personal Property Security Act pursues the design, establishment, and operation of a unified, centralized, online notice-based national collateral registry to assure banks that the collateral being submitted has not been utilized for another loan.

Mr. President, this is not new. In other countries, a simple but effective registry have boosted financing for their local entrepreneurs.

In Mexico, the creation of a national Accounts Receivable Finance Platform by the government’s development bank supported at least 130,000 SMEs through accounts receivable financing.

In China, loans with movable assets as collateral now amount to 3 trillion US dollars per year.

 Mr. President, access to a centralized repository of information for movable assets will encourage financial institutions to lend to our MSMEs and may even speed up the loan application process.

With the Personal Property Security, our financial institutions increase their income by issuing more loans, Filipinos will have better access to lower-interest loans, and more Filipino families can grow their business and livelihood for a brighter future.

 Mr. President, the Personal Property Security Act seeks to replicate this win-win-win scenario for the James family in Ohio – not to help parents purchase luxury vehicles for their children – but to help parents provide a better life, better future for their children through sustained livelihood.

 With access to financing, a sari-sari store can grow into a convenience store and Pera Padala center.

 With access to financing, a farmer or agri-preneur can purchase equipment to boost production and develop his produce.

 With access to financing, a small bakery can endeavor to supply to a string of coffee shops and supermarkets.

Mr. President, aking mga kagalang-galang na kapwa senador, ipasa po natin ang Secured Transactions Act at suportahan po natin ang mga maliliit na negosyanteng Pilipino na magtagumpay at umasenso ang buhay!

Maraming salamat po!

2017 Commencement Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino: Three Secrets

 

Before anything else, I’d like to thank you for inviting me to your commencement exercise. It is an honor to be speaking to all of you on such a momentous occasion!

This is the culmination of all your hard work as students! So let’s take some time to thank the people who were part of your journey.

Of course, our teachers who took on the challenge of arming our graduates with the skills they need to succeed beyond these walls.

We must not forget our parents and our family – those who worked so hard to afford your education and support you. I’m sure they are filled with pride today.

Let’s give them all a round of applause! Damo nga salamat, teachers, parents, family, friends!

 Ang tagumpay ninyo ngayon, mga graduates, ay tagumpay rin ng inyong mga pamilya!

But of course, we must give the biggest, loudest applause to our graduates! Palakpakan niyo po ang inyong mga sarili! Congratulations!

Today, you are celebrating the hard work and sleepless nights you put into finishing your thesis, the nerves you conquered during every exam, and all the times you pushed yourself to excel and do better!

Beyond the academics, today, you are also celebrating the unforgettable moments you created, the friendships you forged, and the person you’ve grown to be.

It is the sum of all these experiences – good and bad, successes and failures – that prepare you for your new adventure outside Carlos Hilado Memorial State College.

And, truly, dear friends, every Filipino should be given the opportunity to earn a college degree, have a chance at a better job and a better future.

During the course of your education, I’m sure there were times when people in this room were worried about their finances, may mga nahirapan po magbayad ng school fees.

Siguro po may mga kilala rin kayo na hindi nakapagtapos – hindi dahil mababa ang kanilang grades, ngunit dahil nahirapan sila makahanap ng pambayad sa tuition.

 Pero mayroon po akong good news para sa inyo at para sa kanila!

In the Senate, we recently passed on third and final reading the Affordable Higher Education for All Act, which will make tuition fees free in all state universities and colleges – including CHMSC!

Ang mga kaibigan ninyong hindi nakapagtapos ay pwedeng bumalik sa kolehiyo at, tulad ninyo, maka-graduate na rin!

Ang inyong mga kaibigan, mga kapatid at kamag-anak na nag-aaral sa mga SUC, matutulungan na sila, kahit kaunti, dahil sa libreng tuition.

 Siguro iniisip ninyo… Senator Bam, graduate na po kami. Bakit niyo pa ito sinasabi?

Well, dear friends, I have 2 reasons.

One – hindi pa po ito batas. Kailangan pa po ito ipasa sa Kongreso at pirmahan ng Presidente. Kailangan po naming ang inyong suporta upang bantayan ang proseso at siguraduhin na maipapasa ito sa lalong madaling panahon. We need you to help us spread the word.

 Second, I know you will appreciate it. You who have worked so hard to pay for a good education for all 4 years. I know you will appreciate this bill and make sure na maipasa ito para sa inyong mga kaibigan, mga magulang, para sa susunod na batch, susunod na mga henerasyon.

 This is our gift to every Filipino family whose dream is to have a member, at least one person, in their family to earn a college degree.

Pero hindi po ito ang pabaon ko sa inyo ngayon, mga graduates!

My gift to you today, before you venture out into a wild, uncertain, and complicated world, are 3 secrets!

—

The first secret is the secret to living.

 Sa mga mayroong smart phone, pakilabas ito at ilagay sa camera mode! Itapat sa inyong katabi. Itapat sa noo… sa ilong… sa pisngi…

 Ngayon naman, itabi ang inyong mga phone. Itabi na ‘yan at titigan naman ang inyong katabi.

For five minutes. Stare at your seatmate. Get closer! Lapit pa hanggang sa maamoy mo na ang kanyang hininga… Hanggang sa malaman mo na kung ano kinain niya for lunch.

Ok! 5 mins is up!

How did that feel? Was it uncomfortable? <pause> Alin ang mas nakakailang? Alin ang mas may impact? <pause>

Hindi ba’t mas ramdam mo ang iyong katabi pag walang gadget sa pagitan ninyo? Mas ramdam mo rin ang hiya!

Pero parang mas totoo, parang mas nakilala mo ang kaniyang mukha at pagkibo kapag gamit mo ang iyong dalawang mata.

Friends, life too short to be living behind a screen!

This, dear graduates, is the first secret: Live life with no filters.

If you’re flirting with someone online, lakasan ang loob at makipag-landian in person!

Kung may kaaway ka online, why not have a face-to-face discussion? You might even make a new friend.

In this day of Facebook and Instagram, marami na pong filters sa ating buhay. But these filters should only be in our photos and videos. Filters and preconceptions must not cloud our minds.

We must not allow these filters to waste the experience of knowing each other in real life.

The challenge of this first secret is to experience the world in its fullest, to open our minds beyond a screen, beyond what we think we already know.

Because it is only by living without filters that we truly open up to what the world can offer and what each person can teach us.

That is, to me, the secret to living: to go beyond filters, break down barriers, and genuinely reach out to our fellow men and women.

Tanggalin po natin ang mga harang na iyan at huwag hayaan na hanggang Facebook lang ang pakikitungo natin sa ating mga magulang at sa ating mga kaibigan.

The secret to living is to live life with no filters.

—

Now, what’s the second secret? Secret number 2 is the secret to winning!

 

“Why are you so good at winning? What did you do?” This question was posed to a very wise man after he won yet another game.

The tall wise man, with his knowing eyes, paused and rubbed his wise old head. Then he answered:

“Excellence is a habit. You are what you repeatedly do.”

Can you guess who this wise man is? It’s none other than… Shaquille O’Neal, legendary basketball player!

After winning so many basketball games, he said the secret to their success was to make excellence a habit!

Truly, habits take up a large part of our day-today and habits lead to success. So how can we expect to succeed if we get used to the mediocre, ang “Pwede Na”?

Makapasa lang – maka-graduate lang. Pwede na ‘yun!

Ang bako-bakong daanan – nadadaanan pa naman. Pwede na ‘yan!

Ang mabagal na internet – nakaka-download pa rin naman. Pwede na!

Pero hindi pwede and pwede na. <slow it down> Kasi pwede pa!

<Speed it up!> Kaya pa nating pagbutihin, pagandahin, pabilisin, palakasin, padamihin… Kaya pa natin basta’t handa tayong magtrabaho at gawing gawiin – gawing habit.

And we do not need to be born very talented or very intelligent to be excellent. What it takes is practice and effort!

A recent psychological study revealed that the key characteristic for success is actually a combination of passion and perseverance This combination is what psychologist Angela Duckworth calls grit.

Grit! It is the ability to keep trying and keep working with heart!

I hope you stay with me for this equation; huling math lesson niyo na ito, promise!

If Talent x Effort = Skill

And Skill x Effort = Achievement

Then with a little Algebra:

Talent x Effort x Effort = Achievement

 

So you see, effort counts twice!

Let’s take it from Shaq, from science and from our basic math! The secret to winning, the secret to success, is to keep working hard to make excellence a habit.

Now we’re down to the last and final secret for all of you. And this, I think, is the most important.

 

The third secret is the secret to happiness!

 

During my days as a social entrepreneur, I was fortunate enough to be part of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and one of the seminars I attended was entitled “The Secret to Happiness”.

 I was so surprised to see that this seminar was attended by some of the richest, most accomplished leaders around the world… Mga tulad nina Bill Gates, hindi rin pala nila alam ang sikreto!

 The speaker in this seminar was actually a scientist who was there to talk about the research they conducted on the human brain.

She said that in moments when humans are happy, certain chemicals are released in the brain and they were able to measure this.

So what they did was try to look for the moments and memories in our life that make our brain release a lot of these “happy chemicals”!

But before she revealed the secret to happiness, she wanted to know what the crowd of VIPs thought. Baka naman alam na nila ang sagot!

She asked everyone, “Do we feel happiest when we have so much money?”

Even the wealthiest men in the room shook their heads no. A lot of money did not make them happy.

“Do we feel happiest when we’ve accomplished so much? When we have earned so many degrees and won so many awards?”

The room was silent. Hindi pa rin!

Her third question really made us think – Do we feel happiest when we are in love?

Yes ba? Mukang maraming inlove/sawi dito!

The answer is no. The secret to happiness is not love and romance; it’s not money; it’s not accomplishments.

The secret to happiness, dear graduates, is kindness and compassion for others.

According to scientific research, “happy chemicals” are released in our brains during moments when: one, we are most kind and, two, when we are most compassionate.

Are you surprised? When I heard it, I was surprised. It was a big realization for me… and I hope this secret warms your heart as it did mine.

Because in these days when we are asked to be tough, to be cold, and to harden our hearts… Now, more than ever, we need to remember to be kind and compassionate to one another.

We must remember that there is courage and there is true happiness in being kind and compassionate to our fellow Filipinos.

Dearest graduates, now with these three secrets, I hope you can live a life that is rich in experiences and rich in love.

I sincerely wish that all of you find both success and happiness, because those two don’t always go hand-in-hand.

And I fervently pray that you never forget your capacity to make your own life better, make the lives of your loved ones better, and even improve the lives of the people in your community.

Lastly, huwag na huwag niyo pong kalilimutan na kahit graduate na kayo, nandito pa rin kami para suportahan kayo at maging cheerleader niyo!

Your teachers, your friends, your family, your parents will always be here to support you.

Because you need them and they need you. Friends, now more than ever, we need each other.

If we, as a nation, can build bridges instead of walls, build respect instead of hate, build friendship instead of rivalry…

If we can build up instead of tear down, then the Philippines can move out of mediocrity and we can finally live in a kind and compassionate society that cares for one another.

This hope for our country and these secrets you can use in your life beyond these halls, iyan po ang aking pabaon.

Madamo gid nga salamat sa inyo nga tanan! Mag-ulupdanay kita , sa pag-uswag! Sa liwat, Congratulations Graduates!

[Thank you, everyone. And congratulations, once again, to our graduates!]

 

 

Sponsorship Speech: Free Higher Education for All Act

SENATE BILL NO. 1304 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 28

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A FULL TUITION FEE SUBSIDY FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES (SUCs), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF

OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “FREE HIGHER EDUCATION FOR ALL ACT”

 

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, January 24, 2016

 

 

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

Today, I am privileged to address you to sponsor a measure that can help make the dream and promise of a college degree a reality for a number of Filipinos and their families.

This measure has received tremendous support from our colleagues, from the public and especially our youth, the students.

I stand before you to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1304, entitled “An Act Providing for a Full Tuition Fee Subsidy for Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Appropriating Funds Thereof”, otherwise known as the “Free Higher Education For All Act”, which seeks to subsidize tuition fees in all our SUCs.

 Mr. President, simply put, kapag naisabatas na po ang batas na ito, magiging libre na ang tuition fee sa ating SUCs!

Ang batas po na ito ay para sa mga kabataang Pilipino na nagsusumikap upang makapagpatapos ng kanilang kolehiyo, at para na rin po sa kanilang mga magulang na nagtatrabaho upang mabayaran ang gastos sa pag-aaral.

 Mr. President, let’s imagine the lives of four students ready and eager to earn a college degree in a state university and college. Let’s imagine the lives of Liza, Kathy, Norman, and Trisha. All four of them have graduated from Grade 12 and now have the opportunity to study in an SUC!

 Perhaps Liza dreams of graduating and earning a degree so she can work as a manager in a 5-star hotel all the way in Singapore! Kathy is hopeful that becoming an engineer will provide her with higher pay so she can contribute to her family’s monthly expenses. Norman is determined to graduate so he can find a challenging and profitable job in media to help put his sister through elementary school. And Trisha is studying hard so she can become a public school teacher and help shape the next generation of Filipinos.

Mr. President, the key to all four of these dreams is to graduate from a college or university. But sadly, Mr. President and honored colleagues, most likely only one out of the four will earn a degree. And the number one reason for students dropping out of a Higher Education Institution? That number one reason, Mr. President, is Financial Issues or Poverty.

Ipagpalagay na po natin na kay Liza, Kathy, Norman, at Trisha, si Kathy po ang nakapag-graduate. Masaya po tayo para sa kaniya at kaniyang pamilya! Congratulations, Kathy. At tuluy-tuloy ang pagtatrabaho natin para makakuha ng magandang trabaho si Kathy!

Ngunit paano naman ang pangarap ni Liza na makapagtrabaho sa isang 5-star hotel sa ibang bansa? Paano po si Norman na magtrabaho sa media at tulungan ang kaniyang kapatid sa elementarya? Paano po matutulungan si Trisha na gustong  maging guro at gusto pong magsilbi sa bayan?

What happens to the other 3? What happens to the rest of the youth who cannot finish because of a lack of finances?

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we now have an opportunity to unlock the door to a brighter future for more Filipinos. Let’s make higher education more accessible to our struggling students!

Currently, there are 1,645,566 students in our State Universities and Colleges and the Annual Weighted Average Tuition in SUCs is 9,407 (Philippine) pesos per year. That gives us a cost of about 16 billion pesos every year to make tuition fees free across our SUCs.

This measure covers only tuition fees, which refers to the cost of instruction and training of our students.

 This is about 30 percent of the cost of expenses of our students.

Mr. President, I believe it’s high time we invest boldly on education, especially now that we have the means and resources to make this happen! 

It’s a fair price to pay to embolden and empower more Filipinos like Liza, Kathy, Norman and Trisha to achieve their dreams – for themselves, for their families, and for their country.

Mr. President, we need to take a look at our proposed measure as one, albeit, important reform that we wish to pass to address the perennial issue of access to quality education.

 Our proposed measure can be coupled with other policies already found in our laws, like the Iskolar ng Bayan Act, streamlining the StuFAP or Student Financial Assistance Program (StuFAP) found in UNIFAST in the UNIFAST Law, and scholarships lodged in CHED, DOST, DND, among other agencies. Together, they can improve access to higher education and empower more Filipinos with a promise of a college diploma!

 Together with policies already passed, laws already passed, programs already being implemented, our measure can complete the picture and support our students and our SUCs further.

 Isa lang po ito sa mga inaalay naming reporma sa hanay ng edukasyon. Marami pa po tayong kailangang i-trabaho at gawin upang tunay na umasenso ang buhay ng bawat estudyante at buhay ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Marami pa po tayong kailangan gawin, at tuluy-tuloy lang po ang pagtatrabaho ng ating kumite!

 Pero makakasigurado po tayo na ang batas na ito ay isang napakahalagang reporma sa pangarap at pangakong iyan.

 Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, let’s give our countrymen, not just hope, but tangible support in achieving their dreams.

 Together, if we pass SBN 1304, the Free Higher Education for All Act, we’re investing in the future of our promising young Filipinos!

 Maraming salamat Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, thank you for your support.

Resolution Honoring And Commending The Ten (10) Outstanding Teachers Of 2016 Awarded By The Metrobank Foundation, Inc.

Good afternoon, Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues. Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat, mga kaibigan, mga kababayan!

It is a distinct honor to be addressing you today in support of the Resolution Honoring and Commending the Ten Outstanding Teachers of 2016 by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. or R.S.N. 116.

As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts, I am elated to present to you 10 Filipino teachers – 10 extraordinary men and women that make an invaluable difference in the lives of their students and their student’s families.

Please join me in commending them:

Mrs. Winona Y. Diola, a grade school teacher at De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa City

Ms. Rujealyn R. Cancino, a master teacher II at Lingayen I Central School in Lingayen, Pangasinan

Mr. Arnol M. Rosales, a master teacher I at the Francisco Melgar Memorial School in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro

Mrs. Josephine Chonie M. Obsenares, a master teacher I from the Butuan City Special Education Center in Butuan City

Dr. Roy B. Basa, a master teacher I from the Negros Occidental High School in Bacolod City

Mr. Nelson G. Agoyaoy, the coordinator of student concerns and activities from the University of the East Caloocan Elementery and High School Department

Mrs. Ma. Regaele A Olarte, a teacher I in Muntinlupa National High School in Muntinlupa City

Dr. Katherine Faith M. Bustos, a master teacher I at the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

Dr. Ernelea P. Cao, a professor XII at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City

And Dr. Mark Anthony J. Torres, an associate professor V at the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology in Iligan City

Maraming maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Mabuhay po ang ating ten outstanding teachers for 2016!

 

Mr. President, yesterday I shared a little known fact about my family and that is my mother’s parents who are actually teachers.

Segundo and Victoria Aguirre moved to Davao from Luzon after the Second World War with a dream. And that dream was to take part in building a better future for young Mindanaoans through education.

So, they rolled up their sleeves and helped start the University of Mindanao.

Hanggang po sa huli, na naging chairperson ng Filipino department ang aking lola at naging principal ng University of Mindanao ang aking lolo, hindi po nila binitawan ang kanilang bokasyon sa edukasyon.

Mr. President, teaching is a vocation and to educate is a mission.

Tungkulin po ng bawat guro ang pagandahin ang kinabukasan ng bawat batang Pilipino at pagandahin ang kinabukasan ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng edukasyon.

Layunin po nilang palitawin ang husay at talino ng kabataan upang paramihin ang dakilang Pilipinong mag-aambag sa kasaganaan ng ating minamahal na bansa.

At ito po’y hindi madali.

Hindi po madaling magising bago sumikat ang araw para paghandaan ang mga aralin.

Hindi po madaling magpuyat para mag-tsek ng ga bundok na mga test paper.

Hindi po madaling ngumiti at maging bibo sa classroom kahit masama ang pakiramdam.

Hindi po madaling pagsabihan ang batang hindi nakikinig pag alam mo namang hindi pa sila nag-aalmusal.

Hindi po madaling maging guro sa Pilipinas, Mr. President. At lalong hindi madaling magsikap upang maging isang katangi-tanging guro sa ating bansa.

So today, Mr. President, we honor this year’s Ten Outstanding Teachers and we honor every Filipino who has chosen teaching as a vocation.

Mr. President, it is apparent that the reforms we are pushing for in the Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts to improve access to quality education in our country hinge on our teachers’ willingness to step up and strive for excellence.

And Mr. President, the ten that we have here today are the examples for that excellence that we seek. So, Mr. President it is my honor to co-sponsor this resolution honoring these ladies and gentlemen – these proud Filipinos behind me. Maraming salamat, Mr. President, thank you very much!

 

Speech of Sen. Bam during the IP peering MOA signing ceremony

We’ve been talking about this for nine months. Actually, it might even be a little longer than that. 

To be frank, the first time I had these gentlemen visit me in the Senate was, I think, more than a year ago. But, I’m truly happy that we finally came to this deal. 

Maraming salamat and I truly hope that this will be one of more milestones that we can put under our belts in terms of really increasing the speed, quality and access of internet in the Philippines. 

You know, a lot of people say, “You’re giving the telcos a hard time!” But I don’t think it’s really giving you a hard time. I’d like to think that the atmosphere that we create is one where we can collaborate and work together. 

And If we have the goal in mind, which is really improving the quality, access and service to our people, then I think it’s a direction where all of us – whether you’re competitors, you’re in government, you’re in the private sector — it’s a place where we can all move towards. 

Again, thank you for the meeting of the minds that happened. 

There was a negotiating team, I heard. So congratulations to the negotiating team. 

Iyong nakita kong negotiating team this morning was NDF and Philippine Government. Mas madugo ang negotiating na nangyari. But all of these agreements are being signed and this IP peering agreement is akin to that. 

I am very, very elated with these developments. I know that this will be the first of many more steps to improve the quality of internet in our country.

Maraming salamat and congratulations!

 

Sen. Bam’s Sponsorship Speech on the Amendments to the Corporation Code

Senate Bill No. 2945 under Committee Report No. 247

An Act Amending Section 144 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 68 otherwise known as the Corporation Code of the Philippines

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
16th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, September 9, 2015

 

 

Good afternoon, Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues.  Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

I am honored to address you today in support of improving and developing the country’s business regulatory practices for the benefit of our local entrepreneurs, as I sponsor Senate Bill No. 2945, under Committee Report No. 247, entitled An Act Amending Section 144 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 68 otherwise known as the Corporation Code of the Philippines.

As the spotlight continues to shine on the country thanks to our robust economic growth, we are challenged to push policies that make investing and doing business in the Philippines easier, more efficient, and more fun.

Kagalang-galang na Pangulo, naipasa na natin ang Go Negosyo Act na siyang pagmumulan ng tulong at tukod para sa maliliit na negosyong Pilipino sa kanilang paglalakbay tungo sa pag-unlad.

Naipasa na rin po natin ang Philippine Competition Act na magbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga bagong negosyante na makilahok at makipagsabayan sa mas malalaki at mas matatatag na kompanya sa merkado.

Ngayon, may panibagong pagkakataon na suportahan at padaliin ang paglaganap ng mga negosyo sa ating bansa.

Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, the next step in promoting entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of our local businesses is to rethink and reform the Corporation Code of the Philippines, which was enacted in 1980.

For 35 years, we have gathered lessons and insights in order to improve and streamline the country’s Corporation Code for the benefit of both businesses and government agencies.

To strengthen our efforts to catch up to global best practices for the business sector and improve the ease of doing business in the country, we must now make improvements and amendments to the decades-old Corporation Code of the Philippines.

These amendments include the creation of a one-person corporation, allowing for perpetual corporate existence, and stringent measures to ensure corporations are not used for graft and corruption practices – changes that benefit both implementing government agencies and entrepreneurs alike.

 

One-Person Corporation

At present, the law requires a minimum of five persons in order to incorporate, while entrepreneurs that choose to build a business on their own are left with one option – a sole proprietorship.

However, in a sole proprietorship, personal assets are considered property of the business entity allowing authorities to seize personal assets should the business go asunder.

In an attempt to protect their personal assets, individuals have learned to engage “dummy incorporators”, rendering the policy ineffectual; and thus, encouraging businesses to circumvent the law.

Sa panukalang ito, bibigyan natin ang mga negosyanteng Pilipino ng pagkakataong makapagpatayo ng mga one-person corporation bilang alternatibo sa sole proprietorship.

We aim to give the government less cause for speculation and no need for investigation while encouraging more individuals to invest in their business ideas.

 

Perpetual Corporate Existence

Mr. President, as we encourage a mindset of entrepreneurship among Filipinos, we also want to encourage them to think long-term, be in it for the long haul and embrace enterprise development as a life and career choice.

But currently, our Corporation Code limits a corporate term to a maximum of only fifty years.

To remedy this, the Amendments to the Corporation Code will allow corporate perpetuity in the Philippines, encouraging corporations to develop long-term plans and generate extensive and sustainable strategies to achieve economic or, more importantly, socio-economic growth.

On the other hand, government agencies need not attend to regular renewals of corporations, eliminating unnecessary workload and taking one less opportunity away from fixers.

This is one of our efforts to promote ease of doing business with government and to truly be a partner in the growth of our business sector.

 

Good Corporate Governance

Mr. President and respected colleagues, the passage of this bill is also an important step towards realizing our country’s commitment to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). 

It will promote good corporate governance by including stricter measures to safeguard companies from being used in aid of fraud, graft, and corruption.

These measures include imposing criminal liability against corporations, more stringent requirements for directorship, and whistleblower protection.

Ang pag-amyenda ng Corporation Code ay magpapatibay ng laban kontra katiwalian, hindi lamang sa gobyerno pero pati na rin sa mga nagnenegosyo.

—

These are only few of the many improvements in this policy that seek to update and redesign the current Corporation Code of the Philippines to suit our ever-changing and growing local and global business world.

With so many opportunities for business and commerce in our country, there is no better time to build a successful business in the Philippines; and there is no better time than now to streamline our policies.

Mga kaibigan, sa repormang tinutulak natin ngayon, binibigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga negosyanteng Pilipinong magtagumpay at makamit ang kanilang mga pangarap.

Sa repormang ito, mas magiging matapat at epektibo ang ating pamahalaan upang ituloy ang pag-unlad ng bansa para sa bawa’t Pilipino! 

Inaasahan po namin ang inyong suporta sa pagpasa ng Amendments to the Corporation Code!

Magandang hapon at maraming maraming salamat!

 

 

 

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