Month: September 2016

Bam asks AMLC to investigate flow of drug money in PH

As part of the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to assign financial investigators to investigate the flow of drug money within the country.

​​“The thrust of the government now is on the drug menace. Let’s have financial investigators examine how drug money flows in the country,” Sen. Bam told officials of the AMLC during the hearing of the Committee on Banks regarding the proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

​​Apart from physical enforcement, Sen. Bam said countries like the United States also conducts financial investigations on drug personalities.

​​These investigations provide tangible evidence against high profile criminals and drug lords, aiding in their conviction.

​​Sen. Bam urged AMLC officials to request for additional budget for the hiring of financial investigators for the drug war.

​​“As we enter the budget season, this is the time for AMLC to increase the number of investigators to help address the problem,” said Sen. Bam.

​​According to the AMLC, they are planning to hire additional 20 financial investigators to beef up its current pool of probers who are looking into more than 30,000 suspicious and questionable transactions.

​​Of this, the AMLC said around 30 cases have been filed in courts against those behind these illegal transactions.

Bam urges gov’t to clarify foreign policy direction

A senator wants the government to clarify the foreign policy direction that it plans to take, given the variety of statements issued by President Duterte and other administration officials.

 Sen. Bam Aquino said he will file a resolution to clarify the matter so that national interest will not be compromised.

 “Kailangan natin malaman kung ano ba talaga ang foreign policy ng administrasyon, particularly with regard to the US,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam saw this need for clarification after President Duterte reportedly said in a speech before newly appointed civil servants last September 12, that American troops must leave Mindanao.

On the contrary, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella maintained President Duterte’s statement was not official policy and that American troops will remain in Mindanao.

On September 13, President Duterte also announced that the Philippines would no longer engage in joint maritime patrols with the US in order to avoid hostilities.

But in September 15, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay was reported to say that the joint patrols with the US will continue, “because this is our commitment to the United States.”

In addition, President Duterte reportedly mentioned that the Philippines is considering the procurement of military equipment from Russia and China.

But Abella later cleared this up when he said that the government would continue to honor its present agreements with the United States.

 “Given recent conflicting statements from the President and government representatives, there is a need to clarify government’s approach to foreign relations and ensure a clear and coherent foreign policy towards ensuring our national interest,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam to solve jobs mismatch through Trabaho Centers in schools

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to solve the jobs mismatch problem in the country by establishing strategic employment centers in our senior high schools and ensuring SUCs offer courses that cater to the needs of their local industries.

​“To address the jobs mismatch, we need to​ ​bridge the gap between the private sector and schools ​so we can make sure graduates are well suited for job openings in the area,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

​Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 170 or 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

​According to Sen. Bam, the Trabaho Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

​Sen. Bam also enjoined SUCs to reassess the courses they are offering to match the needs of the region’s private sector, thus increasing chances that college graduates will be employed in their locality.

​​In a 2014 study, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed that job skills mismatch is a major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 ​The number of jobless youth, aging from 15 to 24, accounts for 49.8 percent of all unemployed in the Philippines.

​”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 on testimony of Edgar Matobato

Nakababahala ang mga rebelasyon ni Matobato.

 Nararapat na malaman natin kung totoo o hindi ang mga sinasabi niya at payagan ang Senado na gawin ang kanyang tungkulin.

 Madaling guluhin ang mga bagay-bagay kapag binabahiran ito ng pulitika.

 Bilang Senado na hindi nagpapaimpluwensya kanino man, tungkulin namin sa taumbayan na alamin ang katototahan nang walang kulay pulitika.

BIDA KA!: Libreng Internet

Mga bida, marami tayong­ natuklasan sa pagdinig ng ­Committee on Science and ­Technology at ­Committee on Education noong naka­raang linggo.

Sa mga nasabing hearing, tina­lakay natin ang ilang panukalang batas ukol sa paglalagay ng libreng wi-fi sa mga pampublikong lugar at sa ating pampublikong paaralan,­ kasama na ang state colleges at ­universities.

Nagsumite ako ng panukala­ na maglagay ng libreng Internet c­onnection, kasama na ang wi-fi, sa l­ahat ng pampublikong paaralan sa paniniwalang kaila­ngan ito ng mga estudyante sa kanilang pag-aaral at kailangan din ng mga guro para updated at epektibo ang kanilang materya­les­ sa pagturo.

Subalit nasorpresa at nabahala ako nang malaman mula sa mga opisyal ng Department of Education (DepEd) na 26 porsiyento lang ng mga pampublikong paaralan sa buong bansa ang may Internet connection.

***

Paliwanag ng DepEd, mayroong sapat na pondo ang ahensiya para sa nasabing proyekto subalit ang problema, walang sapat na imprastruktura upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga paaralan.

Ayon sa DepEd, may mga lugar na mahina ang signal ng telcos kaya mabagal din ang Internet connection, bagay na iniiwasan ng ahensiya upang hindi masayang ang ibinabayad nito.

Marami ring lugar sa bansa ang walang Internet connection dahil kulang ang imprastruktura ng telcos, lalo na sa mga liblib na paaralan.

Sa parte naman ng bagong tatag na Department of ­Information and Communications Technology (DICT), plano nilang maglagay ng libreng wi-fi sa mahigit 12,000 lugar sa buong bansa bago mag-Nobyembre 2017.

Ang problema, hindi pa sila nangangalahati dahil din sa kakulangan ng imprastruktura ng telcos.

Nang tanungin ang telcos, isinisi nila ang kakulangan sa imprastruktura sa bagal at higpit ng pagkuha ng permit sa ­local government units (LGUs) kung saan nila ilalagay ang kailangang kagamitan para mapabilis ang serbisyo.

Reklamo ng telcos, nakakasa na ang kanilang planong maglagay ng dagdag na cell sites at iba pang imprastruktura na magpapaganda ng serbisyo ng Internet.

Ngunit hindi umano sila makausad dahil sa bagal ng ­proseso ng pagkuha ng permit. Madalas, hindi bababa sa 25 permit ang kailangan para lang makapaglagay ng cell site.

Binanggit pa ng isang telco na nakalinya na ang paglalagay ng dagdag na 1,000 cell sites sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa­ ngunit sa bagal ng proseso, nasa 500 pa lang ang kanilang naipupuwesto.

Isa pang problema ang mahal at paiba-ibang halaga ng bayad na sinisingil ng LGU sa bawat cell site na kanilang ­inilalagay.

***

Upang masolusyunan ang problema, plano nating isama­ sa pagbalangkas ng batas ang pagpapabilis ng proseso sa ­pagkuha ng permit mula sa LGUs.

Sa paraang ito, mas madali na ang paglalagay ng cell sites at iba pang equipment ng telcos para mapaganda ang Internet connection sa bansa.

Nabanggit din ng DICT na plano ng admi­nistrasyong Duterte na maglabas ng Executive Order na mag-aatas sa LGUs na madaliin ang pagpoproseso ng permits ng telcos.

Inatasan na rin natin ang DepEd, mga telco at iba pang kaukulang ahensiya na magbalangkas ng plano para maisama ang public schools at state colleges at universities sa paglalatag ng libreng wi-fi project ng pamahalaan sa susunod na dalawang taon.

***

Mga bida, ­isinusulong ko na mabigyan ng ma­gandang Internet connection ang ating mga pampublikong paaralan dahil kumbinsido ako na makatutulong ito sa lalo pang paglago ng kaala­man ng mga batang ­Pilipino.

Malaking bagay ang Internet sa kanilang research dahil makaka­kuha sila rito ng mga materyales na puno ng kaalaman at mga ­video na makatutulong sa kanilang pag-aaral.

Mapupunuan nito ang kakulangan sa libro at iba pang materyales na kailangan sa pagpapalago ng kanilang kaalaman.

Kapag may sapat na kaalaman ang ating mga estudyante sa public schools, hindi sila magpapahuli at kaya nilang makipagsabayan sa mga mag-aaral ng pribadong paaralan.

Ito rin ang magbibi­gay sa ating mga estu­dyante ng sapat na kakayahan upang makipag­tagisan para sa trabaho na magbibigay sa kanila ng magandang kinabukasan.

***

Mga Bida, maki­pagkuwentuhan kay Sen. Bam sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino o sa e-mail bidakacolumn@gmail.com!

Bam: Look into state of children in conflict-torn areas

A senator has filed a resolution seeking to look into the state of the children affected by the recent military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan, Sulu and other conflict-areas while the country is under state of emergency.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Resolution No. 134 is aimed at ensuring the protection, safety and well-being of children, in accordance with Republic Act No. 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act.

​​“There is a need to ensure that all children in conflict-affected areas are protected from the crossfire, and that the comprehensive policies and programs envisioned in the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of children during this state of emergency,” Sen. Bam said in his resolution.

​​President Duterte signed Proclamation No. 55 last September 5, 2016, placing Mindanao under a state of emergency on account of lawless violence, following the bombing of a night market that killed 14 people in Davao City.

​​The proclamation directs the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to undertake measures to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and prevent lawless violence from spreading elsewhere across the country.

​​Based on a report by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), that as of September 5, some 1,729 family heads with 6,218 dependents from the Basilan municipalities of Sumisip, Tuburan, Moh Ajul and Akbar, were evacuated to safer areas.

​​The agency is also assisting the affected LGUs in providing food and non-food to the families, distributing a total of 2,311 family food packs to the internally displaced persons, while the DSWD-Field Office-IX has delivered 6,000 family food packs to the province.

​​In Sulu, close to 4,000 families have been displaced from their homes because of the military’s recent intensified offensive against the bandit group.

 ​​The Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act provides for the establishment of a Comprehensive Emergency Program to protect children and support their immediate recovery in times of disaster and emergency.

​​According to Sen. Bam, the program includes the identification of safe locations as evacuation centers for children and families, and establishment of child-friendly spaces.

​​“It also provides for the immediate delivery of basic necessities, and health and educational services tailored to the needs of the affected children,” the senator added.

​​The law mandates the DSWD to engage all relevant government agencies and stakeholders for the implementation of the Comprehensive Emergency Program.

Bam on alleged impeachment plot vs President Duterte

Transcript of media interview

 

Firstly, there’s no such plot. I think a number of us said that already.

Para sa akin, the leader of our party is a member of his Cabinet. So it’s something I think that they’ll probably have to talk about.

 

Q: Magkakaroon ba sila ng private conversation about it?

Sen. Bam: You can ask the VP but alam ko, she’ll try to clarify things with him tomorrow.

 Nagulat din ako when he said that, obviously we’re here, we’re supportive of Sen. Pimentel and we’re supportive of the reforms that his departments are trying to push.

 So, clearly for me there’s really no plot. I don’t know where he got his information but more importantly, again, the leader of our party is a member of his Cabinet.

 Maganda siguro mapag-usapan din nila iyan bukas.

 

Q: Wala kayong alam na any member who is planning to file any impeachment complaint?

 Sen. Bam: No. Not at all. We never even talked about it. We were all kind of surprised when he said that statement so I think there really needs to be a clearing of the air with him.

 Kailangang klaruhin talaga sa kanya and if there’s any misinformation that he’s been getting, dapat maging malinaw iyon. I think it’s good kasi pag-uusapan nila ni Vice President Leni.

 

Q: Ano ang posisyon ngayon sa LP ni VP Leni?

 Sen. Bam: We’re undergoing some transitions but usually kasi after elections, there’s a new set of officials. That doesn’t happened yet but as the highest member in our party, she’s the leader of our party.

Bam: Unacceptable that only 26 percent of public schools have Internet connection

Only 26 percent of public schools in the country have Internet access, which is detrimental to students’ competitiveness, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

 DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua made this revelation during the Committee on Education hearing on the status of Internet connectivity in public schools all over the country.

 According to Pascua, the data is worrisome since DepEd considers connectivity as one of the important tools in learning.

 “Nakakabahala sa akin na sa report ng Department of Education (DepEd) na 26 percent ng ating eskuwelahan ay may Internet connectivity,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “And to think, may bilyun-bilyong piso silang budget para i-connect ang ating mga eskuwelahan sa Internet, only about one-fourth lang ang may kakayahang mag-connect dahil sa kakulangan sa infrastructure at Internet signal,” Sen. Bam added.

 With this, Sen. Bam urged the DepEd, Department of Information and Communications (DICT) and telecommunication companies to map out a plan that will address the problem.

 This way, public schools and state colleges and universities will be included in the roll-out of the government’s free Wi-Fi project all over the country in the next two years.

 “Kung ang mga eskuwelahan natin hindi maka-connect sa Internet, kaagad-agad, hindi na sila competitive gaya ng ibang eskuwelahan dito at sa buong mundo,” said Sen. Bam.

 By allowing Internet connectivity in schools, Sen. Bam stressed that it will pave the way for our public educational system to be taken to the future.

 “Gusto naming makita ang roadmap kung paano ang 26 percent, magiging 100 at kung ilang taon bago ma-fulfill ang ating goal,” the senator explained.

 Sen. Bam pointed out that public schools need reliable Internet connection to support and enhance the learning capabilities of students by giving them access to learning materials and online information.

 As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam also discussed several bills seeking to establish free Wi-Fi to public places in different parts of the country.

 The DICT said it is planning to put up free Wi-Fi in 12,841 public areas in different parts of the country by November 2017.

 However, the DICT and telecommunication companies difficulty in acquiring permits from local government units (LGUs) are hampering their infrastructure development efforts.

 “We want to make sure na ang mga balakid na ito, matanggal na para magkaroon tayo ng free Wi-Fi,” said Sen. Bam.

BIDA KA!: Davao City bombing

Mga bida, napakaespesyal po ng Davao City para sa akin at sa aking pamilya.

Kilala po ako at ang aking ­pamilya bilang tubong Tarlac ngunit sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang akin pong ina at ang kanyang angkan ay mula Davao.

Ang aking lolo na si ­Segundo Aguirre ay naging principal ng ­University of Mindanao. Ang lola ko naman na si Victoria Aguirre ay naging chairperson ng Filipino ­Department sa nasabing unibersidad.

Sa Davao po lumaki at nagtapos ang aking ina. Sa Davao po niya nakilala ang aking ama habang sila ay nagtatrabaho sa Davao branch ng SGV. Davao po ang setting ng kanilang love story at sa Davao rin sila ikinasal.

Sa aking paglaki, pumupunta kami sa Davao para bisitahin­ ang aking lolo at lola at hanggang ngayon, mayroon pa rin kaming mga kamag-anak na nakatira sa tinaguriang “Crown Jewel of Mindanao”.

***

Nang malaman namin na sila’y ligtas, ang kaba na aming naramdaman ay unti-unti na naging galit.

Nagdurugo ang aking puso dahil ang karumal-dumal na pangyayaring ito ay gawa ng mga Pilipino sa kapwa Pilipino.

At pinili pa nila ang lugar na dinadagdsa ng mga nagde-date, mga pamilyang namamasyal at kung saan nagtatagpo ang mga magkakaibigan.

Kabilang dito si Ruth Merecido, isang dalagang ina na nagta­trabaho bilang therapist. Nasawi rin si Pipalawan ­Macacua, isang senior education official of CHED sa ARMM na isang masugid na sumusuporta sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Ilan lang sila sa mga nasawi noong gabi ng Biyernes nang punitin ng isang malakas na pagsabog ang kasiyahang nangyayari sa lugar na iyon.

***

Sa aking privilege speech noong Lunes, binanggit ko na ngayon ang panahon upang tayo’y magpalakas ng puwersa sa pamamagitan ng suporta sa ating mga pulis at militar.

Subalit magagawa lang nila ito kung ibibigay natin ang ­lahat ng kanilang kailangan para imbestigahan, hulihin at ­papanagutin sa batas ang mga nasa likod ng pagsabog.

Ikalawa, kailangan na nating mas maging mapagbantay sa ating kapaligiran laban sa anumang banta sa ating buhay.

Subalit hindi lang tayo dapat maging alerto sa mga naiwanang­ bag o kahina-hinalang kilos ng sinuman.

Higit sa lahat, dapat tayong mas maging mapagbantay sa mga maling impormasyon na kumakalat sa Internet at sa ating lipunan.

Nakalulungkot dahil may ilang grupo na nagpapakalat ng maling balita na ginagamit ang insidenteng ito upang lalo pang paghati-hatiin ang mga Pilipino.

Dahil nakataya rito ang ating buhay at sistema ng pamumuhay, dapat nating timbangin ang mga impormasyon na ating natatanggap kung ito ba’y totoo o malaking kasinu­ngalingan.

Ikatlo at pinakamahalaga sa lahat, dapat tayong magkaisa.

Ang layunin ng terorismo ay maghasik ng lagim at lagyan ng malaking dibisyon ang ating bansa.

Kapag hinayaan natin na tayo’y magkahati-hati, mananalo ang terorismo sa ating bansa.

Ngayon, higit sa lahat, dapat tayong magsama-samang ­kumilos upang tiyakin na hindi na mauulit ang nasabing ­insidente.

Sa madaling salita, isantabi natin ang pulitika at ibigay ang lahat ng kanilang kailangan upang masugpo ang banta ng ­terorismo sa bansa.

Marami nang nalampasang pagsubok ang mga Pilipino — mula sa mga bagyo, lindol, baha at iba pang kalamidad. At ito’y dahil sa ating pagkakaisa.

Ito rin ang gamitin nating susi upang tayo’y makabuo nang mapayapa at ligtas na lipunan.

***

Mga Bida, makipagkuwentuhan kay Sen. Bam sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino o sa e-mail bidakacolumn@gmail.com!

Bam: Look after children during state of lawlessness, armed conflict

A senator called on concerned government agencies to ensure the welfare and safety of civilians, especially the children, affected by the administration’s drive against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao and the perpetrators of the Davao bombing.

 “The welfare of our Filipino children should be the utmost priority since they are one of the most vulnerable sectors during these times of lawlessness and armed conflict,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

 According to Sen. Bam, Republic Act 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act provides utmost protection to Filipino children during disasters, calamities and armed conflicts.

 “Kasabay ng ating kampanya laban sa Abu Sayyaf, huwag nating kaligtaan ang kapakanan, pangangailangan at kaligtasan ng mga taong naaapektuhan ng bakbakan, lalo na ang mga bata,” said Sen. Bam, a co-author of the measure, which he filed during his tenure as chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

 “Mahalagang matiyak natin na mayroon silang pansamantalang matutuluyan, pagkain, gamot, damit at iba pang pangangailangan habang naghihintay na maging normal ang sitwasyon sa kanilang lugar,” he added.

 The law gives priority to children during and after every disaster, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and man-made disasters such as war and armed conflict.

 It will also establish child-centered training to disaster first responders, teachers, psychologists and other volunteers in disaster recovery, relief and rehabilitation, with special modules for different stages of children and youth development.

 It mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to formulate a Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children and local government units to integrate the said program in their development and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) plans and budget.

According to Sen. Bam, existing policies will also be reviewed to give better support to Filipino children, especially during disasters, calamities or in armed conflict to help lessen trauma, restore normalcy quickly and build their resilience better.

 “We will continue to work in protecting our Filipino children during disasters, calamities, or armed conflict, but also to reduce trauma and build their resistance to these threats,” he added.

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