go negosyo

BIDA KA!: Go na go sa pag-asenso!

Mga Bida, kamakailan ay na­imbitahan ako sa Kapihan sa Dia­mond na pinangunahan ng bete­ranong mamamahayag na si Neal Cruz.

Sa nasabing pagtitipon, ma­layang nakapagtanong ang mga kaibigan nating miyembro ng media ukol sa aking pananaw sa mga mahahalagang isyu ng ating bansa.

Mula sa isyu ng overseas Filipino workers, pagbabago sa Saligang Batas at pagbubukas sa shipping industry sa mga dayuhan, nailahad ko naman ang aking posisyon at mga polisiya ukol sa mga ito.

Siyempre, kabilang sa mga napag-usapan namin ang pinakamainit na usapin sa kasalukuyan na laman ng balitaktakan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa — ang pork barrel scam.

Isa mga natanong sa akin ay kung apektado ang trabaho ng Senado sa pagkawala ng pork barrel.

Ito ang sabi ko: “Ang trabaho ng senador o kongresista ay gumawa ng polisiya at batas para sa kapakanan ng samba­yanang Pilipino.

“Without the PDAF, it really forces you to focus on legislative work. Iyan na ang nagiging focus namin but then again, just because wala ka nang PDAF, it doesn’t mean you cannot engage in programs.”

May nagtanong sa akin noon, senator paano po ba iba­balik ang tiwala sa Senado ngayong bagsak na bagsak ang ti­wala sa inyo?

Ang sabi ko naman, “No amount of words will get the people’s trust back. It’s really your output and your work.”

“Kapag nakikita na nagtatrabaho ka para sa kapakanan ng tao, maybe at some point babalik ang tiwala nila sa iyo. We just commit to work hard and make sure na ang mga na­ipangako natin noong kampanya ay gagawin natin.”

***

Sa nasabi ring forum, nabigyan ako ng pagkakataon upang matalakay ang Go Negosyo Act, isa sa pangunahing panukala na aking isinumite sa unang taon ko bilang mambabatas.

Sa tulong ng Diyos at sa suporta ninyo, mga Bida, nais kong ibalita na pirma na lang ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino ang kulang at ganap nang magiging batas ang Go Negosyo Act.

Bago nagsara ang sesyon ng Kongreso kamakailan ay niratipikahan na ang inilabas na bicameral committee report. Pagkatapos nito’y ipadadala na sa Malacañang para ma­pirmahan ng Pangulo.

Ang ganap na pagsasabatas sa Go Negosyo Act ay isang malaking tagumpay para sa maliliit na negosyante sa bansa, o ang mga micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Lalong mahalaga para sa MSMEs ang Go Negosyo Act dahil sila ang bumubuo ng 99 porsiyento ng mga negosyo at siyang nagbibigay ng 66 porsiyento na trabaho sa bansa.

Sa tulong din nito, mabibigyan ang mga Pilipino — mula sa simpleng maybahay hanggang sa ordinaryong empleyado — ng tsansa para magtatag ng sariling negosyo para matustusan ang inyong pangangailangan.

***

Isa sa mga inaasahang makikinabang sa pagsasabatas nito ay ang Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran sa Baseco Inc., isang people’s organization na tumutulong sa mga residente ng Baseco sa Tondo na magkaroon ng dagdag na kita mula sa paggawa ng bag na yari sa balot ng junk food at juice.

Dati, ang mga residente ng Baseco ay nabubuhay lang sa pagba­balat ng bawang kung saan kumikita sila ng P75 kada araw.

Sa tulong ng KKBI, ang mga residente na naging kasapi nito ay kumikita ng P800 hanggang P1,500 kada linggo depende sa demand sa kanilang produkto na ibinebenta sa mga mall at mga puwesto sa World Trade Center.

Subalit, pansamantala munang tumigil ang kanilang produksyon dahil sa kawalan ng dagdag na merkado kung saan maaari nilang ibenta ang kanilang produkto.

Maliban pa rito, apektado rin ang KKBI sa kawalan ng ideya para sa bagong produkto, na hinihiling ng mga supplier sa kanila.

Sa tulong ng Go Negosyo Act, mabibigyan sila ng pagkakataon para mapalawak ang kanilang merkado at training na maaari nilang magamit sa paggawa ng bagong produkto.

At kung kailangan nila ng puhunan, magkakaroon sila ng access sa kapital sa mga itatayong Negosyo Center.

Maliban sa mga serbisyong ito, pabibilisin ng Negosyo Center ang pagpaparehistro at pagsisimula ng negosyo ng mga gustong magkaroon ng alternatibong kabuhayan.

Sa Go Negosyo Act, Go na Go na ang pagdami ng trabaho at pag-asenso ng mga negosyo!

 

First Published on Abante Online

Scaling up support

In 2007, I co-founded the Hapinoy program with the goal of helping women micro-entrepreneurs in the Philippine countryside by creating a solid business network through their sari-sari stores, providing them rigorous training and mentorship, and giving them access to financing, markets, and more business, opportunities.

My experience working with them has deeply shaped my principles on poverty alleviation, inclusive growth through business and empowerment through enterprise.

Our nanays were asked to invest time and energy developing their entrepreneurial and financial management skills to be well equipped to seize the opportunities available to them.

Being a witness to their dedication to uplift their lives and of their family members’ as well, I have deep respect and hope for the micro-entrepreneurs in our country.

Watching them make the most out of their new-found knowledge and business network to expand their stores and sales, I was sold to the belief that if we are able to provide the right opportunities and give them the right break, they would do everything with that opportunity to succeed.

I have seen how our fellow Filipinos with humble backgrounds transformed themselves to astute entrepreneurs with the right support mechanisms in place.

Take the example of Nanay Lani Rebong from Laguna. She started with a table and 3,000 to 5,000 pesos worth of diaper supplies and the will to grow her business to make a better life for her two children.

Since joining the program in 2009 and undergoing business training, she has had three expansions and renovations.

She was given the opportunity to run a mobile money business and now offers money remittance and airtime loading – services that attract regular customers and provide more capital for her store.

From a store-front sari-sari operation, she was able to convert the entire first floor of her home to cater to her growing enterprise. Her store has grown to supply other smaller ones in her area.

She was able to buy a house and lot, a motorcycle, and a tricycle. Most importantly, she was able to send her two children to school and provide a comfortable life for her family.

Nanay Lani and many others are evidence that, given proper training and exposure to opportunities, Filipinos have the grit to better their own lives. Given the chance, the poor themselves can overcome poverty.

Considering that micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) make up 99.6% of all businesses in the Philippines and 91.6% of MSMEs are micro-enterprises, we can only imagine what sort of impact we can generate by growing these businesses and sustaining their success.

Empowering the micro-enterprises around the country is a key to unlocking inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

With this in mind, I authored the Go Negosyo Act, which was signed into law last July 2014. It mandates that a Negosyo Center be established in every municipality, city, and province in the Philippines with the hope of replicating the success of our nanays.

Each Negosyo Center is aimed to be a comprehensive support system for entrepreneurs. Patterned after our experience in Hapinoy, Negosyo Centers will offer training and mentorship, access to financing, and market linkages to help all our small businesses get to a level of sustainability.

This year alone, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is tasked to open one hundred Negosyo Centers around the country, and by 2019, we hope to have over a thousand of these centers equipped to provide valuable support to our MSMEs.

This year, we have already launched Negosyo Centers inDaet, Camarines Norte, Albay, Aklan, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga del Sur, and Surigao.

There is no better time than now to push for a massive scale-up of MSME support. We have a proven model for success, a policy to back it up, a substantial base of micro-enterprises, and eager Filipinos just waiting, clamoring to develop their skills and grab at any opportunity.

There is no better time than now to push for inclusive growth and to empower our countrymen to climb out poverty through enterprise development.

The Hapinoy nanays have proven that they can become successful, and my hopeful heart is certain that there are more Filipinos out there who yearn to prove to themselves and to the world that they, too, can succeed, given the right push and support.

***

First Published on Manila Bulletin

FDA Circular to Boost Small Food and Cosmetics Businesses– Sen. Bam

The release of Food and Drugs Administration’s simplified rules and regulations will make it easier for cosmetics micro enterprises to legitimize their status and enter the formal economy, according to Senator Bam Aquino.

“Micro entrepreneurs are having a difficult time expanding because they have no appropriate FDA approval that will vouch for the safety of their products,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

With the release of FDA Circular No. 2014-024, the senator said small businesses can now enter the formal market, giving them a better chance of expanding their business.

The FDA circular makes it simpler and easier for micro enterprises to apply for license to operate (LTO) and market authorization for their products, in accordance in with the recently passed Republic Act 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act.

“With the new and simplified process of FDA registration, our small businesses will be able to expand and grow,” Aquino said.

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

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

The FDA circular said the process of application and approval are made simple and compatible with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and local government units,

In addition, the circular will be consistent with the objectives of the Go Negosyo Act, Magna Carta for MSMEs and the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises Act of 2002.

The circular will apply to all micro enterprises engaged in the manufacture and distribution-wholesale of cosmetic products such as fragrance and toiler or bath soap as well as laundry and dishwashing soap bars, and other related products.

Micro enterprises involved in the manufacturing of processed food products are also covered by the circular.

Transcript of Senator Bam Aquino’s DZMM “Garantisadong Balita” interview with Gerry Baja

Q: Kumusta ho kayo sa Senado? Kumusta ang hearing sa Senado?

A: Maayos naman Gerry. Today actually ang pagbabalik ng Senate. First day ng session namin. Galing lang kami sa two-week break. So mamaya balik na naman tayo sa mga pangyayari sa Senado. Tayo naman, of course, alam mo naman ang focus namin ay trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, iyon ang ating committee.

During the break, nagkaroon tayo ng hearing sa port congestion. Siguro, sa ibang araw puwede rin pag-usapan iyon kasi kakaiba rin ang usapin diyan.

 

Q: Mukhang may epekto ho iyan sa presyo natin ngayong papalapit na ang Christmas season?

 A: Iyon talaga ang binabantayan ng Task Force Pantalan at ng ating komite na itong port congestion natin kapag naresolba na sana at the soonest possible time, hindi makakaapekto sa presyo ng bilihin. Kasi iyon naman talaga ang ayaw ng mga tao, ang tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

Nandiyan din ang competition bill na isang napakabigat na bill. Ito iyong anti-monopoly, anti-trust bill at mamaya tatalakayin na naman natin ito. Ito ang isa sa mga priority bills ng Malacanang at priority ng ating komite.

Meron din kaming tinatawag na cabotage bill. Hindi iyan tungkol sa cabbage gaya ng sinasabi ng ilang tao. Ang cabotage bill po ay isang panukala na kumbaga, hindi puwedeng pumunta sa local ports natin iyong mga foreign vessels.

Of course, ginawa po yan dahil sa security concerns pero nakakataas din po ito ng presyo ng bilihin dahil tumataas po ang presyo ng logistics natin. In the end, napakataas po ang pag-ship ng produkto. So again, babalik po ito sa presyo ng bilihin.

Of course, binabantayan din po natin ito. We’re hoping that with some reforms, mapababa po natin ang presyo ng pag-ship ng produktong mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas.

 

Q: Marami po pala kayong tinututukan diyan Senator Bam. Pero ang marami sa ating kababayan, nakakatawag lagi ng atensiyon diyan sa Senado ay iyong hearing ng sub-committee ng Blue Ribbon?

A: Hindi po ako miyembro ng sub-committee pero puwede po akong dumalo.

 

Q: Pero bakit hindi po kayo dumadalo?

A: Unang-una, ang dami nating ginagawa. Of course, pagdating kasi sa pahayagan at sa media, parang iyon na lang ang ginagawa ng Senado. Pero ang totoo, maraming ginagawa, maraming tayong bills na tinatalakay. Palagay ko ang tatlo nating kasama, sina Senators Koko, Allan at Trillanes, talagang binigyan nila ito ng buong pansin. They put a lot of focus on this, kaya palagay ko sila na lang.

Ang stand ko diyan, kahit anong isyu ng corruption puwedeng imbestigahan iyan ng Senado. Kahit vice president pa iyan, presidente pa iyan, kahit barangay captain iyan, ganon po kalawak ang kapangyarihan ng Blue Ribbon.

Lahat kaming government officials, kung may mga akusasyon sa amin, kailangan naming harapin talaga.

 

Q: Mayroon hong second invitation yata ngayon kay VP Binay para umattend. Kung kayo ang tatanungin, dapat po ba siyang humarap sa imbestigasyon ng Senado?

A: Palagay ko, ang ginagawa niya sinasagot niya ang isyu through his lawyers, sa mga presscon. Palagay ko dapat per point masagot naman niya, kasama na doon lahat.

In fact, kanina na-mention mo, bakit iyong Malampaya wala pa. Ako, kahit iyon kailangang imbestigahan natin. Hindi naman puwedeng mawala ang isyu na iyon.

Iyong issues diyan, simple lang. Kung may mga ganyang klaseng akusasyon to anyone, kahit sino pa iyan, dati o ngayon, kailangang harapin niya.

 

Q: Kayo po ay miyembro ng Liberal Party. Napagbibintangan ho dito sina Senator Cayetano na NP, si Senator Trillanes NP at si Senator Koko PDP, wala hong LP pero ang sinasabi ng Binay camp, ito’y kagagawan ng LP. May nalalaman po ba kayo roon?

A: Hindi po namin napag-usapan ang hearing ni VP Binay. We’re given the respect of our having our own independence. Kung makikita mo naman ang mga moves natin, ang mga panukalang hinahain namin, it’s really more of an individual basis at hindi block voting.

Hindi ko alam kung saan sila nanggagaling pero makikita mo naman, hindi aktibo ang Liberal sa hearing na iyan. Pero kung umabot man iyan sa main committee, gaya ng panahon ng PDAF na buong komite ng Blue Ribbon ang duminig ng issues diyan, handa naman kaming makasama at makilahok sa mga pangyayari.

 

Q: Si Mayor Junjun Binay mukhang dedesisyunan na ho dahil hindi na siya uma-attend ng hearing.  Ano ho ba ang pagkakaalam niyo sa rules ng Senado, puwede bang i-cite for contempt ang isang local chief executive na ayaw umattend ng hearing?

A: Alam mo Gerry, hindi ako sigurado sa exact na panukala. Of course, ang kapangyarihan ng Blue Ribbon Committee napakalawak niyan. I’m sure kung ano man ang i-decide ng sub-committee, baka i-raise pa iyan sa main committee, kung ganon na katindi iyan na may mga contempt charges na or mga subpoenas na ibibigay.

 

Q: Senator Bam, ano ho itong Senate Bill 2122?

 A: Na-file po namin ito noong February 12, 2014. Ito ang tinatawag nating anti-discrimination bill. Sa totoo lang, ang sakop nito ay larger than the LGBT community dahil kasama po dito ang social class, race, religion, ethnicity, civil status, medical condition status at iba pa po.

Basically, ang sinasabi po nito, hindi po puwedeng mag-discriminate based on these issues. For example, mayroong establishment, kunwari hindi ka puwedeng pumasok sa restaurang na ito dahil bading ka o iba ang relihiyon mo, o dahil mukha kang busabos. Bawal po iyon at puwede silang sampahan ng kaso.

Sa totoo lang po, nasa Constitution naman natin iyan na mayroon tayong equal protection at dapat walang discrimination pero wala pong batas na masasabi natin na nagbibigay ng penalties ukol dito.

Noong binuo po namin ang bill na ito, hindi pa po namin nasa isip talaga ang hate crime kasi ito pong isyu ni Jennifer Laude, ito lang po ang nagbigay sa amin ng ideya na maglagay ng hate crime dito.

The bill, as filed, wala pang hate crime na nakalagay. Nakatuon siya sa trabaho at government services. Na kunwari, iba ang relihiyon mo, and you’re denied basic services because of race, religion, ethnicity, LGBT, medical condition status, puwede po kayong magsampa ng kaso against all entities.

 

Q: Sino ang kakasuhan?

A: Iyong offending party. Kung sinuman ang nagdi-discriminate. Sa totoo lang po, iyong ganitong klaseng batas, hindi naman po ito bago pero sa bansa natin, bago po ito. Sa ibang bansa, pangkaraniwan na po iyan na kapag nagdi-discriminate ka, puwede ka talagang parusahan.

Ngayon pong nangyari kay Jennifer Laude na nakita naman natin na karumal-dumal na krimen, isipin niyo po kung gaano ka-grabe iyon, puwede po nating masabi na kung ang krimeng iyon ay ginawa dahil siya ay isang LGBT, puwede pong tumaas ang penalty sa probisyon na balak natin isama.

In other countries gaya po ng Estados Unidos, ang kanilang hate crime legislation, matagal na po iyan, more than one hundred years na. Doon po, kung mayroon kang krimen na ginawa sa isang minoridad, dahil siya ay isang minoridad, matindi po ang isyu ng race sa United States sa tinatawag na African-American or American-Indian. Kung gawin mo ang isang krimen, especially pag violence po ito, binugbog mo o pinatay po. Dahil may kasamang aspeto na ginawa ito sa isang minoridad, tumataas ang penalties.

Iyon po ang gusto naming idagdag dito sa batas na ito although admittedly, wala pa po itong committee hearing. Balak po naming isama po iyon na kung mayroon mang krimen corresponding to violence, assault or even murder, in this case, kapag mayroon pong elemento dahil ikaw ay isang minoridad, puwede pong itaas ang penalties na ibigay sa iyo dito.

 

Q: Pati sa edad sinabi niyo sa trabaho?

A: Iyong edad po, wala pa siya sa version na ito. Pero may ibang laws na currently pinag-uusapan natin, iyong age discrimination, isasama natin iyan pag nag-committee hearing na tayo.

 

Q: Na dapat hindi i-discriminate sa trabaho kahit may edad na?

A: Nang walang rason. Kasi po makikita niyo sa ibang fastfood. Looking for hire, cashier must be 25 and below. Walang rason. Bakit iyong 26, 27 o kahit sabihin mong 50 years old, hindi ba puwedeng magtrabaho iyon.

In a hearing, diniretso na po namin ang DOLE, puwede po ba ito o hindi. Sabi nila, hindi po puwede iyan, gumagawa ka ng discrimination sa edad nang walang rason.

Pero sabi ng DOLE, wala naman kasing batas na nagbibigay ng penalty. Ito po ang batas na magbibigay ng penalty.

Of course, iyong trabaho na pinapasukan po natin, mayroon talagang rason kung bakit kailangang ganun katanda o kabata, iba po iyon.

If there are jobs na wala naman talagang reason kung bakit kailangan 25 years old, 26 years old and below, diskriminasyon na rin po iyon.

 

Q: Malawak po talaga itong panukalang batas ninyo Senator Bam. Masasaklaw na niya lahat ng klase ng diskriminasyon, mapa-trabaho, eskuwela at sa government services. Halo-halo na.

A: Kapag nag-hearing na po tayo dito, we hope na iyong iba’t ibang grupo, na ang feeling nila kulang pa ito, puwede silang lumabas o may mga iba na magsasabing sobra naman iyan, huwag nang isama ang civil status o political inclination, public hearing naman po iyan, puwede naman pong magtalakayan ang iba’t ibang grupo doon.

 

Q: Nabanggit niyo po ang civil status, hindi kaya maging daan ang panukalang batas niyo para magkaroon ng same-sex marriage sa atin?

A: Hindi iyon ang intention ng bill na ito. Mayroon na pong isang indibidwal ang lumapit sa atin at nagsabi na baka maging inroad iyan sa same sex marriage. Ang sabi ko naman sa kanya, alam mo ang same-sex marriage, matinding talakayan iyan that needs a separate discussion altogether. Ang bill na ito ay tungkol sa diskriminasyon at ito ang nararamdaman ng maraming Pilipino sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay.

 

Q: Ang sabi ng iba, diskriminasyon daw hong maituturing kapag ayaw mong payagan na mabigyan ng kasal ang dalawang nagsasama na pareho ang kasarian. Diskriminasyon ba iyon para sa inyo?

A: Alam mo sa totoo lang, iyan ang isang bagay na kailangan pa talaga ng talakayan sa Senado at sa Kongreso.  Kasi, kung tutuusin ang usapin ng RH, lasted 20 to 30 years. Talagang mabigat ang usapan at noong nagkaroon ng botohan, talagang masabi natin na na-divide ang lipunan.

Any discussion on same-sex marriage will need the right type of debate and discussion in Senate and Congress. Open debate, in the same way na iyong mga  mabibigat naman na isyu sa isang democratic country, kailangan talaga pag-usapan  iyan na open, public at iba’t ibang grupo ang puwedeng mag-share ng saloobin.

Iyong same-sex marriage, sa totoo lang, will need amendments. May ibang nagsasabi na kailangang Konstitusyon din daw. Kailangan talagang pag-aralan pa, even the Family Code will have to change. That needs further discussion.

But itong anti-discrimination bill, palagay ko mabigat na ito, dapat pag-usapan na. Nangyayari na ito sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng tao.

 

Q: Baka lapitan kayo ng mga miyembro ng LGBT dahil may kinalaman din laban sa diskriminasyon ang inyong panukala.

A: Actually, iyong LGBT community nag-consult naman kami sa kanila on this bill. They are in favor of this bill. In fact, marami ngang nagsasabi na dapat matagal na ito.

In our society, I’d like to think, we’re loving and caring society. Basta’t kapwa Pilipino natin, kapwa human being natin iyan, dapat maayos ang trato natin sa isa’t isa.

 

Q: Salamat po Senator Bam, magandang umaga po. Kami po’y natutuwa sa inyong pagbisita sa studio.

A:  Salamat po Gerry, at sa mga nakikinig sa atin, maraming salamat po.

Alam niyo po, itong bill, isa lang po ito. Of course na-mention ko na po iyong ibang bills natin.

Iyon isa pa pong tinututukan natin, iyong IRR ng Philippine Lemon Law, ngayon po ay binubuo na, at iyong Go Negosyo Law, na isa pong batas na magbibigay tulong sa maliliit nating negosyante.

Kahit po iyon, binubuo na po iyong IRR, pareho po ng Department of Trade and Industry. Binabantayan po natin iyan upang ma-implement at the soonest possible time.

 

Dagdag na Trabaho sa Go Negosyo Law – Sen. Bam

 

The development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country has been given a major boost with President Aquino’s signing of the Go Negosyo Act into law.

 “The approval of the Go Negosyo Act into a law is a fulfillment of our commitment to push for MSME development in the country,” said Senator Bam Aquino, the law’s author and chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

 As the first inclusive growth-related and pro-poor legislation to be passed into law by the present administration, Aquino believes the Go Negosyo Act will further the growth of the MSME industry, which comprises 99 percent of all enterprises and 66 percent of jobs in the country.

 “With MSMEs getting all the help they need through the Go Negosyo Act, it will now be easier for them to start a business or expand existing industries,” said Aquino.

 On Sunday, Malacanang announced the signing of the R.A. 10644 or An Act Promoting Job Generation and Inclusive Growth Through the Development of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

 Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the new law would help create new jobs and livelihood for more Filipinos.

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

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

Bicam Approves Go Negosyo Act, Awaits PNoy’s OK


Go, go, go!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bicam Approves Go Negosyo Act, Lemon Law

Go, go, go!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview at Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel

On Constitutional Change/Entry on Foreign Ownership on Businesses

A. To be frank, I don’t think we need to change the Constitution. We can actually get the investments even without changing the Constitution. Changing the Constitution is too large an endeavor to do in 2014 right before 2016.

That will probably mean the next president will be the one tackling changes to the Constitution. Alam ko po si Speaker Belmonte is very adamant about it but in the Senate, there’s really not much movement in terms of any constitutional changes.

I don’t think we’ll have that in the next two to three years. Probably the next president will undergo that if that’s the priority of the next president.

In the meantime, if you’re waiting for that before you move, it’s a moving target. We really have to do the reforms that can be done currently within our constitution.

Get the investments in.  In other countries, they have even stricter but they were able to get the investments.

It’s a matter of balancing your incentives, the investments you want to get in the country in the next two to three years.

 

On government Relying Too Much on OFWs Remittances

A. Remittances are big part of our economy and in fact, malaking bagay po siya. We have to thank our OFWs for that.

But the drive to go from consumption to production goes through increasing jobs and supporting enterprise kaya iyon po ang aking pinaka-focus. Kailangan po ng mas may production dito.

That’s why DTI is moving to revitalize our manufacturing sector.

Ang ating BPO industry is trying to go beyond voice and go into other services that it can provide. Definitely, there is a push for jobs and enterprise here and that will actually balance our dependency on remittances.

If you look at our portfolio and the things that we have pushed for, our Microfinance bill, our Go Negosyo bill, our Youth Entrepreneurship bill, lahat ng mga tinutulak natin, it all leads to that.

To try to have a stronger economy here that is more equitable, recognizing our growth and at the same time, making sure this growth reaches the poorest Filipinos.

 

On Controversies Hounding Senate

A. Well ang trabaho ng senador o kongresista ay gumawa ng polisiya at batas para sa kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Without PDAF, it really forces you to focus on legislative work. Iyan na ang nagiging focus namin but then again, just because wala ka nang PDAF, it doesn’t mean you cannot engage in programs.

May nagtanong sa akin noon, Senator, paano po ba ibabalik ang tiwala sa Senado ngayong bagsak na bagsak ang tiwala sa inyo?

No amount of words will get the people’s trust back.  It’s really your output and your work. Kapag nakikita na nagtatrabaho ka para sa kapakanan ng tao, maybe at some point babalik ang tiwala nila sa iyo.

We just committed to work hard and make sure na ang mga naipangako natin noong campaign ay gagawin natin.

 

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