Month: August 2014

Require One Nurse in Every Public School – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for the appointment of a registered nurse in every public school in the country to ensure that health and nutritional needs of Filipino students are protected.

 “Quality education, that every Filipino child deserves, is holistic in nature.  It is concerned with the whole self – physical, mental and spiritual,” Aquino said in his Senate Bill No. 2366.

“This measure proposes that students’ access to basic health care services in schools be assured by requiring every public school to employ at least one registered nurse to look after the health and nutritional needs of its students,” he added.

With a fifth of the Filipino population living below the poverty line, Aquino said health-related issues among school children arise, hampering their ability to learn and retain lessons and skills. 

“Some students might even be forced to skip school days due to sickness, further impeding their ability to learn,” Aquino said.

 The senator said having a nurse in every school emphasizes the value of health, nutrition and well being as part of the formation of our Filipino children.

Also, Aquino added the bill would help reduce the number of unemployed nurses in the country, which is currently estimated at 400,000.

The bill mandates the Department of Education and the Department of Health to employ at least one registered nurse in every public school.

The nurse will be responsible for improving the delivery of public health care services and providing relevant and timely education on wellness, hygiene, sanitation and other health safety measures to public school students.

Nurses employed will receive a monthly stipend equal to salary grade 15, consistent with the mandatory minimum entry-level pay for government nurses under Republic Act No. 9173, otherwise known as the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002.

Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on PRESENT Bill

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2210 under Committee Report No. 24, otherwise known as the Poverty Reduction Through Social Enterprise or PRESENT bill

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to sponsor Senate Bill No. 2210 under Committee Report No. 24, otherwise known as the Poverty Reduction Through Social Enterprise or PRESENT bill.

The objective o f this measure is to empower our marginalized sectors and provide them with the proper infrastructure where they can get the right opportunities to grow and progress. We need to create an environment where they can stand on their own, and be able to fully participate in our economy and our society. These conditions are to be inclusive and fair, where individuals and communities are able to think o f new ways o f solving ever-growing complex problems of poverty and injustice.

Sa kabila po ng nababalitang economic growth, marami p a rin tayong kailangang gawin para maibahagi natin ang growth na ito sa ating mga kababayan. Tinatayang may 2.969 milyong Pilipino ang walang trabaho ngayong taon, at dagdag pa dito ang mga nagsipagtapos na mga estudyante noong nakaraang buwan sa mga walang trabaho. Paano nila masasabing umuunlad ang bansa samantalang makikipagbuno sila sa pagha- hanap ng trabaho upang makatulong lang sa kanilang mga pamilya? Paano nalin matu-tulungan ang aling maliliit na negosyanle, ang mga tindera sa palengke, ang mga may-ari ng sari-sari store, mga magsasaka at mangingisda upang mapalago ang kanilang kinikita upang lalong masustentuhan nila ang kanilang mga pamilya?

Kaya’t, mga kaibigan, kailangan ay patulay tayo sa ating pagtugon upang malagpasan po nalin ang ating mga pagsubok at kahinaan.

If we are to take on the challenge to join in the movement to decrease our poverty rate, bridge the big divide between the rich and the poor, and be able to spread the wealth to more Filipinos, there is a need for us to think of creative and innovative solutions to address inequality in our country.

Kailangang bigyan ng pantay-pantay na pagkakataon at access sa trabaho at kapital para umangat ang estado at quality of life ng lahat ng Pilipino.

Through the Poverty Reduction through Social Enterprise or PRESENT Act of 20 14, the existing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council, which is attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), shall be strengthened and expanded to become the National Enterprise Development Council or NEDC to effectively spur the growth

A social enterprise, or SE, is a social mission-driven organization that conducts economic activities o f providing goods and services directly related to its primary mission of improving the well-being of the poor and marginalized sectors. Ang pangunahing motibo ng mga Social Enterprise ay tulungan ang mga komunidad na masolusyonan ang kanilang deka-dekadang problema ng kahirapan gamit ang mga makabagong modelo sa pagnenegosyo at sa pagsugpo sa kahirapan.

The NEDC will develop and implement a comprehensive program that will progressively improve the lives and economic situation of the poor and the marginalized. It shall identify strategic economic subsectors with the potentials for growth, considering where the poor are concentrated so they can playa major role in their own development. In the process, it shall identify key SEs and resource institutions as partners in providing transactional and transformational services towards poverty reduction. SEs shall be developed as vehicles to ensure that the poor benefit the most from the sustainable subsector development.

DTI shall establish a center where it will implement policies, plans and programs that will promote social enterprise initiatives, and identify sources of financing for the social enterprise sector for enterprise incubation, start-up and expansion.

It will provide capacity building and sustain- ability programs, supported by a Social Enterprise Development Fund (SEDF).

It will also provide research and development services for poverty reduction and assistance for the market expansion of social enterprises in both domestic and foreign markets.

The bill encourages the establishment o f more social enterprises by promoting greater access to appropriate financing and insurance mechanisms, and providing greater participation in public procurement.

With this Act, we do not just aim to support one or two social enterprises but we wish to develop a social enterprise sector engaged in poverty reduction in our country.

Alam po ninyo, bago ako naging senador, ako ay naging isang social entrepreneur.

Sa programa po namin noon na “Hapinoy,” tinulungan namin ang mga nanay na may-ari ng mga sari-sari store na mapalaki ang kanilang negosyo.

Ang lokohan nga po nila, noong panahong iyon, ay hindi naman sa sari-sari store, kundi sara-sara store dahil sa mga balakid na naranasan nila sa pagnenegosyo.

Ngunit sa pamamagitan ng dagdag na training at mentoring, wastong pagpapautang at market linkage, dahan-dahang lumago ang kanilang mga negosyo.

At pagkatapos ng ilang taon, ang mga nanay na mismo ang siyang naging mga trainor ng aming mga programa. Sila mismo ang nagbahagi ng kanilang mga success stories para ma-inspire at matulungan ang ibang mga nanay.

Hindi lamang umunlad ang kanilang negosyo, nabigyan din sila ng kumpiyansa sa kanilang sarili, at sa kanilang pinaghirapan no kabuhayan.

Noong nakaraang linggo naman po, bumisita kami sa San Jose, Nueva Ecija para makipagkwentuhan sa Kalasag Farmers Producers Cooperative. Sila po ang ating mga magsasaka ng sibuyas doon sa Nueva Ecija.

Sa aming kwentuhan, nabanggit nila na dati raw, pana-panahon ang presyo ng kanilang sibuyas. Hindi pa sigurado kung may bibili ng kanilang ani. Kaya hirap na hirap silang iangat ang kanilang kabuhayan pati na rin ang kalagayan ng kanilang pamilya.

Ngunit nagbago ang kanilang buhay nang mai-ugnay sila sa isang malaking kumpanya dito sa Maynila na nangangailangan ng malaking order ng sibuyas.

Tinulungan po sila ng isang NGO na nagsilbing social enterprise. Ang pangalan po noon ay Catholic Relief Services na konektado po sa simbahan. lnorganisa po sila, tinuruan ng makabagong paraan ng pagsasaka, nabigyan ng access sa capital, at higit sa lahat, tinulungan silang magbenta ng kanilang mga produkto sa mas malaking merkado.

Lumaki po ang kanilang kita, nabigyan ng trabaho ang kanilang mga kapitbahay at nabigyan ng marangal na buhay ang kanilang pamilya.

Ngayon po, noong nagkuwentuhan kami noong isang araw, napag-aaral na raw nila ang kanilang mga anak hanggang college, napasemento na nila ang kanilang mga bahay at nakapaghuhulog na sila para mabayaran ang isang tricycle para sa kanilang pamilya. At siyempre, noong kami ay mag-aalisan na at magkokodakan na, naglabasan ang kanilang mga smart phone at tablet at kita namang may asenso na sila ngayon.

Ito po ang layunin ng PRESENT Act – na bumuo ng mas maraming organisasyong magpapatupad ng mga makabago at modernong solusyon na tutugon sa kahirapan.

Let us empower our poor communities and bring pride to themselves by helping them realize how integral they are in the inclusive growth goals of our country.

 

Secure Competition Policy First, Cha-Cha Later – Sen. Bam

Pass the Fair Competition Act first before changing the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

Senator Bam Aquino made this pronouncement, emphasizing that a competition law will provide Filipino businesses with the needed protection if economic provisions of the Charter are relaxed.

“We need to pass the competition law first. If you’re opening up the economic provisions of the Constitution at wala kang competition policy, then we’re opening up a lot of uncertainty,” Aquino said in a television interview.

“You’re opening up the gate pero hindi mo alam na ang papasok diyan will act fairly with the rest of the people in the house,” added Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The senator stressed that amending the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution is needed to entice foreign direct investments and push the country to the next level of development.

Aquino recently sponsored Senate Bill No. 2282 or the Fair Competition Act of 2014. Senate Bill No. 2282 is a consolidation of several measures, including Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 1027 or the Philippine Fair Competition Act of 2013.

Aquino said the passage of the Fair Competition Act is long overdue because the Philippines is one of the few remaining countries without a competition policy that will protect consumers and businesses, whether big or small.

 Aside from this, the passage of a strong competition policy is crucial with the 2015 ASEAN Economic Integration fast approaching.

 

Fair Competition Act to Eliminate Cartels, Monopolies – Sen. Bam

The passage of the Fair Competition Act into law will eliminate monopolies, cartels and other unfair business practices that lead to high prices of goods and services.

Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, made this pronouncement during his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2282 or the Fair Competition Act of 2014.

“If this bill will be enacted into law, rice cartels that caused the sudden rice of prices will cease to exist,” the senator said, adding that President Aquino himself called for the elimination of this illegal practice to drive down prices of goods and other products.

Aquino said the bill safeguards the welfare of businesses, large and small, and protects honest, hard-working entrepreneurs against abuse of dominance and position, and other unfair practices that put both Filipino businesses and their consumers at risk.

“The Fair Competition Act, moreover, promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs,” added Aquino, whose Senate Bill No. 1027 or the Philippine Fair Competition Act of 2013 was among the measures consolidated under Senate Bill No. 2282.

In his speech, Aquino said the Fair Competition Act of 2014 will, among other things, promote and enhance economic efficiency and competition and ensure that industrial concentration would not limit economic power to a few.

“It will also prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the Philippines,” the senator stressed.

Aquino added that the push for inclusive growth would be much easier with a help of a competition policy that gives entrepreneurs and small businesses the capability to compete against big businesses.

“I’m hoping this competition policy, if passed, can support our micro, small and medium enterprises, let them grow into larger enterprises and provide more jobs to our countrymen,” Aquino emphasized.

At the same time, Aquino allayed fears that big businesses with high market share will be affected by the competition policy.

“This is not against companies that have high market share. It’s against companies with high market share and who are using that position to abuse their powers or abuse smaller players in the market,” he explained.

The Philippines is one of few developing countries that do not have a valid competition policy.

In the past two decades, Congress tackled several competition bills but lawmakers failed to find common ground on key provisions, hampering their passage into law.

“The Fair Competition Act is both pro-poor and pro-business.”

Empower Barangay Captains; Let them Administer Oath of the President in 2016 – Sen. Bam

Even your barangay captain can administer the oath of the president in 2016.

Aquino’s Senate Bill 2334 seeks to amend Chapter 1, Section 41 of Executive Order 292 to include barangay captains among officers who have general authority to administer oath.

“By empowering the Punong Barangay to administer oaths is an affirmation and recognition of its critical role in our society,” said Aquino.

“Aside from carrying out government programs and projects in the Barangay level, the Punong Barangay also serves as the leader and a source of legitimacy by its constituents,” the senator added.

If passed, barangay captains will join other officials who have the authority to administer oath, among them the President, Vice President, Members and Secretaries of Both Houses of Congress and Members of the Judiciary.

Under EO 292, other officials who have the power to administer oath are Members of the judiciary, department secretaries, governors, vice governors, city mayors, municipal mayors, bureau directors, regional directors, clerks of court; registrars of deeds and other civilian officers in the government whose appointments are vested in the President and are subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments.

Other constitutional officers, public attorney’s office (PAO) and notaries public are also empowered to administer oath.

Transcript of Senator Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Manila Port Congestion Hearing

QUESTION: Ano po ang update sa port congestion hearing?

SEN. AQUINO: Nagrereklamo ang private sector na hindi binubuksan ang port pag weekends, at kung Monday morning. Ngayon nagkakasundo na para ma-decongest talaga ang port natin, kailangan ng extraordinary measures.

The City of Manila is already doing a lot in terms of changing the regulations.

Kailangang papasukin natin ang government agencies ng weekend at Monday mornings para masiguro natin na mas mahaba iyong hours of operation po natin sa port.

 

QUESTION: How about banks, kasi closed iyong banks, isa rin sa itinuturong dahilan?

SEN. AQUINO: Madali namang pakiusapan kahit isa o dalawang branch in that area na magbukas.

Alam ninyo ang isyu na ito, mahalagang mahalaga po ito. Hindi po ito puwedeng palampasin lang. Ang presyo ng bilihin natin, stocks sa merkado, ito po ang nanganganib diyan.

Kailangan ho talaga lahat ng grupo, whether private sector or public sector, nagtutulungan po para maresolba ang isyung ito. Kung hindi magtataas po ang presyo natin at iyon ang ayaw nating mangyari.

 

QUESTION: Ang four weeks, experimental lang ba iyon?

SEN. AQUINO: No. Right now dalawa kasi ang problema. Una kailangan natin ng long-term solution. Dahil kaya po nangyayari ang port congestion, dahil nasa full capacity na siya. Konting aberya lang, nagkakagulo na lahat. So a long-term solution is needed.

Kailangang i-expand natin ang port, palakasin ang Batangas at Subic.

But iyong short-term problem natin, punung-puno na po ang ports natin at kailangan nang madaliin iyong proseso ng pagtanggal ng containers.

So iyong PEZA magbubukas ng area para kunin ang container. Magbubukas po ng Sabado, Linggo at Monday morning para matanggal ang containers doon.

Ang Manila po, nagbukas na po ng mga lanes para mas mabilis ang pagtanggal ng containers.

Sa short-term solution, kailangang magtulungan lahat. Hindi puwedeng Manila lang, national agency lang. Kailangan ang private sector at public sector nagtutulungan para ma-resolve ito at the same time, kailangan ng long-term solution kasi kung hindi, babalik at babalik ang problemang ito.

 

QUESTION: Ano po ba ang tinutukoy ni Mr. Cheung ng “expenses along the way?”

SEN. AQUINO:  Hindi nga nilinaw ni Mr. Cheung kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. Pero palagay ko siyempre iyong paglilinis dito sa ating mga sistema, sana linisin natin ang korupsiyon sa Port Area.

 

QUESTION: May deadline kung kailan matatapos ang clearing para ma-normalize ang operation?

SEN. AQUINO: Kahapon po ang deadline.

Sa totoo, the more that this congestion happens, the more na nanganganib po ang ating stocks, iyong ating mga presyo, iyong kapakanan po ng taumbayan.

They need to move fast and hopefully, we’ll have a hearing again in five weeks, may makita po tayong totoong resulta sa ating hearing na talagang na-decongest po ang ating ports.

 

QUESTION: Nakaapekto ba ang truck ban sa port congestion?

SEN. AQUINO: I guess, sabi ni Vice Mayor Isko, siguro naging sindi sila sa doon problema but to be very frank, hindi na ito truck ban problem dahil they changed the regulation.

Sabi nga niya, lahat ng hiningi ng national government, binigay naman nila. In fact, gumagawa na sila ng express trade lanes, mula sa South Luzon papunta sa Port diretso, and they’ll be operating that next Monday.

Manila has already done its share, kung ano ang kaya niyang gawin para maresolba ang isyu.

Right now, it’s really a matter of cooperation between the truckers, the logistics, the owners of the containers, ating private at iba’t ibang ahensiya. Kailangang magtulungan talaga.

 

QUESTION: Iyong process sa pagpapalabas ng containers, will you look into that?

SEN. AQUINO: Yes, in fact may na-mention rin kanina tungkol sa corruption issue. I think na-mention ng isang resource speaker na mga along the way fees na hindi nado-document, kailangan ding tingnan iyon.

If we’re going to fix this problem, ayusin na natin ng lubus-lubusan. Hindi lang pansamantala, let’s go for long-term solutions.

Linisin natin ang problema, let’s make it more efficient. Huwag nating hayaang tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin dahil dito.

Pahayag ni Senador Bam Aquino sa Aksidente sa MRT

Nakakalungkot na nagkaroon ng aksidente ang isang MRT train ngayon, lalo na at may mga nasaktan sa pangyayari. Kailangang bigyan ng sapat na tulong at pag-aasikaso ang mga nasaktan. Siguraduhin nating maayos ang nangyaring aksidente upang wala nang masaktan pa at maibalik sa dating operations ang MRT ngayong gabi.

Magpapatawag ako ng imbestigasyon sa Senado upang umupo ang iba’t ibang ahensiya at mga grupong mula sa pribadong sektor at pag-usapan ang mga isyu sa MRT system. Ito na rin ang tamang larangan para sama-samang makalikha ng mga solusyon sa panandalian at pangmatagalang panahon.

Mahalaga ang MRT system para sa ating mga pasahero sa Metro Manila dahil ginagamit nila ito para makarating sa kanilang mga opisina, mga paaralan at mga tahanan. Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang isa sa pinakamahalagang pampublikong sistemang transportasyon ay delikado para sa ating mga pasahero.

Huwag na nating hintayin ang mas malalang aksidente bago asikasuhin ang mga matagal nang dapat pansinin – mas mahigpit na sistema ng inspeksyon, rehabilitasyon at pagpalit ng mga bahagi ng mga tren at railway, at iba pa.

Spare the Poor, Pass the MIE Bill – Sen. Bam

Spare the poor.

Senator Bam Aquino made this pronouncement as he called for the swift passage of the Marginal Income Earners (MIE) bill, saying ‘it could be another landmark bill of this administration which is pro-poor and pro-business.’

 During the Senate Ways and Means committee hearing on the MIE bill, Aquino stressed the measure doesn’t affect the government’s revenue-collection efforts and, at the same time, eases the burden of millions of Filipinos.

“I’m hoping that we can move this forward,” said Aquino, adding that the Senate has already reached out to its House counterpart to look into the MIE Bill.

Aquino filed Senate Bill 2227 which seeks to exempt MIEs such as farmers, fishermen, tricycle drivers, small sari-sari storeowners and other micro-entrepreneurs, from paying income tax

 Under Senate Bill 2227, Aquino said MIEs, or self-employed individuals who earn not more than the minimum wage equivalent in their regions, should be spared from paying income tax, just like minimum wage earners.

“The MIE bill basically exempts marginal income earners at the same level as the minimum wage earners,” said Aquino.

Aquino filed the bill after the Bureau of Internal Revenue released a memorandum circular — Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 7-2014 — compelling micro entrepreneurs to pay income tax returns.

According to BIR’s circular, MIEs include agricultural growers/producers such as farmers and fishermen selling directly to consumers, small sari-sari stores, small carinderias or “turo-turos,” and drivers/operators of a single unit tricycle.

 “Charging taxes does not help them in any way. Rather, it becomes a burden to a sector that is situated below the poverty line,” Aquino said.

 “Imposing income tax on our micro businessmen is tantamount to confiscating what little income they are able to make on a daily basis,” he added.

“This measure is just and fair and follows the constitutional provision of equal protection to all Filipinos.”

 

Sen. Bam Hits Harassment, Corruption vs. Foreign Investors

Senator Bam Aquino condemned the rampant harassment, red tape and other forms of corruption in government agencies, saying these illegal activities force foreign businessmen to pack their bags and bring their investments to other countries.

“Good governance is key in promoting ease of doing business. All forms of harassment and corruption at any level of government weakens our national competitiveness and hampers our drive for sustained economic growth,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“These instances discourage prime potential investments, take away job and other livelihood opportunities for Filipinos and may hamper the nation’s achievement of its investment and growth targets,” added Aquino.

Aquino’s reaction stemmed from complaints of foreign nationals who experienced harassment, extortion and other forms of corruption in several government agencies while doing business in the country.

In addition, the senator said numerous permits, clearances and requirements, red tape, inconsistent regulations, and non-uniformity of fees being imposed are becoming too burdensome for investors.

“There is a need to simplify the procedure of registration for foreign investors in order to promote investments in the Philippines,” the senator stressed.

 Aquino recently filed Resolution No. 762 seeking to conduct an investigation on the procedure of registration of foreign investments and fees imposed by government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry, Board of Investments and Bureau of Immigration.

“This move aims to rationalize the administration of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for foreign investors,” the senator said.

 The BOI, as a policy-making body, is charged with the duties, among others, of preparing an annual investment priorities plan that gives incentives to specific activities.

It also recommends to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) the entry of foreign nationals for employment purposes and inspects registered enterprises for compliance purposes.

 In addition, Aquino has initiated the creation of WASAK or the “Walang Asenso sa Kotong” hotline (16565 and 0908-8816565) where small businessmen can air their complaints and other issues against government agencies.

 

Sen. Bam Warns Public Against Investment Scams

Don’t quickly fall for “easy money,” “quick money” or “double your money” schemes.

 Senator Bam Aquino made this advice to the public so as to avoid falling into investment, pyramid and other types of scams, which now made their way into popular social networking sites such as Facebook.

“We should be prudent especially when it comes to money. Think twice before you put your hard-earned money into something, especially when it promises high return of investment,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Aquino’s pronouncement came after the arrest of several individuals who were behind an investment scam advertised on social networking site Facebook.

In addition, an investment scam that duped 100 individuals, of around P100 million was discovered recently.

“Before investing, we must tread on the side of caution by checking with the Securities and Exchange Commission if an investment company is registered,” Aquino said.

“Just to make sure, we also must ask for documents that will prove the legitimacy of a company’s operation,” the senator added.

 The senator also called on authorities to intensify their campaign against syndicates involved in other scams to prevent more people from being victimized.

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