RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATESENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PHILIPPINE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP WITH THE END VIEW OF THE ALIGNMENT OF THE INDUSTRY WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANS OF THE GOVERNMENT
If provided the needed support and exposure, Senator Bam Aquino believes the local game development industry could duplicate, if not surpass, the success of the country’s business process outsourcing (BPO) industry in terms of job generation.
“The local game development industry is where the BPO industry was maybe 10 to 15 years ago,” Aquino said during the Philippine Game Festival (PGF) at SMX in Pasay City.
“There is a big potential to create high-quality, high-paying jobs for creative and innovative Filipinos.”
Aquino stressed that Filipinos gamers are equipped with the needed technical proficiency and artistry that put them at par with their foreign counterparts.
“We can actually compete and with a little more support, this can be an industry that can make a big dent in our economy,” the lawmaker said.
The senator is currently working with the Board of Investments (BOI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to help promote the game development industry abroad and attract possible investors.
“We have to make the world know that the Philippines has game developers who are skilled, talented, and have the right mix of art and technology,” Aquino said.
“We are hoping that in the next few years we can see more of these investors here in the Philippines come in,” he added.
Currently, the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) said there are around 60 studios in the Philippines with a total of approximately 3,500 employees.
The GDAP has a target of 15,000 game professionals nationwide by 2016.
“At a time when society’s biggest issue is youth unemployment, businesses and governments must work together to help young people develop an entrepreneurial mindset. That means fostering a culture which supports young people to take risks, set up businesses, create jobs and become masters of their own destiny. Whether it’s through finance, mentoring, incentives or training, we must all play our part so that this generation can achieve its full potential. The time to act is now.”
This is a quote from an Ernst & Young report called “Avoiding a Lost Generation,” produced in June 2013 for the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit. But it could very well reflect the imperatives for the youth of the Philippines. At a time when our youth popUlation forms a large percentage of our total popUlation, and when many of the unemployed belong to the youth sector, both the government and the private sector must work together to empower young Filipinos to be productive members of society. Aside from boosting job generation and gainful employment, our government must create the structures and the mechanisms to enable youth entrepreneurship as a pillar of inclusive growth.
In order to help create this environment, we propose the passage of the “Youth Entrepreneurship Bill”, which seeks to integrate entrepreneurship into our secondary and tertiary education curricula; facilitate grants both for the teaching and the practice of entrepreneurship; and develop a national youth entrepreneurship program to provide support to young entrepreneurs.
This Bill seeks the cooperation of different departments such as the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Aside from developing and integrating entrepreneurship courses in the curriculum for secondary and post-secondary school students, they shall also be tasked to facilitate the provision of grants to ensure that our schools, teachers, and teaching partners have the capacity to teach these courses. Grants shall also be made available to support students who are pursuing studies and projects related to enterpreneurship.
Further, this Bill tasks the MSME Development Council to develop a National Youth Enterpreneurship Program that will provide young enterpreneurs with strategic support in terms of access to financing, capital, incubation, as well as technology and skills transfer services The MSME Development Council and the Small Business Corporation shall provide preferential allocation for the youth in connection with available credit funds.
This Youth Entrepreneurship Bill is focused on the youth entrepreneur, is inclusive, and is geared toward all types of entrepreneurial talent belonging to underrepresented populations and communities. This Bill aims for sustainability and will be designed for long-term implementation. If we make this a priority measure and pass this Bill, we can envision a future led by young Filipinos who have initiative, who are motivated and driven, and who have the best skills to succeed in creating businesses, proViding jobs, and making inclusive growth a reality.
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Q: Sir, ano po ang assessment at findings ninyo sa Port Inspection?
A: So far, iyong problema ng physical congestion na-resolve na kasi itong areas na pupuntahan natin, a few months ago, may daloy na ang daan.
Kaya lang ang tanong ko, bakit marami pa ring nagko-complain? Marami pa ring nagsasabi na hindi ganoon kabilis ang paglabas pasok ng produkto sa ports natin.
In the next hearing, we’re going to tackle this. Previously, kahit si Secretary Almendras, na-mention na rin niya na may mga corruption issues tayo dito. May mga grupo, mga nilalang na pilit na nag-e-extort sa mga truckers natin, kaya hindi ganon kabilis ang pasok ng mga goods natin.
So in short, we’re trying to tackle this problem one step at a time. At least iyong physical congestion, nakikita natin malapit na iyong solusyon diyan o nangyayari na iyong different solutions. Nagkakaroon na ng technology.
Iyong pagtanggal ng truck ban nakapag-ease ng traffic natin at iyong daloy ng produkto. Mayroon pa ring natitirang problema na kailangang tugunan.
One I think at the minimum, we need to be able to resolve iyong mga corruption issues at the ports. Makita natin na walang extra charges o mga fake charges na binibigay mga negosyante natin. Mahalagang bagay iyon.
Pangalawa, pag-usapan ang long-term solutions. For example, the connector roads. Iyong paglatag ng bagong rail facilities natin. I think this also needs to be discussed para makita natin na ang solusyon natin sa port congestion ay hindi pangmabilisan kundi pangmatalagan.
Q: Nabanggit po ba sa inyo ni Secretary Almendras kung saan nanggagaling ang corruption, sinong tao o sinong organization?
A: Sa October 16, we’ll have a second hearing, Ilalantad din namin iyong iba’t ibang reports na nakukuha namin.
Iyong mga charges kasi dito plus P2,000, P3,000, P4,000 per container per trip.
This is an added cost na at the end of the day, makakadagdag sa presyo ng bilihin so we need to make sure that even if mga ganitong bagay matanggal din natin.
Ang nangyari kasi diyan, noong nagka-port congestion tayo, may mga tao talagang kumita. Sabi nila, gusto ninyong mabilis na malabas ang container ninyo, magbayad ka.
We’re still trying to get to the bottom kung anong grupo at kung sino ang may kinalaman dito. Parang mga vulture ito na noong makaamoy ng problema, pinagkakitaan. They took advantage of the problem.
Ngayon, as we can see, wala na talagang physical congestion, mas cleared na ang roads natin pero mayroon pa ring ganitong practice.
We need to get to the bottom of this at kung may kailangang reforms na gawin, we need to be able to make sure na hindi ito nakakadagdag sa mga problema natin.
Ito ang tinatawag nating under the table fees. Ito iyong mga illegal na fees na dinadagdagan ang charges natin. Siyempre illegal yan, nakakabagal iyan ng flow ng ating goods and services.
So we’re hoping na apart from the physical congestion problem na nakita naman natin kanina na okay na, itong mga problema na nakakabagal ng paggalaw ng ating goods, ito siguro ang isa pang bagay na dapat nating tingnan.
On October 16, nag-invite kami ng ibang resource speakers, mga truckers, mga negosyante at doon nila ikukuwento iyong mga extra fees na sinisingil sa kanila at kung sino ang mga naniningil sa kanila.
Q. Sir sasabihin ba talaga ng nasa likod ng katiwalian?
A: May mga pinakita rin kanina, so hopefully we will be able to uncover this. Even in the last hearing namin, may tinatawag na along the way fees. One of the businessmen mentioned na maraming along the way fees na nangyayari so kahit ito gusto nating mahimay, malaman talaga kung saan nanggagaling, saan napupunta.
Q: Ilan bang klaseng along the way fees? Kunwari bawat stop…
A: Mas magandang galing sa kanya ang sagot. Hindi ko masasabi at hindi rin nila nasabi kung ilan.
Q: Magkano inaabot ang all the way fees?
A: Per container libu-libo. Ayaw ko pong bigyan ng range. Anyway doon na lang sa next hearing para sa kanila talaga galing.
Ang balak ni Secretary Almendras na bring the importers to the ports and show them na walang rason para magbayad pa sa kung sino para mag-unahan sa paglabas.
Kanina nakita ninyo napakaayos ng daloy. In fact, they could even say maluwag, although Tuesday is a light day.
But still, there’s no reason for that. For the importers, dapat huwag rin silang magbayad cause wala ring rason na magbayad.
Senator Bam Aquino reiterated his call to concerned authorities to eliminate corruption, extortion and other illegal activities in and around Port of Manila as they contribute to congestion, traffic and high prices of goods.
“If we’re going to fix this, we should do it completely and we should solve the issues for the long-term,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
“We should get rid of illegal activities such as extortion because they hamper the delivery of goods and contribute to the increase in prices of goods and services,” he added.
The senator said the government should apply the full force of the law against corrupt individuals who hamper port operations through their illegal activities.
“The government must show that it means business by going hard against these individuals who are making a living through illegal means,” he said.
Aquino renewed his pronouncement after Malacanang noticed that extortion activities in and around the port contributes to port congestion.
The senator made the same call during the first Senate hearing on port congestion where stakeholders complained about the “along the way” fees being collected by unscrupulous individuals.
“While decongesting our port is the main priority, concerned government agencies must also look at other factors that contribute to this problem, like corruption,” he said.
Aquino said extortion and corruption contribute to inefficiency, delaying the processing and delivery of shipments and discouraging truckers and shipping companies from fulfilling their obligation.
“Ultimately, the consumers will bear the full brunt of this because shipping companies will pass on to them their additional losses,” Aquino said.
The lawmaker also encouraged victims to come forward and file a case or complaint against those behind these illegal activities.
“We need the cooperation of everyone to combat corruption. As they say, evil will prevail if good men do nothing,” Aquino stressed.
The senator said complaints can be coursed through the WASAK or Walang Asenso sa Kotong Hotline (16565 and 0908-8816565) where entrepreneurs can air complaints against public officials.
Banning students from taking examinations for failure to pay tuition fees will be outlawed once a measure filed by Senator Bam Aquino is enacted into law.
If enacted into law, Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 2369, or the “Students’ Rights and Welfare Act of 2014,” will punish violators of imprisonment of up to five years and fine of up to P100,000.
If the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed upon the president, treasurer, secretary or any officer or person responsible for the violation.
“If the offender is a public officer or employee, the Court shall, in addition to the penalties above, order his or her dismissal from government service,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.
Explaining his measure, Aquino stressed that while education plays a vital role in shaping the youth as future leaders of the country, they must be equipped with more than just knowledge, skills and attitudes to enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.
“While there is an effort to improve the technical content and curriculum, and the delivery and instruction, there is also a need to reform the non-academic side of education,” said Aquino, who, during his time as a student council president, Aquino fought for the rights and welfare of his fellow students.
“When I was in the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral in the Ateneo de Manila University, we worked on the student handbook that discussed the rights and welfare of students, and encouraged the student body to join the different volunteer organizations,” the senator said.
Aquino said the bill seeks to broaden the focus of education institutions towards a more holistic formation of students.
“By providing a national framework for students’ rights and welfare, this measure seeks to create conducive atmosphere to maximize their learning and growth,” the senator said.
“Students are no longer just the future of the country. We count on them to be leaders in their communities in the here and now,” he added.
The bill seeks to strengthen students’ rights, including the right against discrimination in educational institutions, right to competent instruction and accessible, quality, relevant education and the right to organize.
Also, Aquino said the students’ right to establish a student council or government, right to adequate welfare services and academic facilities and have a representation in the school’s highest policy-making body would be assured.
Other students’ rights that will be strengthened by the bill are right to information, freedom of expression, academic freedom, academic procedure, privacy, access to school records and issuance of official certificates and the right against illegal searches and seizures.
The students’ welfare will also be safeguarded through the banning of firearms in schools and the prohibition of unauthorized school fees and other tariffs.
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