Month: October 2014

Co-Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on the Sangguniang Kabataan Reforms

Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75
Otherwise known as the
Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014

Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV
16th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Co-Sponsorship Speech, 29 October 2014

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon.

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to support the development of our Filipino youth leaders and spur the next set of Filipino heroes, as I co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75  otherwise known as the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014.

In a country where half of the population are 15-30 years old, it is our duty to provide  an enabling environment for the youth to be able to participate in building our nation.

The Filipino youth have the innate energy, creativity and innovative ideas to come up with new solutions to address the age-old problems of the country.

It is thus urgent to harness their full potential as a partner in the development of our country, to encourage their active participation in programs and projects of communities and engage them in transparent and accountable governance.

Ang kabataan ay hindi lang ang pag-asa sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan. May kakayahan na silang maging bahagi sa pagbabago ngayon at sa kasalukuyan.

Mr. President, para sa inyong kaalaman, ang title ng una kong panukala para sa bill na ito ay Ang Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan. 

Even though it was not carried in the amendments, we chose that title because we believe that the reforms for the Sangguniang Kabataan would develop more heroes among our Filipino youth, who are ready to sacrifice and give their time, talents and resources for the benefit of our countrymen.

Mr. President, my career as a public servant started in the youth movements, where I served as a member of the student council, which promoted volunteerism among our fellow students, and even at times, went to the streets to fight for the social issues of the day.

Noong ako po ay naging Chairman ng National Youth Commission noong 2002, binuo namin ang Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) Awards na hanggang ngayon ay nagbibigay parangal sa pinakamagagaling na youth organizations sa bansa.

We recognize these youth groups that have made an impact all over the country through projects in education, health, livelihood and the like. 

Isa sa mga nanalo ay ang Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Inc. (GVSP) ng Cebu.  Natuklasan nila na isa sa bawat tatlong batang pipi’t bingi ang namomolestya sa kanilang lungsod. 

Kaya gumawa sila ng information campaign laban sa sexual abuse ng mga pipi’t bingi at kilalanin ang karapatan ng mga persons with disabilities.

Napansin naman ng Dire Husi Initiatives sa Cagayan de Oro ang mga batang lansangang naaadik sa rugby.

Kaya tinipon nila ang mga ito, pinakain, binigyan ng arts education at livelihood training para di na malulon sa droga at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan.

Ang huli kong halimbawa ay ang Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc City.  Tinuruan nilang lumangoy ang kabataan sa kanilang lugar at nagbigay sila ng iba pang water-disaster preparedness training bilang paghahanda sa mga sakuna.

Nang dumagsa ang Bagyong Yolanda, walang nalunod o naaksidente sa kanilang mga miyembro dahil sa kanilang training program.

Mr. President, the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Dire Husi Initiatives and Hayag Youth Organization are only three youth groups among thousands who have spent their time creating relevant and innovative projects that address different issues in their communities such as PWD abuse, drug addiction and disaster risk preparedness and management.

Admittedly, if we talk about the Sangguniang Kabataan, there seems to be a disconnect with the youth that I have mentioned, and the reality on the ground for a number of Sangguniang Kabataan.

But today, we have the opportunity to change this notion if we pass this measure – the 2014 Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Bill.

We want to create an enabling environment for more young people to serve and find the heroism in them and hence, we are pushing for the reforms found in this bill.

After much debate and discussion, we want to highlight three points which we feel would encourage more young people to participate and spur heroism.

These are: expanding the age limit, creating local youth development councils and lastly, ensuring more relevant programs and projects of the SK all over the country.

Expanding the Age Limit
Firstly, we are proposing to expand the age range from 15 to 30 years old, in accordance to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1994, and to peg the age of officers between ages 18 to 24.

The reform in age range will enable a greater number of youth to participate and give officials more independence in their affairs, such as signing contracts, disbursing money, and making them more accountable for their actions.

Youth Organizations Participation: Local Youth Development Council
The second major reform that we are pushing for is the introduction of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the Sangguniang Kabataan and ensure the participation of more Filipino youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will compose of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

It aims to harmonize, broaden and strengthen all programs and initiatives of the local government and non-governmental organizations for the youth sector.

The LYDC will serve as guide and refuge for the Sangguniang Kabataan so that their programs and policies will be rooted in the needs of the various youth oganizations that are present in their communities.

Mr. President, ang mga lungsod ng Pasay, Naga at Cebu ay kasalukuyang may mga LYDC upang mahikayat ang kanilang mga kabataang makibahagi sa mga programa ng kanilang LGU.

Sa Pasay, bahagi ang kabataan sa cleanliness at peace and order programs, at sa mga livelihood projects ng lungsod.

Sa Naga naman, nagfocus sila sa paggawa ng training at seminar para sa pisikal, pang-akademiko, psychological, at values formation ng kabataan.

At sa Cebu, kasama ang kabataan sa pagtatayo ng mga dormitories para sa kanilang migrant youth na nag-aaral sa iba’t ibang unibersidad ng kanilang lungsod.

In my time as the Chair of the National Youth Commission, I saw that this is a proven structure that can not only develop our Sangguniang Kabataan to be better leaders, but ensure that their decisions, actions and priorities are in line with the needs of the youth in their area.

Relevant and Impactful Programs and Projects
Lastly, we are pushing for the enumeration of clear themes of the programs and projects that can be explored by the LYDC and the SK in formulating their Youth Development Plans, to weed out tokenistic projects for the sake of having programs for the youth.

These programs need to meet the goals of promoting meaningful youth participation in nation-building, sustainable youth development and empowerment, equitable access to quality education, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resiliency, youth employment and livelihood, health and anti-drug abuse, gender sensitivity, capability building and sports development.

We hope that the bill will also clarify the relationships between the Sangguniang Kabataan, the National Youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

By doing so, we ensure that the programs and policies that they will come up with will truly be relevant and impactful for the sector they are supposed to serve.

Developing the New Filipino Heroes
Mr. President, it is urgent and important that we reform the Sangguniang Kabataan, as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future.

It is now time to work on strengthening our leadership institutions, particularly youth development programs to form new leaders with technical and management competence, and are grounded on Filipino values.

Kung itataguyod po natin ang kapakanan ng kabataang Pilipino, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong / gamitin ang kanilang likas na pagiging malikhain at madiskarte / sa paggawa ng mga bagong proyekto at programa para sa ating bansa.

Professor Ambeth Ocampo, historian and youth advocate mentioned that our heroes where young when they changed the course of our country: “[Jose] Rizal published the Noli Me Tangere at 26, Juan Luna painted the Spolarium at 27, and [Andres] Bonifacio began the Revolution at 30… So if [we] think about it – our heroes are young.”

It is imperative that we provide an enabling environment for more young Filipinos to be the new heroes that our country needs.

Maraming salamat po at magandang hapon.

Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

Sen. Bam Pushes Passage of SK Reform Bill to Meet Election Deadline

Senator Bam Aquino urges colleagues to pass the measure seeking to reform the current Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), saying it will help shape the country’s youth to become better and more effective public servants in the future.

“It is urgent and important that we reform the Sangguniang Kabataan, as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future,” said Aquino.

 Aquino made the pronouncement during his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2401 or the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014, where his ‘Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan (LBK)’ bill was consolidated.

Aquino pushed for the suspension of the SK elections last year so that needed reforms can be introduced, instead of having it abolished. 

He also actively worked for the passage of the measure in the committee level to meet the deadline by February 2015.

In his speech, Aquino stressed that as a country where half of the population are 15-30 years old, an enabling environment for the youth must be provided for them to participate in nation building.

“The Filipino youth have the innate energy, creativity and innovative ideas that would come up with new solutions to address the age-old problems of the country,” the senator stressed.

Aquino said the measure will harness the youth’s potential as a partner in the development of our country, encourage their active participation in programs and projects of communities and engage them in transparent and accountable governance.

Among the reforms being pushed by the measure is the expansion of age limit, creation of local youth development councils and to ensure more relevant SK programs and projects all over the country.

The measure proposes to expand the age range from 15 to 30 years old, in accordance to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1994 and to peg the age of officers between ages 18 to 24.

“The reform in age range will enable a greater number of youth to participate and give officials more independence in their affairs, such as signing contracts, disbursing money and making them more accountable for their actions,” Aquino said.

The bill also pushes for the introduction of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the Sangguniang Kabataan and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will compose of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

The LYDC is now being implemented in several major cities such as Pasay, Naga and Cebu to encourage the youth to participate LGU-initiated projects.

“We are pushing for the enumeration of clear themes of the programs and projects that can be explored by the LYDC and the SK in formulating their Youth Development Plans, to weed out tokenistic projects for the sake of having programs for the youth,” the senator said.

Aquino hopes that the bill will clarify the relationships between the Sangguniang Kabataan, the National Youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“By doing so, we ensure that the programs and policies that they will come up with will truly be relevant and impactful for the sector they are supposed to serve,” he said.

 

Implement Land Swap to Retain Children’s Hospital – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino urged the National Housing Authority (NHA) to implement the land swap with the Department of Health (DOH) to resolve the ownership issue on the property occupied by the Philippine Children Medical Center (PCMC).

In 1992, the DOH agreed to swap its 5.9-hectare Cebu property for NHA’s Quezon City 6.4-hectare land where the PCMC currently stands.

However, Aquino said the agreement was realized only on one side because the NHA obtained and distributed the Cebu property through socialized housing while ownership of the Quezon City land was not transferred to the DOH.

“You already have the Cebu property. Would you agree to do a valuation and do the swap now?” Aquino told NHA officials, led by general manager Chito Cruz, during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Health on the issue.

Aquino also disputed NHA’s claim that the agency was just instructed by then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to implement the socialized housing project in Cebu.

“When you disposed of that land to your constituents, you weren’t doing it for DOH. You were doing it as your land,” Aquino emphasized.

The senator also said that even President Arroyo’s 2001 memorandum acknowledged the property swap between the DOH and the NHA.

Cruz said the NHA is willing to convey the property to the DOH only if the Department of Justice (DOJ) declares that there is a consummated swap through a legal opinion.

Aquino also got a commitment from the DOJ to resolve the legal side of the issue by next month.

“Let’s make this an early Christmas gift, not just for officials and employees of PCMC, but to all poor Filipino children who enjoy quality free health services,” the senator said.

Earlier, Aquino filed Senate Resolution 266 calling on concerned government agencies to work collaboratively to resolve the PCMC issue.

“Let us set aside other issues and think of the welfare of thousands of poor Filipinos who rely on PCMC for their children’s health,” the senator added.

 

Sen. Bam to LTFRB: Embrace innovation, support start ups

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) must embrace innovation and provide some leeway to transport start ups, which provide safe and affordable means of transportation to the commuting public.

“The government should encourage innovation, not curtail it. The LTFRB must give these transport start ups some leeway as we review current laws on franchising,” said Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship

Aquino said the LTFRB can provide these transport start ups, such as Uber, Tripid, GrabTaxi and EasyTaxi, some leeway, the same way it provided provisional authority to cargo trucks and new buses to ply their routes

“The government needs all the help it can get, especially from the private sector, as it continues to find ways to improve the country’s mass transport system and solve the perennial traffic problem,” the senator said.

Aquino describes Uber as an innovation as it provides commuters with a safer mode of transportation and quality service at the same time.

Uber is a high-tech transportation network that makes mobile apps that connect passengers with drivers of private vehicles for hire and car-pooling services. The company arranges pickups wherein cars are reserved by sending a text message or by using a mobile app and within 10 minutes the vehicle would arrive

The uber system helps alleviate the monstrous traffic problems in California, especially through car-pooling.

“The government should not hold back innovations that alleviate the plight of our commuting public,” the senator said.

 A staunch supporter of start up businesses, Aquino has filed a measure granting them tax exemption from operations for two years.

Aquino said Senate Bill 2217, also known as the Start-Up Business Bill, would provide these enterprises the proper time to stand on their own as they try to create a niche in the market.

“The intervention provides the opportunity for these start-ups to get organized, establish their business operations and market base,” said Aquino.

The measure proposes a tax exemption from operations for two years, given that these enterprises are not an affiliate, a subsidiary or a franchise of any existing company.

Also, these start-ups must not have any other existing registered company in case of a sole proprietorship.

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.

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the 2nd Port Congestion Hearing

Iyong problema natin sa port congestion, physically, medyo gumaganda na. Iyong paglabas ng mga containers tumataas na.  In fact, mas mataas na siya bago nagkaroon ng truck ban.

Pero iyong charges, naroon pa rin. Iyong increased charges na iyan ang nagdudulot ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

We really have to look at the charges that are being imposed on the different stakeholders.

Iyong isang pinanggagalingan ng charges, mula sa shipping lines, we need to see kung justifiable ba talaga ang charges na iyon o hindi.

Mayroong mga charges na opisyal at mayroon ding unofficial o iyong tinatawag nating under the table. Iyon din, kailangang matigil din para mabalik natin ang sitwasyon iyong bago ang truck ban at ma-prevent natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

 

Q: Iimbitahan ba ang shipping lines sa next hearing?

A: Yes. Ganito kasi iyan, iyong truckers pag dinadala iyong container, dinadala iyan to a specific container yard. At iyong partnership na iyon ay between the container yard at shipping line.

So walang rason, pagdating ng trucker doon sa container yard, sasabihan siya wala nang space. Ibig sabihin doon, hindi nagkaroon ng pagkakaunawaan ang container yard at shipping line.

Ang trucker naman, pinaalis siya walang space, dumadami ang oras na naha-hire siya, tumataas ang sinisingil niya sa importer. Ang importer naman i-cha-charge iyon sa taumbayan.

Kaninong responsibilidad na mayroong container yard, siyempre sa mga shipping lines iyon.

Ang masakit diyan, iyong shipping lines natin, kapag late binalik ang container, icha-charge ka pa rin.

In short, some of these charges need to be investigated. DTI has volunteered na tipunin ang mga shipping lines. I-analyze ang mga charges na ito at tingnan kung ano ba ang justifiable at iyon ba ang mamimihasa na lang. Nag-iba na ang sitwasyon at kailangan nang ibalik iyon sa dati.

 

Q:  Mas gusto pa nga nilang nade-delay, dahil higher ang charges ng shipping lines.

 A: Hindi lang shipping lines.

Marami pong mga elemento, na may gusto nilang may delay, gusto nila may inefficiency at gusto nilang may congestion kasi nakakapag-charge sila, nakakahingi sila under the table, ang talo diyan ang taumbayan.

Kaya dapat isa-isahin natin ito at tingnan natin ang mga charges na unjustifiable na. Ano ba ang mga proseso na nakakadagdag sa problema, legal processes.

We talked to Customs and BIR today, baka may proseso sila na dapat bawasan na and of course, i-curb natin ang corruption.

Sabi nila noon daw, may pang-tip sila, tagbe-bente pesos, iyong mga ganun daw libu-libo na daw ngayon.

We have to stop that and we can only stop that one is meron tayong monitoring, two mayroon tayong enforcement may nakukulong dahil sa bribes na iyan. At hindi lang siya sa government dahil sa private sector may pangyayari ding ganyan.

Pangatlo, we really need to push for technology dahil ito ang nakikitang solusyon dito. Kung mayroon tayong ticketing system o tracking system, hindi na magkakaroon na nagta-trapik sila, nagsasabay-sabay, nakapila sa port na wala namang negosyong makukuha.

If we have that technology, which these days din a ganun kahirap iyon, and they were following the system, it will help our truckers in terms of their efficiency and at the same time, puwede pang bumaba ang kanilang sinisingil dahil mas efficient sila.

 

Q: Do you agree to the proposal na no-human contact, no-paper policy?

 A: Ganoon po talaga dapat. As soon as possible dapat. In  fairness, kumuanti na nang kumaunti iyon through the years. Ngayon, talagang less and less na ang nakikita mo.

Pero siguro if we can implement that, not just for port operations, but for BIR and Customs, it will help solve corruption.

 

Q: May ilang foreign business groups na nagsabing they will stop business sa Pilipinas kapag di na-solve ang port congestion.

A: Kung mayroon silang mga issue, temporary lang iyan. Kung tutuusin, iyong ekonomiya natin ngayon, we’re the best economy in the ASEAN.

Mahihirapan sila na hindi i-access ang market natin. Maybe pansamantala, they’re having some issues but as fast as we solve this problem, they will be back because this is a huge market.

They need the Philippines to do business well.

 

Q: So hindi dapat balewalain ang threat na iyon?

 A: Siyempre hindi. Lahat ng negosyo dito iyong ang hinihikayat natin. We want more foreign investments in the Philippines, we want more trade to happen. That’s why patuloy itong mga hearing at patuloy ang pagresolba ng isyung ito.

 

Q: Do you think we can manage the influx of goods this Christmas season?

 A:  Since we started this hearing, marami nang improvements. Each step na may bagong improvement, may bago ring na-uncover na problema.

Palagay ko, ang kinakailangan naming gawin, bilang Committee on Trade, is to make sure na ang solusyon natin all the way.

Hindi puwedeng halfway lang. Pakakawalan natin and in a year’s time, ito na naman ang problema.

We have to go all the way.

If you notice na sa hearing natin, we went from short term to medium term to long term. The best way to resolve these issues, gawin natin ang short term sa mabilis na panahon pero huwag pakawalan ang medium at long term solutions kasi iyon ang magdidikta kung mangyayari pa ito uli o we can really move forward and improve our port situation and our economy and make sure na hindi magtaasan ang presyo ng produkto.

 

Heavier Penalties for Hate Crimes vs LGBT – Sen. Bam

A senator is pushing for heavier penalties for hate crimes against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community after the brutal killing of a Filipino transgender in Olongapo City recently.

“Hate crimes against the LGBT sector and other minority groups have no place in a civilized society. We should impose heavier penalties so that these discriminatory and inhumane acts will be eradicated,” said Senator Bam Aquino.

Aquino believes the killing of transgender Jeffrey Laude in Olongapo City is not an isolated case because the number of hate crimes against LGBT in the country have risen in the past years.

Aquino cited a data from the Philippine LGBT Hate Crime Watch, indicating that there were 164 cases of murdered LGBTs in the country from 1996 to June 2012.

In the first half of 2011 alone, a study funded by the UN Development Program and the US Agency for International Development showed that 28 killings involving the LGBT community.

“This number will continue to rise unless we do something about it immediately,” stressed Aquino, author of Senate Bill No. 2122 or the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014, which seeks to combat discrimination of any form.

Aquino’s bill seeks to prohibit and penalize discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, civil status, HIV status and other medical condition, among others.

In the United States, the first hate crime laws were passed after the American Civil War, beginning with the Civil Rights Act of 1871, to combat the growing number of racially motivated crimes.

In 1978, California passed the first state hate-crime statute in connection with four ‘protected status’ categories: race, religion, color, and national origin.

In 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which expands the existing United States federal hate crime law to gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Other countries also enacted hate-crime laws, including Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Increase Penalties for Corrupt Emission Centers! – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino stressed the need to stiffen penalties for corrupt private emission testing centers (PETC) to help combat the worsening air pollution in the country.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship which he chairs, Aquino discovered that a number of PETCS were sending fake emission results to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

“Using current photo-editing technology such as Photoshop, these corrupt PETCs edit the plate number to make it appear that a vehicle underwent emission testing,” Aquino said.

In the same hearing, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed that if all cars will abide by Clean Air Act standards, air quality in Metro Manila would be in normal range.

“How can we improve the quality of air in the country if these corrupt PETCs continue to exist,” Aquino said, referring to a data that automobiles contribute 80 percent to air pollution in Metro Manila.

Aquino also expressed alarm after it was brought to his attention that erring PETCs only receive a penalty of P30,000 and a 30-day suspension.

“We need to revisit the penalties being imposed by the LTO on PETCs for not doing their job mandated by law,” said Aquino.

Aside from penalties, Aquino also urged the LTO to file falsification of public document charges against owners of erring PETCs for sending fake testing results.

Earlier, Aquino has filed a Senate Resolution 734 to investigate reports that some PETCs engage in illegal activities such as non-appearance scheme or ghost testing of motor vehicles in exchange for additional fees.

The emission compliance certificate is one of the basic requirements of the LTO before a vehicle is processed for renewal registration.

In his resolution, Aquino said illegal activities by some testing centers defeat the purpose of Republic Act 9749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act, which was passed in 1999 to maintain the quality of air and protect human life from the dangers of air pollution.

Under the Clean Air Act, a National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program has been established to promote the efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles and ensure the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles.

“It is important to have cars checked properly because the leading cause of diseases in the country has to do with the respiratory system,” he said.

Be Vigilant Against Unsafe, Dangerous Products – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino reminded consumers to be more vigilant against unsafe or dangerous products currently being sold in the market, especially with the Christmas season fast approaching.

 “We must be careful in our everyday purchase because some unscrupulous traders sell low quality or unsafe products despite the danger they bring to the public,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Price should not only be the basis for purchasing. We must also look at the quality and safety of the products that will flood our market,” the senator stressed.

Aquino advised consumers to buy products from legitimate stores to ensure quality and safety.

At the same time, the senator made the pronouncement amid the Food and Drugs Administration’s intensified campaign against unsafe products being sold in wet markets.

Among the products being strictly monitored by FDA are products tainted with dye, which commonly used as food color but some of it contain Rhodamine B that can cause cancer.

According to the FDA, dye is used in chili powder, cheese powder, turmeric powder, paprika powder, atsuete powder, kasubha powder, red gulaman and dried shrimp.

Dyes are also used in fish tapa, fish cracker and snack foods, sugar coated fennel, seasoning mix, spices and blends.

In an advisory, the FDA said Rhodamine B has been shown to be carcinogenic in mammalian models while Sudan dye is commonly used in shoe and floor polish, solvents, oils, waxes and petrol, and is likely to contain heavy metals.

Senate Resolution No. 877: Commending and Honoring Filipino UN Peacekeepers in Syria-Israel Border (Golan Heights)

RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND HONORING FILIPINO UN PEACEKEEPERS IN GOLAN HEIGHTS FOR DEMONSTRATING EXEMPLARY COURAGE AND RESOLVE IN THE RECENT STAND-OFF AGAINST SYRIAN REBELS, SUCCESSFULLY CARRYING OUT THEIR PEACE KEEPING MISSION, AND REFLECTING THE PROFESSIONALISM AND COMPETENCE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

 

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SRN 877

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