Grace Poe

Lawmaker, religious groups: Sen. Bam has virtues of a good public servant

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino has all the virtues and characteristics of a good lawmaker and a public servant, according to a fellow senator and group of religious organizations.


In an interview, Sen. Grace Poe described Sen. Bam as a lawmaker with a conscience and a heart for the welfare of the Filipino people.


“May konsensiya si Sen. Bam,” said Sen. Poe, adding that “bilang isang senador, siya talaga ay may prinsipyo.”


“Ang importante ay ginagawa kung ano ang makakabuti para sa ating mga kababayan,” added Sen. Poe as she expressing support behind the re-election bid of Sen. Bam.


The People’s Choice Movement, for its part, has selected Sen. Bam as one of the 10 senatorial candidates it will support and campaign for in the May elections.


Composed of Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant groups, the PCM selected the 10 candidates based on their character and honor, competence and abilities, faithfulness to public service and faithfulness to God, the Constitution and the laws.


After the voting participated in by 130 representatives from various religious organizations, Sen. Bam emerged on top with 120 votes, a statement of their belief in his character and his capacity to serve the people.


“Bilang Kristiyano, nagbibigay inspirasyon at pag-asa ang pagkapili nila sa amin lalo na dumaan ito sa matinding pagsusuri at pagninilay,” Sen. Bam said.


In an interview, Sen. Grace Poe described Sen. Bam as a lawmaker with a conscience and a heart for the welfare of the Filipino people.
“May konsensiya si Sen. Bam,” said Sen. Poe, adding that “bilang isang senador, siya talaga ay may prinsipyo.”


“Ang importante ay ginagawa kung ano ang makakabuti para sa ating mga kababayan,” added Sen. Poe as she expressing support behind the re-election bid of Sen. Bam.


The People’s Choice Movement, for its part, has selected Sen. Bam as one of the 10 senatorial candidates it will support and campaign for in the May elections.


Composed of Catholic, Evangelical and Protestant groups, the PCM selected the 10 candidates based on their character and honor, competence and abilities, faithfulness to public service and faithfulness to God, the Constitution and the laws.


After the voting participated in by 130 representatives from various religious organizations, Sen. Bam emerged on top with 120 votes, a statement of their belief in his character and his capacity to serve the people.


“Bilang Kristiyano, nagbibigay inspirasyon at pag-asa ang pagkapili nila sa amin lalo na dumaan ito sa matinding pagsusuri at pagninilay,” Sen. Bam said.

representatives from various religious organizations, Sen. Bam emerged on top with 120 votes, a statement of their belief in his character and his capacity to serve the people.


“Bilang Kristiyano, nagbibigay inspirasyon at pag-asa ang pagkapili nila sa amin lalo na dumaan ito sa matinding pagsusuri at pagninilay,” Sen. Bam said.

Aquino, Poe push for approval of feeding program in public schools

A senator urged colleagues to hasten passage of the proposal seeking to address hunger of students in public schools and provide additional livelihood for farmers and fisherfolk.

Sen. Bam Aquino made the call during his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1279 or the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act, that institutionalizes an effective feeding program for students of basic education.

 ​​​Being a staunch advocate of addressing hunger, ​Sen. Grace Poe co-sponsored the measure​.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, these feeding programs will be sustained by local gardens, farmers and fishermen, and powered by community engagement and volunteerism.

 “Through this policy, infants and school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 694, which was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1279 together with Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160 and 548.

 If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said Department of Education will be mandated to ensure that students from basic education are provided with proper meals.

 “Through this policy, school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food with the Department of Education ensuring that students are provided with proper meals,” he said.

 The proposal will utilize locally sourced and locally produced food products to support local farmers and fishermen, providing them with regular income and livelihood.

 “Sa Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, lalaki nang malakas, matalino at malusog ang kabataang Pilipino habang umaasenso ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” said Sen. Bam.

 Based on 2012 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 16 million Filipino children are considered undernourished.

 Studies also show that the average age of the 11 million Filipino farmers and fishermen is 57 years old while the average annual income of a farmer is only about 20,000 pesos.

 “The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act can be that link between hungry young Filipinos and anxious farmers and fishermen,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also pushes for the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program to promote gardening in schools and households, which will help augment the food needs of the program and instill a sense of appreciation for food production within the community.

 After sponsoring the measure, Sen. Poe thanked Sen. Bam for his speedy action on the bill and several other senators also lauded his efforts. In turn, Sen. Bam thanked his colleagues for their support behind the enactment of the measure into law.

 “With the full support of fellow lawmakers, we can definitely pass this measure quickly and, finally, feed our poor and hungry students across the country,” said Sen. Bam.

Statement of Bam Aquino on the Rappler Article about the Balay Banning

While I admit that some members of the LP were surprised by my SET vote, nais kong idiin na ginalang naman nila ang naging desisyon natin at walang sinuman sa partido ang sumubok na impluwensiyahan ako sa kaso.
 
Ngayon, abala tayo sa pagtiyak na mananalo sina Mar Roxas, Leni Robredo at ang buong LP Senate slate sa 2016 elections.
 
Ang mga balita-balitang mga ganito ay mga tangka lamang na ilihis ang ating atensiyon. Tuloy-tuloy tayo sa pagpapanalo para kay Mar, Leni, at ang ating LP Senate slate!

Bam on his decision on Grace Poe’s SET case

(From Status Update program)

Pag-usapan na rin po natin ang malaking balita kahapon at ito ang SET decision tungkol kay Sen. Grace Poe.

Marami ho ang nagtatanong kung bakit ako bumoto na huwag siyang i-disqualify.

Ang legal question na nasa harap ng SET kahapon ay kung iyong mga na-abandona o tinatawag na foundlings ay natural-born o hindi. 

Iyon lang talaga ang subject ng aming decision. Hindi kasama ang residency. Tungkol lang po sa foundling. Ang foundling ba ay natural born o ang foundling ba ay naturalized.

Ang ilan sa amin na nag-decide na ang foundling ay natural born, ang basehan po niyan ay dahil sa international law. Nakalagay po doon at sumasang-ayon tayo sa mga batas na iyan na ang isang bata na nahanap sa isang bansa ay mayroong presumption o mayroong pag-i-intindi na siya ay mula sa bansang iyon.

Kung ginawa po nating naturalized ang mga foundling, iyong mga karapatan at pribilehiyo na maaring maibigay sa mga foundling bilang natural born citizen ay mawawala at isa ay maituturing na naturalized citizen. 

Magiging problema po iyan sa paghahanap ng ibang propesyon, sa pagiging doctor, nurse at kung siyempre ay kung gusto nilang manungkulan sa gobyerno, magiging problema rin po iyan.

Ang desisyong ito, hindi po si Sen. Poe ang iniisip natin. Ang iniisip natin ay kung ano ang magiging implikasyon sa libu-libong bata na naabandona sa ating bansa, at ito ang naging basehan ng ilan sa amin sa SET.

Ang expectation kasi, sa pulitika, dapat pulitikal lahat ang desisyon mo. Pero paminsan-minsan naman po, kailangan nating mag-isip gamit ang prinsipyo, gamit ang konsensiya at gamit ang tiwala  na ibinigay ng taumbayan.

Ang pagiging daang matuwid ng aming partido, hindi po ito slogan lang. Ito po’y totoo, ito po’y nasa puso naming lahat at kung nasa daang matuwid ka, talagang kailangan iyong prinsipyo mo at konsensiya ang gagamitin mo. 

In fairness to my partymates, wala namang sumubok na impluwensiyahan ang aking desisyon.

Ibig sabihin nito, sa SET, hindi po madi-disqualify si Sen. Poe sa pagiging senador. Pero ang kanyang Comelec case, tuluy-tuloy pa rin.

In fact, you can expect na in the next couple of weeks, magde-decide na rin po ang Comelec kung siya’y madi-disqualify sa pagtakbo bilang presidente.

No split in Liberal Party ranks over Mar, Poe, says Bam Aquino

Senator Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV yesterday denied the Liberal Party (LP) is divided due to the possible entry of Sen. Grace Poe Llamanzares as the party’s standard-bearer in the May, 2016, elections, with party members split between her and Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“Hindi naman (Not really). We’re part of a democracy. Siyempre po, may gusto tayo at ayaw  (Of course, we have some people we like, some we don’t),” Aquino told reporters in an interview. “Ganoon din po ang Liberal Party  (It’s the same with the Liberal Party),” he said.

“May proseso pong pinagdadaanan. Palagay ko naman kapag tapos na ang prosesong iyan ay muling magsasama-sama ang partidong kinalalagyan ko. (We go through the process. I think after we finish that process, the party will come together again),” he said.

Drilon had earlier said he hopes Roxas declares his intention to join the presidential race amid speculations of a possible tandem with Poe.

“Let me say we have an official process in the party but I would take the position that Mar Roxas should now declare his intention,” Drilon said. “If he is indeed interested — and I think he is – he should declare now his intention that he would want to present himself as a candidate for the presidency in 2016.”

Drilon said he believes Roxas is the person who can continue the reforms and programs initiated by the Aquino administration.

Senator Aquino said the party cannot afford to choose the next leader on the basis alone of personality. “Dapat tanungin natin, ano ba talaga ang plano nila. Sino ba ang may kakayahan na dalhin tayo sa kinabukasan? (We should ask them what are their plans? Who has the capability to bring about a future for our country),” he said.

“Five years from now, dapat ang Pilipinas yumayaman na. Dapat ang mga kababayan natin di na kailangang mangibang bansa para makakuha ng magtrabaho. Dapat iyong mahihirap mayroon  ng pagkain, trabaho, at may negosyo na (The Philippines should already be rich, our countrymen should no longer be going abroad just to find work. The poor should have food, jobs and their own businesses),” he said.

The question is who will help the country achieve that? I think those who aspire to run for office should be able to answer those questions, Senator  Aquino said.


CONTINUE READING ON MANILA BULLETIN

 

 

Bam on the Liberal Party’s 2016 Process and Canada’s Trash (Excerpt on Status Update)

On LP split due to Grace Poe’s entry

Hindi naman. We’re part of a democracy. Demokrasya tayo. Siyempre po, may gusto tayo at ayaw. Gaya ng taumbayan, may mga gusto kay ganyan, may mga gusto kay ganoon. Siyempre, ganoon din po ang Liberal Party.

May proseso pong pinagdadaanan. Palagay ko naman kapag tapos na ang prosesong iyan ay muling magsasama-sama ang partidong kinalalagyan ko.

Nasabi ko na rin ito noon. Ang palagay ko, ang pagpili sa taong mamumuno, whether president man iyan, senador, congressman, mahalagang proseso. Importanteng proseso at kinakailangang iniisip talaga iyan at pagdaanan ang tamang proseso.

Tama rin lang na tingnan natin ang lahat ng puwede at lahat ng may gustong tumakbo para sa mga posisyong natin. Tanungin natin sila, ano ba ang plano nila para sa ating bansa, ano ba ang maibibigay nila sa ating bansa.

Siguro sa prosesong iyon, mapipili kung sino ba ang dapat suportahan. Ganyan naman ang proseso ng demokrasya, Hindi puwedeng instant-instant.

Kapag natapos na ang desisyong iyan, hindi na po tatanungin, nag-i-split ba, naghahati-hati ba. Dahil may panahon pa namang magkakasama-samang muli. That’s really part of the process.

Ang tanong ko diyan, iyon ba talaga dapat ang tanong. Hindi ba dapat ang tanong, ano ba ang plano ng taong ito para sa atin?

Kasi, personality based na lang. Ang lalabas diyan, pagandahan, papogian, pagandahan ng commercial na naman iyan. Dapat tanungin natin, ano ba talaga ang plano nila. Sino ba ang may kakayahan na dalhin tayo sa kinabukasan?

Five years from now, dapat ang Pilipinas yumayaman na, dapat ang mga kababayan natin di na kailangang mangibang bansa para makakuha ng magtrabaho, dapat iyong mahihirap mayroon nang pagkain, trabaho at may negosyo na.

Ang tanong diyan, sino ba ang tutulong sa atin na madala ang bansa doon? Palagay ko, iyon din ang tinatanong sa mga gustong tumakbo.

Kapag nasagot na ng partido, iyon po ang susuportahan natin. At may proseso pa.

On Canada’s trash

I think ang issue po dito, hindi po maayos ang proseso ang pagdala ng waste materials dito. Kung iayos ang prosesong iyan, kailangang ilagay iyan sa tamang lugar, kasama na ang ibalik.

The fact na ipatatanggal natin iyan, kailangang kung may papasok dito na waste material, dapat dumaan sa tamang proseso.

Kung mali ang proseso, dapat hindi natin tatanggapin. Kung mali ang proseso, dapat ibalik sa pinanggalingan.

Mahirap pag hazardous. Pag sa landfill iyan, maraming maaapektuhan gaya ng tubig.

Babantayan po natin iyan. Kapag mali ang proseso, mali ang proseso.

Bam on Grace Poe and RESCYouth Act (Interview after Hearing)

On Grace Poe as Possible 2016 LP candidate

 

Right now, dumadaan din sa proseso ang partido. The President has also said na very soon, the party will decide on who the standard bearer will be.

 

I think it’s just right na kausapin ang iba’t ibang tao. Kailangan lang sigurong antabayanan kung ano ang magiging desisyon.

 

As party member, of course, we look at the different processes na kailangan. Very soon. Sooner than you think, lalabas na rin ang final decision of the party.  Ang hanap natin ay iyong best for the country. Ang mahalaga riyan, kung sino ang magpapatuloy ng reporma.

 

Sisiguraduhin na hindi tayo babalik sa napakaraming corruption in the past. We just really need to look at the options and all the alternatives.  Very soon, once this is decided, we can really start moving forward already.

First of all, I think Secretary Mar Roxas is still the presumptive candidate of the party. But palagay ko mahalaga rin na i-explore ang lahat ng possibilities, kasi kung tutuusin may proseso naman iyan, and even sa senatorial slate, all the positions I think, will have to go through the process also.

Ngayon, it’s time to really go and ask all of these people who want to run kung ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila. What do they really want for the country?

 

I think we’re too focused sa personalities. I think ang mahalaga, alamin natin kung ano ba talaga ang mga plano nila para sa ating sa bansa.

 

I don’t think that we’re asking that question. Ano ba ang gusto nilang gawin para sa bansa? Ano ba ang reporma na gusto nilang itulak? Palagay ko, iyon ang kailangang malaman, hindi lang ng partido, ‘di lang ng presidente kundi pati ng taumbayan.

 

We’re less than a year from the elections, people aren’t even asking kung ano ba ang plataporma ng mga presidentiables na ito. Palagay ko mahalaga na malaman natin kung ano ba ang gusto nilang gawin sa bayan at doon tayo magdesisyon.

 

Q: Bakit presumptive candidate si Roxas?

 

The process is still ongoing. So that’s why it’s still presumptive at wala pang final decision ang partido. Of course, he’s someone who I think has been talked about for a long time, obviously, he’s part of that very short list.

 

Q: Hindi pa ba sapat na itapat siya ng partido kay Binay?

 

Palagay ko, ang sagot sa tanong na iyan, mare-resolve iyan in a couple of weeks. The party is still undergoing this process at kapag nakapagdesisyon na talaga ang partido, malalaman natin kung sino ba talaga ang lalaban sa kung kanino.

 

At this point, it’s all speculation. I think ang taumbayan natin, need to start asking the question, ano ba ang repormang gusto nating maitulak, ano ba ang gusto nating baguhin at sino ba ang magpapatupad noon?

 

We’re not asking those questions enough. Sayang naman ang pagkakataon natin  na tanungin iyong mga tanong na iyon.

 

Kasi kung puro Binay ba, si Grace Poe ba o si Mar Roxas ba, tanungin natin kung ano ba ang madadala nila sa ating bayan. Ano ba ang kaya nilang gawin para sa Pilipino?

 

If we start having that discussion, mas magiging mayaman ang diskusyon natin.  Iyon ang palagay ko na mas mahalagang tanong.

 

On inclusion of NYC Commissioner to the NDRRMC

 

We’re hoping na mapasa natin ang RESCYouth Act as soon as possible. Marami na ring activities ang mga kabataan pagdating sa disaster preparedness.

 

Palagay ko naman, there will be little or no opposition to this bill so we’re hoping that we can have this passed soon.

 

Tamang tama na malapit na rin ang rainy season, so palagay ko if we can get this bill passed, we can already include the youth sa planning processes natin sa mga iba’t ibang councils.

 

Kung mapapansin mo ang bill na isinusulong natin, we are adding a representative of the youth in every council sa national and local levels.

 

Ang mga kabataan, very active na sila. Sila rin iyong no. 1 volunteer, sila ang unang-unang pumupunta kapag may rescue, unang-unang kasama sa rehabilitation. Nakita naman natin na kahit sa disaster preparedness, kasama rin sila.

 

Kaya it’s really time na ilagay rin ang mga kabataan sa ranggo ng nagpaplano ng disaster management.

 

All of the resource speakers, I think, supported the bill, even DILG, the local governments that were here, ang Climate Change Commission and of course, the National Youth Commission.

 

I’m hoping that we can pass this bill as soon as possible and magawa na natin iyong probisyon na ang mga kabataan ay mayroong espasyo sa mga council natin na may kinalaman sa disaster management.

 

Sa national will be the chairman of the NYC. On the local level, it will be chosen by the local government units.

 

Right now, ang mga different LGUs natin, katrabaho nila ang mga kabataan but usually as volunteers. We want to raise that participation, gawin nating kasama sa planning process.

Scroll to top