Month: March 2015

Bam on the Displaced Families in Maguindanao

We urge the government to ensure the safety of the around 24,714 families or 124,000 people who were displaced by the government’s military operation against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Maguindanao.

Their needs must be immediately addressed, including temporary shelter, food, water, clothing, alternative livelihood, among other needs.

The government must zero in on the welfare of the children, who are the most affected and vulnerable during armed conflict, by providing them milk, medicine, psycho-social intervention and others.

Their prolonged displacement has had a profound impact on their sense of security, physical and emotional well-being, long-term health and nutrition, and access to education.

The government must work to return to normalcy the lives of those displaced at the soonest possible time.

Republic Act No. 10644: Go Negosyo Act

AN ACT PROMOTING JOB GENERATION AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

 

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

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

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

 

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DOWNLOAD THE IRR OF GO NEGOSYO ACT

 

 

 

 

Republic Act No. 10643: Picture-Based Health Warning Law

AN ACT TO EFFECTIVELY INSTILL HEALTH CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH GRAPHIC HEALTH WARNINGS ON TOBACCO PRODUCTS

 

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Republic Act No. 10635: Maritime Industry Authority (Marina)

AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA) AS THE SINGLE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION RESPONSIBLE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE 1978 INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCHKEEPING FOR SEAFARERS, AS AMENDED, AND INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS OR COVENANTS RELATED THERETO

 

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Senate Bill No. 2210: Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (Present) Act

The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all. The State shall provide social justice in all phases of national development and that the State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.

The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged. The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets.

The State also recognizes the important role of enterprises in the economy as the major agent of development, creating off-farm employment opportunities and providing transitional means for improving the livelihood of the people.

Towards this end, the State shall pursue an inclusive growth strategy that promotes an environment conducive to the development and growth of a vibrant social enterprise sector engaged in poverty reduction, economic and social development. It shall empower the poor as primary stakeholders in social enterprises, establish mechanisms essential to realizing their potential and achieving their full growth, and extend the assistance necessary for their advancement. The State shall likewise provide technical and financial assistance, incentives and other services to enable Social Enterprises to develop into viable and vital anti-poverty agents, and a strong social entrepreneurship movement that will be instrumental in reducing poverty in the country.

 

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Senate Bill No. 2226: Student-Athletes Protection Act of 2014

Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution recognizes the role of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and to take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. Further, Section 19 (1) of the same Article provides that the State shall promote physical education, sports programs and competitions alongside training for international competitions to foster self-discipline, teamwork and excellence for the attainment of a healthy and alert citizenry. Thus, the State shall recognize and uphold the rights of Student-Athletes to further hone their skills and abilities in their respective fields of amateur sports without neglecting their education and general well-being.

It is the intention of this law to protect and promote the rights of the Student- Athlete, who is, first and foremost, a student. To this end, the rights guaranteed by this law and the obligations imposed on schools and athletic associations and their officials, athletic directors, coaches, members of the coaching staff, administrators, alumni, and representatives shall seek to ensure that the Student-Athlete attains quality education while honing his skill and reaching his full potential as an athlete in an amateur sports setting.

 

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Republic Act 10905: Closed Caption Broadcasting of Television Programs

An act requiring all franchise holders or operators of television stations and producers of television programs to broadcast or present their programs with closed captions option, and for other purposes.

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Bam to Math Wizards: Be the Country’s Problem Solvers

A senator urged young math wizards to develop and hone their skill as it will lead them to a brighter future and help them contribute to the country’s development.

 

“You are the best of the best. Do not be ashamed of your talent,” Senator Bam Aquino said during the awarding ceremonies of the 2015 Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge held last Saturday at the Metrobank Plaza Auditorium in Makati.

 

The biggest math competition among elementary and high schools, the contest drew around 500,000 participants from public and private schools in the country.

 

“If we are ashamed of our talent, we won’t cultivate that innate, God-given gift that we have, which we have honed through practice and hard work. Sayang naman kung hindi niyo ipagpatuloy iyan,” added Sen. Bam, a math competition winner during his high school days in Ateneo.

 

While he acknowledges that the MVP of the basketball team is more popular than a math wizard in school, Sen. Bam believes that the fruits of their hard work and perseverance will pay off once they reach college and turn professional.

 

“Maybe that’s true right now, but take it from me, once you get to college, maybe after college, more opportunities will come your way,” said Sen. Bam, Senate chairman on the Committee on Youth.

 

Sen. Bam emphasized that the biggest and most successful names in today’s business, such as Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, have had a career based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

 

“A lot of the innovations these days that fight hunger, that fight climate change, that fight unemployment, that fight inefficiencies, ang mga solusyon po doon marami po riyan ay nanggagaling sa Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics,” Sen. Bam said.

 

“Iyong bansa po natin, and also the rest of the world, need young people to get into STEM courses and be able to contribute towards society,” he added.

 

The senator also called on participants to help solve the country’s problem, saying the Philippines needs people who can solve more than just talk.

 

“We need people who believe that there are answers to our country’s problems,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 

After his speech, Sen. Bam awarded the medals to the winners in the elementary and high school divisions.

 

Ezekiel Christian C. Ong of Uno High School topped the 4th year high school individual competition. Highryll CJ E. Tan of Statefields School Inc. placed second and Gene Go Jr. of Zamboanga Chong Hua High School third.

 

Jan Reggie Dela Cruz and Jade Kathleen Yu Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science topped the 4th year high school team competition. Alberto Siton, Jr. and Sherlyn Calangian of Batasan Hills National High School placed second while Bert Joseph Prestoza and Paul Jeremiah Naraval of BHC Educational Institution settled for third.

 

The partnership of Richmond Louie Lim and Bryce Ainsley Sanchez of Grace Christian College ruled the Grade 6 team competition. Guillermo Andres Refina and Marcus Gene Ancheta of San Beda College-Rizal placed second while Lance Xavier Castro and Trisha Daphney Lim of Philippine Christian Gospel School finished third.

Bam: Make Final Push for 18-percent Poverty Incidence Rate

Senator Bam Aquino encouraged concerned government agencies to make a strong final push to reach the government poverty incidence target of 18 percent in 2016.

 

“Let’s put the right enterprise programs and really give it a strong final push for this administration that will uplift our poor Filipinos,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development on the Magna Carta of the Poor bills.

 

At present, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman said the country’s poverty incidence rate is 25.8 percent or about 25.8 million Filipinos.

 

Sen. Bam also stressed the need to consolidate, rationalize and coordinate the livelihood programs of different government agencies to effectively address the country’s poverty incidence.

 

In addition, Sen. Bam also encouraged DSWD to look at enterprise development as the next logical step for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the 4Ps.

 

“A lot of study shows that there is a need to have government interventions at different points of enterprise development to enable poor Filipinos to get out of poverty,” Sen. Bam said.

 

During the hearing, the DSWD, the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the Department of Finance expressed support for the passage of Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 2370 or the Magna Carta of the Poor Act.

 

“We should consolidate all livelihood programs and align them according to the needs of the beneficiaries,” Sen. Bam encouraged the agencies.

 

“Interventions need not be financial alone, we can help them through product design and development, financial management and marketing training, or market linkage,” explained Sen. Bam, a former social entrepreneur.

(Photo from globalbalita.com)

Bam on the Onion Cartels

The government must immediately look into reports that cartels and several unscrupulous traders are conniving to manipulate the supply of onions in the market, to the detriment of our local farmers, especially in the countryside.

With the alleged cartel maneuvering and the onset of the onion harvest season, we expect a significant drop in prices of onion, to the disadvantage of our farmers. 

We need to act now to safeguard our onion farmers, who would be robbed of their livelihood and income.

If proven true, those behind these cartels must be brought to justice and severely punished.

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