Month: September 2016

Senate Bill No. 350: Social Value Act

A common practice in government procurement, guided by Philippine procurement laws, is to consider price as the major criterion for awarding government purchases and contracts. However, given the current social climate, there is now a need to consider other factors that enable a product or service to deliver adequate or even added value to both the purchaser and to the community at large.

Thus, we wish to introduce the concept of “social value” as an additional criterion governing Philippine government procurement.

“Social value,” as we define it in this measure, “refers to the additional benefit to society of procuring a good or service, over and above the direct benefit and value of the good or service to the procuring entity. Additional benefits may include support for poor communities or marginalized groups, advancement of human rights and social justice, protection of the environment, and community development.”

At the root of this concept is the recognition that government funds should be allocated to products, services, and programs that offer the greatest good, at the best value. Therefore, when evaluating suppliers for government purchases, contracts, and projects, purchasers must look beyond price and also consider such factors as quality, production practices, and even the impact that these practices have on a larger community.

Legislature is thus urged to pass this proposed “Social Value Act”. By redefining the concept of “social value” and “value for money,” we can enable the state to maximize benefits for society and also drive up service quality and inclusive e-growth. 

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 

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Senate Bill No. 349: Inclusive Business Promotion Act

In the recently concluded Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC Summit held in the Manila, we had the first ever high-level discussion on Inclusive Business, which promoted the idea of companies taking part in development, not just through philanthropy but also through their products and supply chains.

Under this inclusive business umbrella are social enterprises as well as large corporations that utilize their products, services, or even their supply chains to help poor communities create a sustainable industry and become financially successful.

This concept of business taking part in nation-building and social development is finally catching on and all over the world, allies in the fight against poverty have found an effective weapon – conscientious entrepreneurship – to beat poverty and create prosperity.

There is no better time than now to establish policies in support of this movement.

“Inclusive Business (IB),” as defined in this measure, refers to “a business approach that provides decent work and economic opportunities or relevant and affordable goods or services for poor and low income and/or marginalized sectors of society by making them part of the organization’s core operations as producers, consumers, workers, owners or business partners, directly contributing to improved living standards, poverty reduction and systemic inclusion in a manner that is sustainable, in scale or scalable, and replicable.”

The Inclusive Business Bill provides for the establishment of a national strategy for the promotion of Inclusive Businesses to be implemented by a new office, the Inclusive Business Center. The bill also provides policies for IB accreditation, and providing support and incentives for IBs and their community partners, including social enterprises.

A key strategy for providing sustainable livelihood and reducing poverty, especially in the countryside, is by integrating poor communities as suppliers of goods and/or services in the value chain of large businesses.

Inclusive Business companies can serve to link poor communities to more viable markets, enhancing economic opportunities and sources of income, and enabling them level up from subsistence livelihood.

Let us enjoin the private sector to take part in the creating shared prosperity in our nation.

In view of the foregoing, that passage of this bill is earnestly sought.  

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Senate Bill No. 348: Government Efficiency Office Act

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Senate Bill No. 178: The National Payment Systems Act

We operate in a world of trade and transactions. Today, thanks to innovations in science and technology, the interchange of resources can be completed quicker and more efficiently through online payments.

But while many countries have embraced these advancements, 99% of payments in the Philippines remain cash-based while only 1% is paid through electronic systems.

According to a study done by Better Than Cash Alliance, the Philippine e-commerce industry makes up less than 1% of total commerce in the country. This is relatively low compared to our ASEAN neighbors who generate 4-5% in e-commerce transactions.

The potential for growth and development of industry as well as the opportunity to improve and bolster of our financial systems must not be put to waste. To drive the economy forward, it is imperative that we empower the market with updated and streamlined payment systems.

Thus, the National Payment Systems Act seeks to organize, manage, and regulate all matters affecting payment instructions in the country under the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to promote effective interoperability among payment systems, incorporating digital transactions.

In order to ensure the security and efficiency of payments for the benefit of all stakeholders – consumers, businesses, and financial institutions alike, we must upgrade the management and regulation of our payment industry.

Now, more than ever, we are compelled to advance our systems along with our ASEAN neighbors.

Through this measure, we have the opportunity to protect retailers, enhance buyer experience, boost the confidence in our financial sector, and keep pace with the ever-improving technology for cashless payment. 

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 

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Senate Bill No. 176: Poverty Through Social Entrepreneurship (PRESENT) Act

This measure provides the framework for the planning and implementation of a National Poverty Reduction Through Social Entrepreneurship (the “PRESENT”) Program. The PRESENT Bill provides a nurturing environment for the growth and burgeoning of strong and innovative Social Enterprises as tools to reduce poverty.

A “Social Enterprise” or “SE” as defined in the proposed bill, refers to a social mission- driven organization that conducts economic activities providing goods and/or services directly related to its primary mission of improving the well-being of the poor, basic and marginalized sectors and their living environment. A social enterprise explicitly declares and pursues poverty reduction as its principal objective by purposefully rendering both transactional and transformational services. An SE engages and invests in the poor to become effective workers, suppliers, clients and/or owners and ensures that a substantive part of the wealth created by the enterprise is distributed to or benefits them.

In addition to reinvesting its surplus or profits back to the enterprise to sustain the fulfillment of its social mission, a SE also uses its surplus or profits and mobilizes other resources to assist the poor to become partners in SE or value chain management and governance and to become partners in community, sectoral and societal transformation.

This is in line with Article XII, Section 1 of the Philippine Constitution which states:

Section 1. The goals of the national economy are a more eqilitable 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 lifefor all, especially the under-privileged.

The challenge for Social Enterprises is how to become an effective poverty reduction tool. In the face of this challenge, government must play a supportive role to ensure that the appropriate systems, structures, and resources needed to support Social Enterprises are put in place. Government must help these new breed of entrepreneurs to acquire resources, build successful organizations, and achieve significant positive impact. 

A nation’s economy is not stagnant – a new social investment models, ways of doing business, and impact measurement tools continually arise. These changes at times distort and blur the once clear boundaries among the traditional nonprofit, for-profit, and public sectors. It is time that a Social Enterprise be officially recognized and defined in order for the government to be able to give it adequate support. 

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bills is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 1532: Innovative Startup Act

At the 2015 APEC Summit, the world saw a glimpse of Philippine innovation as Aisa Mijeno shared the story of her SALt Lamp, a lamp that is powered by saltwater, suitable for households along the rural coastal villages that have little or no stable access to electricity.

It is vital that we give all such ideas the chance to come to life. Through this bill, Filipinos with excellent startup business ideas will benefit by being given the necessary support—in terms of registration, incentives, subsidies, funding, technical assistance, accreditation and assessment, and a budding pool of talented workers that will aid them in the steep uphill one faces when putting up a business.

This bill aims to put in place the ecosystem necessary to cultivate startups in the Philippines.

By supporting the startup ecosystem from focal points, we ensure that startups have a reasonable chance at success and are given the opportunity to impact society with innovative business and products that can truly help us achieve our imperative of inclusive economic growth. 

By creating the ecosystem for startups to operate, we bring more citizens into the fold of inventive and socially conscious entrepreneurship.

In view of the foregoing, the passing of this bill is urgently sought. 

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Senate Bill No. 171: Open Access in Data Transmission

 

We live in the information age where instantaneous access to reliable data can save you money, get you your dream concert tickets, save lives in times of calamity, and even spark a political revolution witnessed all around the world.

Technology has refashioned our world, empowering us with information at our fingertips.

What many of us don’t see are the multiple levels and layers that data zips through to move from one point to another, from one user to the next.

If this complex data network is not designed and managed properly, it may cost users’ time and money. And for a nation with a pressing problem with slow and expensive Internet services, it is imperative that we explore all avenues to improve data transmission.

This measure sets the regulatory framework to promote effective data transmission, taking into account the ever-changing nature of technology.

This bill will bolster the powers of the National Telecommunications Commission to create a healthy environment for the development and growth of data networks and their associated industries to improve access to information for every Filipino.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 170: Trabaho Center In Schools Act

This year marks the final stage of the K-12 curriculum roll out with the nationwide implementation of Senior High School (SHS). An additional two years of secondary schooling will provide specialized academic tracks to prepare students for postsecondary education or alternatively, equip them for employment directly after high

school.

There is a need to follow through on the intent of K to 12 and provide the infrastructure for Senior High School graduates who chose to enter employment to be able to find those opportunities.The creation of a job placement office through the Trabaho Center aims to address this need.

There are three main things that the Trabaho Center shall focus on: Career Counseling Services, Employment Facilitation and Industry Matching.

Career Counseling Services shall be offered to help guide the students on the tracks they choose in Senior High School.

Employment Facilitation is envisioned to assist the needs of a job seeker or the senior high school student. This includes but shall not be limited to resume writing, pre-employment seminars and job fairs.

Industry Matching on the other hand aims to address the needs of the industries by providing graduate listings and resume profiling of students to companies. Close coordination with PESO and TESDA are also needed to have a thorough database of job opportunities in the localities and to immediately coordinate further training that might be needed with TESDA based on particular employment opportunities.

The Trabaho Center is envisioned to be the first institutionalized office in all senior high schools that is mandated to aid in facilitating employment for all Senior High School graduates. 

Through the Trabaho Center, the needs of our nation’s graduates, businesses in the country, and the vision of the Department of Education come together to make the most of our curriculum reform and help us move closer to shared prosperity. 

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

 

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Bam on Davao City bombing

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Davao City bombing.

 Kasabay ng pagtugis natin sa mga nasa likod ng malagim na pagsabog,  mahalagang tutukan ang kapakanan ng mga biktima at kanilang pamilya.

 Dapat magkaroon ng agarang tulong sa pamilya ng mga namatay at tiyaking naibibigay ang pangangailangang medikal ng mga nasugatan.

 Nagkakaisa tayo sa pagpapahalaga sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan at kagustuhang umasenso ang Pilipinas.

 This act of terrorism is unacceptable.  We must bring to justice those responsible for the killing of innocent people and ensure that similar barbaric acts will not happen in the future.

Bam to PNP: Look into illegal drug problems in SUCs, public and private schools

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the accessibility of illegal drugs in state colleges and universities (SUCs) and public and private schools in the country.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Sen. Bam asked PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if he has information on how prevalent illegal drugs in SUCs and private schools.

 “Gaano ho ka-available ang illegal drugs sa ating mga eskuwelahan?” Sen. Bam asked Director General Dela Rosa.

 Currently, Dela Rosa said the PNP has no data but promised Sen. Bam that he will look into the matter and provide the Senate with the needed information immediately.

 As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam plans to conduct a separate hearing to determine the prevalence of illegal drugs in SUCs, public and private schools.

 Sen. Bam also plans to look into the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposal to include drug testing as a requirement for admission in colleges and universities.

 “Maganda ang layunin ng plano ngunit dapat nating timbangin ang lahat ng panig at isa-alang-alang ang karapatan ng ating mga estudyante na makakuha ng edukasyon sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas,” said Sen. Bam.

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