Month: September 2016

Bam: Educate students on proper, responsible use of social media

Worried by the prevalence of misinformation and use of abusive language in social media, especially by so-called “paid trolls”, a senator wants schools to educate, guide and develop students on responsible and proper social media use.

In Senate Resolution No. 173, Sen. Bam Aquino calls on the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the proper education and development of responsible social media use in schools.

“Our schools can play a critical role in guiding students to become ethical and productive digital citizens and to communicate properly and respectfully online,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 In addition, learning institutions can teach students on how to determine reliability and credibility of online news and views, practice digital safety and prudence and to create a positive digital footprint.

“Social norms, best practices, and guidelines for social media use are still evolving, which is why our children and the youth need guidance on proper and responsible social media use,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pointed out the growing concern across the globe over how social media is increasingly being used and abused to spread fake news and misinformation.

“In the Philippines, this unfortunate phenomenon was observed widely during and following the recent national elections,” Sen. Bam said, mentioning social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

As a response, some of these social media companies have initiated moves to combat misinformation and fraudulent news that emerge online.

 Recently, Facebook and Twitter joined over thirty major news and technology organizations in the First Draft Partner Network to collectively address “issues of trust and truth in reporting information that emerges online.”

The Network plans to share best practices and a collaborative platform for verifying news and stories shared in social media, and promote news literacy among social media users;

In January 2015, Facebook updated its News Feed to reduce the distribution of posts that users have reported as hoaxes. Annotations were also made to posts that were frequently reported as false or misleading so as to warn others on the platform.

Twitter, for it part, released new guidelines in December 2015 for the removal and moderation of abusive, hostile and offensive language on its platform.

According to latest data, the Philippines has the second highest social media penetration rate among internet users in Southeast Asia, with 39.7 million people, representing 74 percent of its internet users, regularly visiting a social network in 2015.

JOINT STATEMENT: Lower House plan to show video is illegal: De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party Senators

We vehemently oppose the plan of the House of Representatives to show the alleged videos as disrespectful, deplorable, and illegal.

Regardless of the authenticity of the alleged videos, viewing it is disrespectful to a sitting senator, to her person, and to the office she holds, and is violative of the law.

The following laws may apply:

– Anti-Voyeurism Law (RA 9995) prohibits the recording or broadcast of videos of a sexual act, among others, with or without the consent of the persons featured in the material. Such recordings are also inadmissible even in legislative hearings.

– Anti Wiretapping Law (RA 4200) prohibits and penalizes the playing of recordings of any private communication without the consent of those involved. Such recordings are also inadmissible as evidence even in legislative hearings.

– Revised Penal Code on Crimes against Honor:

* Slander by Deed which is by performing an act intended to cast dishonor, disrespect, or contempt upon a person, OR

* Incriminatory machinations which may either be:
(i) Incriminating an innocent person in the commission of a crime by planting evidence;
(ii) Intriguing against honor by resorting to any scheme, plot, design, but not by direct spoken words, to destroy the reputation of another.

We appeal to the members of House of Representatives to be more circumspect of our larger roles as legislators: safekeepers of governance traditions and examples to our children.

BIDA KA!: Pinoy freelancers

Mga bida, dumarami na ang freelancers sa buong bansa.

Wala silang mahabang kon­trata sa isang kumpanya at nagtatrabaho lang para sa isang parti­kular na proyekto.

Ang bayad naman nito ay naka­depende sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng freelancer at nagpagawa ng trabaho.

Dahil mas kontrolado ng freelancer ang kanyang oras at kondisyon ng trabaho, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang naeengganyong pumasok bilang freelancer.

***

Kabilang na rito si Marvin, isang freelance professional photographer at video editor.

Bilang freelancer, maraming kumukuha sa serbisyo ni Marvin, mula sa paggawa ng simpleng video o photo ­coverage sa kasal at iba pang malalaking event.

Maganda man ang bayad bilang freelancer, ngunit inaangal ni Marvin na ilang ulit na rin siyang naloko at hindi nabayaran ng mga kliyente.

May ilang sitwasyon na inabot ng taon bago siya mabayaran kahit tapos na niya ang kanyang bahagi sa kasunduan.

Sa sitwasyon naman ni Paolo, marami siyang nakukuhang kliyente na nagpapagawa ng graphics at iba pang disenyo para sa kanilang kumpanya, website at mga produkto.

 

Problema naman ni Paolo, may ilang kliyente na nanghi­hingi ng official receipt na nakukuha lamang sa BIR kung ­nakarehistro siya bilang isang negosyo.

Nahihirapan siyang makatugon sa maraming requirements ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at dahil doon, kailangan niyang tanggihan ang ibang proyekto at trabaho.

Ang masaklap na karanasang ito nina Marvin at Paolo ay karaniwan nang nangyayari sa mga Pinoy freelancers.

***

Mga bida, ito ang dahilan kung bakit inihain natin ang Senate Bill No. 351 na layong protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng freelancers, ngayong isa na silang lumalaking sektor sa bansa.

Naniniwala ako na ngayong dumarami na ang freelancers sa bansa, nararapat lang na sila’y protektahan ng pamahalaan at tulungan sa mabilis na pagkuha ng kailangang dokumento sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa BIR.

Kapag naisabatas ang panukala, may kapangyarihan na ang freelancers na hingin sa employer ang mga nararapat na bayad at benepisyo sa ilalim ng kanilang kasunduan.

Kapag tumanggi ang employer na bayaran ang free­lancer para sa serbisyong ibinigay, maaaring maghain ng reklamo sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), na puwedeng magpataw ng multa na aabot sa P250,000 kapag napatuna­yang hindi tumupad sa usapan ang isang panig.

May dagdag pang multa sa bawat araw na nabigong bayaran ng employer ang freelancer. Magkakaroon din ng karapatan ang freelancer na magsampa ng civil case upang mahabol ang bayad para sa kanyang serbisyo.

Layon ng panukala na gawing simple para sa freelancers ang pro­seso pagdating sa pagpapatala sa BIR at gawin na lang itong taunan.

Mabibigyan din sila ng tax exemption sa unang tatlong taon kung ang kanilang taxable income at hindi lalampas sa P300,000 at 10 porsiyento kung ang taxable income naman ay nasa pagitan ng P300,000 hanggang P10 milyon bawat taon.

***

Kung hindi natin bibigyan ng karampatang ­suporta ang sektor na ito, sayang ang oportunidad, lalo na ang pagkaka­taong mabigyan ng kabuhayan ang marami nating kababayan.

Oras nang tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating freelancers na umasenso!

Gov’t, private stakeholders back Trabaho Centers in Schools Act

Government agencies and private stakeholders expressed support for Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure to establish Trabaho Centers in Senior High Schools (SHS) all over the country as means to address unemployment and underemployment among youth.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) all backed Senate Bill No. 170.

“Natutuwa naman tayo na full support ang DepEd, DOLE, TESDA. Kung pumasa po ito, magkakaroon ng job placement centers sa bawat senior high schools natin,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam said it can help Senior High School (SHS) find employment that fits their skill set and the career path they have chosen.

 “Napakahalaga po iyon kasi iyong reporma ng K-12, nakasalalay po diyan iyong employability ng ating mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

With an estimated 50 percent of Senior High School students not going to college, Sen. Bam stressed the need to help them find employment after they graduate through Trabaho Centers.

“Maganda kung alam na agad ng estudyante kung ano ba ang job market sa lugar, ano ang opportunities na puwede nilang pasukin at kung ano ang skills na kailangan nilang makuha para qualified sila sa mga job opening sa lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The proposal is also aimed at addressing the prevalent jobs mismatch, which is being blamed as major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 “Kung wala po iyon, we will continue to have a jobs mismatch, we will continue to have roughly five percent unemployment, almost 20 percent underemployment at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin, mahihirapan on their day to day,” said Sen. Bam.

The Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

The Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam pushes for a more tourist-friendly Philippines

As the Philippines joins the celebration of the World Tourism Day (September 27), a senator hopes to improve the country’s tourist-friendliness through seminars and by penalizing the harassment of domestic and international visitors.

“This bill seeks to ensure a pleasant experience for tourists by discouraging aggressive solicitation and imposing fines for repeat offenders,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 667.

 The measure also establishes tourism help desks in identified tourist havens, where regular patrols should be conducted to safeguard the proper implementation of the law.

 The Department of Tourism, in coordination with the barangay officials, shall promote responsible marketing and conduct regular seminars for the local vendors and residents to foster a tourist-friendly culture among communities located in tourist havens,

“We Filipinos take pride in our hospitality and ability to make guests feel welcome,” Sen. Bam said.

“Ngunit dahil sa paghihirap, naiisip ng iba na pagsamantalahan ang mga turista. We hope to address this with proper training and imposing penalties,” he added.

 Under the measure, the DOT will identify barangays which will be considered as tourist havens, or places that have high volume of tourists who stay for longer than one day.

 The bill punishes unlawful solicitation from tourists who have already expressed their desire not to be bothered by solicitations. First-time offenders will be issued warning while subsequent violations will be meted a P500 fine for each incursion.

Based on data from the DOT, around two million tourists visited the country from January to April of this year, earning the country a reputation of being one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world.

 “With more and more foreign and local travelers in our country, it’s time we develop that tourist-friendly mindset within our communities. Let’s give our tourists a wonderful, hassle-free experience so they come back for more,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam: Let’s address the drug menace in our schools

A senator has submitted a resolution to look for ways to address prevalence of illegal drugs in public elementary and high schools in the country.

In Senate Resolution No. 168, Sen. Bam Aquino plans to conduct an inquiry on drug education and prevention programs in schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) that will help keep the youth away from the drug menace.

“All schools and alternative learning systems have a significant role to play in addressing illegal drug use and abuse among children through drug education and other prevention programs,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator stressed the need for schools and learning institutions to apply evidence-based approaches in the development and implementation of drug education and prevention programs for Filipino children and youth.

Sen. Bam emphasized that peer counseling, after-school programs and the adoption of a drug education framework that fosters trust rather than scare tactics, have proven to be effective tools in thwarting the drug menace.

 Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be integrated in the elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools.

The law also mandates all elementary, secondary and tertiary school student councils and campus organizations to include in their activities programs for the preventions of and deterrence of drug use and referral of treatment of students for drug dependence.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has identified preventive education programs as a key component of its drug demand reduction strategy to discourage users and impending abusers from experimenting with illicit substances or continuing to abuse them. 

“As part of its mandate, the DDB must implement educational programs catering to every sector of society, including the youth and their educators,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has also filed a resolution looking into the implementation of reproductive health education in our schools to address the rising number of teen pregnancy in the country.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Bagong bida sa negosyo (1)

Mga kanegosyo, kahit chairman na tayo ng Committee on Education at Science and Technology ngayong 17th Congress, hindi pa rin natin iniiwan ang isa sa pangunahin nating adbokasiya sa Senado, ito ay ang pagtulong sa mga negosyanteng Pilipino, lalo na ang mga micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Kung inyong maaalala,­ ang kauna-unahang batas na naipasa natin bilang senador noong 16th Congress ay ang Go Negosyo Act o Republic Act 10667, na naisabatas noong July 15, 2014.

Sa ilalim ng Negosyo Act, magkakaroon ng Negosyo Center ang lahat ng lalawigan, siyudad at munisipalidad sa buong bansa na siyang magbibigay ng iba’t ibang tulong upang mapalago ang ating MSMEs.

Dalawang taon ang nakalipas, nais kong ibalita sa inyo na 270 na ang Negosyo Centers sa buong Pilipinas. Inaasahan natin na ito’y lalampas sa 300 bago matapos ang taong kasalukuyan.

Ngayon, mas marami nang Negosyo Centers na puwedeng lapitan ang mga negosyante para makakuha ng puhunan nang walang collateral­ mula sa iba’t ibang ­financing institutions.

Makakakuha na rin ng iba pang tulong ang ating mga negosyante, tulad ng training, mga payo sa pagtatayo ng negosyo, pagpapatakbo, product development, marketing, access sa merkado at iba pang suporta.

Isa sa mga nakinabang sa tulong ng Negosyo Center ay ang mag-asawang Melvin at Myrna Rojo, dating OFWs sa Brunei na ngayo’y may-ari ng ‘Myrnz Creation Philippines’ na gumagawa ng masarap na cake sa Iloilo City.

Ngunit isa lang ang mag-asawang Rojo sa libu-libong mga nego­syante na natulungan ng Negosyo Centers.

Sa mga susunod nating kolum, ilalahad natin ang mga kuwento ng tagum­pay ng mga negosyanteng lumapit at natulungan ng Negosyo Centers.

***

Unahin natin ang kuwento ng tagumpay ng Lemunada de Concepcion, na mula sa aking bayan sa Concepcion, Tarlac.

Ang Concepcion Calamansi Growers and Rice Cooperative, na pinamumunuan ni Nemencio Calara. Noong 2013, nagsimula silang magtanim ng kalamansi na ginagawa nilang juice.

Sa una, limitado lang ang kanilang nagagawang produkto at naaabot na merkado dahil sa kakulangan ng pasilidad at kaalaman upang ito’y maipakilala at maipakalat sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng lalawigan.

Noong December 2015, nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang koopera­tiba na palakasin ang produksiyon at benta ng kanilang mga produkto nang magbukas ang Negosyo Center sa munisipyo­ ng Concepcion.

Sa tulong ng Nego­s­yo­­ Center, nakakuha sila ng kasanayan sa product development kung paano mapaganda ang kanilang produktong calamansi juice, mula sa packaging hanggang sa produksyon.

Nabigyan din sila ng technical support sa paggawa ng calamansi juice at kailangang kagamitan para gumawa nito, sa pamamagitan ng shared service facilities ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Malaki rin ang naitulong ng Negosyo Center sa pagpapakilala ng Lemunada de Concepcion sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng munisipalidad, pati na rin ng buong lalawigan.

Ngayon, ibinalita sa amin ni Ginoong Calara na patok na Lemunada de Concepcion sa merkado. Dagsa na rin ang alok sa kanilang dalhin ito sa iba pang parte ng lalawigan.

Isa ang Concepcion Calamansi Growers and Rice Cooperative at ang produkto nilang Lemunada de Concepcion sa mga Bagong Bida sa Negosyo, sa tulong ng Negosyo Center.

Kung mayroon kayong ideya sa negosyo, huwag na kayong mag-atubiling lumapit sa Negosyo Center sa inyong lugar. Malay niyo, kayo na ang susunod nating tampok sa Bagong Bida sa Negosyo.

***

Mga Kanegosyo, kung may tanong kayo sa pagnenegosyo, mag-e-mail kay Kanegosyong Bam sa negosyonowna@gmail.com o mag-iwan ng mensahe safb.com/BenignoBamAquino.

Ugaliin ding makinig tuwing Biyernes, alas-dos hanggang alas-tres ng hapon sa DZRH 666 sa programang “Go Negosyo sa Radyo” kasama si Cheska San Diego. Ang programa’y sa kagandahang loob ng Go Negosyo at MBC.

Pangarap namin­ na magkaroon kayo ng kabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng ­pagnene­gosyo!

Bam eyes probe on status of sex education in schools

Amid the alarming rise in number of teen pregnancies in the country, a senator has filed a resolution calling for an inquiry on the status of the implementation of reproductive health education in schools.

In Senate Resolution No. 169, Sen. Bam Aquino said the Department of Education (DepEd) is tasked by Republic Act 10354 or to develop a curriculum for reproductive health education that will be used by public schools and may be adopted by private schools.

In 2013, the DepEd released the K to 12 Curriculum Guide for Health, which incorporates lessons on Reproductive Health and Responsible Parenthood.

“Ngayong tumataas ang bilang ng mga kabataang nabubuntis, nais nating malaman kung ano nga ba ang estado ng nasabing curriculum at kung paano ito itinuturo sa ating mga paaralan,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Based on 2011 to 2014 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Sen. Bam said teenage pregnancy in the country is on the rise, with one in every ten women of child-bearing age is a teenager and 24 babies are born every hour from teenage mothers.

 “The youth are faced with critical decisions involving sexual and reproductive health that could have a major impact on their lives,” said Sen. Bam.

The senator added that research by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) shows that majority of adolescents still lack the knowledge to make responsible decisions.

 “UNFPA Country Representative Klaus Beck highlighted the importance of including sexuality education in our Philippine education system to help ensure young girls and boys make responsible choices based on accurate information,” said Sen. Bam. 

Without adequate information, Sen. Bam said teenagers are left vulnerable to coercion, sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies.

Bam eyes protection for PH freelancers

With freelancing now a growing sector in the country’s labor force, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to protect the rights and welfare of freelancers.

 “With more and more freelancers in the country, we are confronted with an urgent need to protect this new sector and empower them with ease of doing business,” Sen. Bam said in Senate Bill No 351.

 According to Sen. Bam, the bill gives freelancers the power to demand from their employer what they are rightfully due under their agreement.

 If an employer refuses to pay a freelancer for services rendered, the latter can file a complaint to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which can impose a penalty of up to P250,000 on the non-compliant party if found liable.

 “Further civil penalties will also be imposed for every day that the employer refuses to compensate the freelancer. The aggrieved party has the option of filing a civil case against his or her employer,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also makes it easier for freelancers to register in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and mandates that they be exempted from tax payments for the first three years.

 “Let us waste no time in ensuring that they are not inconvenienced by red tape and that they are protected from difficult, even fraudulent clients,” said Sen. Bam.

 The bill was referred to the Committees on Labor and Ways and Means.

Bam: Ingatan ang padala ng mga OFW, iwasan ang port congestion

Senator Bam Aquino called on concerned government agencies and private stakeholders to work together to prevent congestion in the Port of Manila to avoid delays in the arrival of products and packages, especially from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to their loved ones.

 “Maraming pamilya ang nag-aabang ng mga padala mula sa minamahal nilang OFWs ngayong panahon ng kapaskuhan. Sayang naman kung mabubulok lang ito sa ating mga pantalan kapag may congestion,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made the call after an official of the Department of Transportation warned that port congestion may occur with the influx of goods and products from other countries as Christmas season approaches.

“If you remember, two years ago the port congestion was a big headache for Filipinos in Metro Manila – delivery of goods was delayed, cargo trucks caused traffic, and balikbayan boxes remained stranded in the port. We were able to solve the problem then, but we must guard against another port congestion,” the senator stressed.

During his term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam initiated a probe on the congestion that occurred at the Port ofManila two years ago.

 After bringing government agencies and private stakeholders in one table, the problem was ironed out after several months of investigation.

But Aquino said that the heavy volume of containers from September to December may revive the problem.

“Sa ngayon, maaaring normal ang operasyon at maluwag pa ang ating mga pantalan pero baka maulit ang port congestion sa pagdagsa ng mga kargamento sa huling bahagi ng taon. Kailangan na natin itong paghandaan ngayon pa lang,” added Sen. Bam.

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