Month: October 2016

BIDA KA!: Magkaisa kontra kahirapan

Mga bida, tayo po ay naanyayahan noong Lunes sa paglulunsad ng Angat Buhay: Partnership Against Poverty program ng Office of the Vice President.

Sa nasabing pagtitipon, 50 local government units (LGUs) at mahigit 400 lokal at dayuhang development partners ang dumalo.

Layunin ng programang ito na patibayin ang ugnayan at pagtutulungan sa pagitan ng LGUs, non-government organizations (NGOs), civil service organizations (CSOs), lokal at internasyonal na aid agencies, iba’t ibang organisasyon at pribadong sektor.

Sa pahayag ni Vice President Leni Robredo, ito ang kanyang munting kontribusyon sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa at sa laban kontra kahirapan.

Sa pagtatapos ng nasabing event, nakakuha ng halos 600 pledges para sa iba’t ibang proyekto ng mga dumalong LGU, kabilang na ang proyekto kontra kahirapan at iba pang panga­ngailangan ng komunidad.

Tunay ngang mahalaga ang pagkakaisa ng lahat ng sektor upang tuluyan nang matuldukan ang kahirapan sa lipunan.

Ang nasabing pagtitipon ay isang magandang halimbawa na kung magtutulungan ang lahat, kaya nating mapagtagumpayan ang matagal nating pakikibaka kontra kahirapan.

***

Noong 16th Congress, ang aking tanggapan ay tumutok sa pagpapalago ng ating micro, small and medium enterpri­ses (MSMEs) upang maiahon ang ating mga kababayan mula sa kahirapan.

Isinulong natin ang pagpasa ng ilang batas upang matupad ang adbokasiya nating ito, kabilang na ang kauna-una­han kong batas bilang senador – ang Go Negosyo Act – na naipasa noong 2014.

 

Layunin ng batas na ito na tulungan ang ating MSMEs at mga kababayan natin na nais magsimula ng sariling negosyo na umasenso.

Sa Negosyo Center, maaaring lumapit ang mga negosyante para makakuha ng puhunan nang walang collateral mula sa iba’t ibang financing institutions.

Sa huling bilang, nasa 280 na ang Negosyo Centers sa buong bansa, na pinatatakbo ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) kasama ang pribadong sektor na naglalaan ng oras upang tulungan ang ating mga kababayan na nais magnegosyo.

Target ng DTI na uma­bot sa 300 ang Negosyo Centers sa Pilipinas bago matapos ang taon upang maabot pa ang mas marami nating kababayan na nangangarap magkaroon ng sariling negosyo.

***

Ngayon namang 17th Congress, tayo’y itinalaga bilang chairman ng Committee on Education, na isa pang mahalagang aspeto upang makaahon ang ating mga kababayan sa kahirapan.

Kabilang sa ating mga isinusulong ay ang pagpapalakas ng Alternative Learning System (ALS) na isa ring prayoridad na programa ng Department of Education (DepEd) at ng pamahalaang Duterte.

Sa pamamagitan nito, mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga out-of-school youth at mga kababayan nating nais magtapos ng Grade 6 ngunit walang pagkakataon dahil sa edad at kahirapan na makapag-aral.

Isa pang mahalagang panukala na nais nating maipasa ay ang Senate Bill No. 170 na layong maglagay ng Trabaho Centers sa bawat Senior High School (SHS) sa buong bansa.

Ito’y bahagi ng ating pagnanais na mabigyan ng trabaho ang SHS graduates na nais nang maghanapbuhay para makatulong sa pamilya.

Tututok ang Trabaho Center sa tatlong mala­king bagay na kailangan ng mga naghahanap ng trabaho – career counseling services, employment facilitation at industry matching.

Mahalagang matiyak na ang mga graduates ng SHS ay may sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan na akma sa mga bakanteng trabaho sa merkado.

Maganda ring alam ng SHS graduates ang mga bakanteng trabaho na maaari nilang paghandaan sa lugar kung saan sila nakatira.

Sa ganitong paraan, matutugunan ang jobs mismatch, na isa sa sinisisi sa mataas na antas ng youth unemployment.

Sa tulong ng negosyo, trabaho at edukasyon, ako’y naniniwala na ma­laki ang tsansa ng mahihirap nating kababayan na umasenso sa buhay.

Bam wants to involve youth in government’s disaster preparedness efforts

A senator wants to tap the youth in disaster preparedness by giving them an active role in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
 
In his Senate Bill No. 686 or the Youth Participation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act, Sen. Bam Aquino proposes to include the Filipino youth in the government’s disaster risk reduction body to recognize their role in DRRM.
 
The measure also seeks to empower the youth with information and skills to help communities in times of crisis.
 
“With impending disasters in the country’s future, it is important to move from post-disaster relief to proactive disaster preparedness. And as the nation moves in this direction, it is important to include young Filipinos in this evolving discussion,” said Sen. Bam.
 
In the measure, the National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman will be included in the NDRRMC to voice out the concerns and proposals of the Filipino youth on disaster prevention, promotion, education, rescue and rehabilitation, among others.
 
“There is nothing to lose but so much to gain from engaging the youth in responding to natural calamities,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam recognized several youth organizations that have served as volunteer firefighters, first responders and peacekeepers in their respective localities.
 
The Cebu-based Rescue Assistance Peacekeeping Intelligence Detail or RAPID was the one of the first responders in Tacloban City after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda.
 
“The group also helped rescue passengers of a passenger vessel that collided with a cargo ship in Cebu last year,” Sen. Bam said.
 
The Ormoc City-based Hayag Youth Organization, for its part, has been teaching swimming, disaster preparedness, first aid and open water safety training to the youth.
 
Today (October 13), the country joins the international community in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Reduction.

Bam: Guard vs proliferation of substandard Christmas lights, other products

With the Christmas season fast approaching, Sen. Bam Aquino called on concerned government agencies to prevent the proliferation of substandard Christmas lights and other products that endanger the lives of consumers.

“Dahil malapit na naman ang panahon ng kapaskuhan, asahan na ang pagdagsa ng mga produktong depektibo na maaaring magdulot ng panganib sa ating mga mamimili, gaya na lang ng hindi sertipikadong Christmas lights,” said Sen. Bam.

“Ngayon pa lang, kailangan nang bantayan ng mga kaukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang mga nasabing produkto upang hindi na makarating pa sa ating mga mamimili,” added Sen. Bam.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam conducted spot inspection in several stores in Metro Manila to ensure the safety of Christmas lights being sold in the market.

Last year, Sen. Bam and a team from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) found boxes of substandard Christmas lights in Divisoria and Dapitan.

Sen. Bam also visited several supermarkets and stores to check if there was enough supply and if they were following the suggested retail price (SRP) issued by the DTI for Noche Buena goods.

Sen. Bam appealed to traders to be responsible in selling goods and to follow the SRP released by the DTI.

“Nananawagan din tayo sa ating mga mamimili na huwag tangkilikin ang mga produkto na mababa ang kalidad dahil sa halip na tayo’y makamura, nalalagay pa sa panganib ang ating mga buhay,” the senator stressed.

The lawmaker has been pushing to add more teeth to Republic Act (RA) 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines to empower and protect citizens more against substandard goods and services.

He is set to file amendments to the Consumer Act next week.

Bam pushes for ideal, effective feeding program in public schools

Senator Bam Aquino urged concerned government agencies and other stakeholders to help craft an ideal measure on the proposed feeding programs in all public schools to make it effective in addressing malnutrition and hunger among poor students.

“Let’s aim for the ideal and put together a bill with all of our collective knowledge, collective experiences, and best practices,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Education on several measures pushing for feeding programs in public schools.

Different government agencies and private organizations, led by the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, all expressed support for the passage of Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160, 694 and 548.

During the hearing, Sen. Bam also underscored the crucial role of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the success of the proposed feeding program.

“We will make sure that DBM is there to help us compute how much this would cost. The government’s budget is indicative of its priority. If indeed this is our priority, we should be able to budget it better,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 694 or the “Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy” bill, which seeks to alleviate childhood malnutrition in the country through a feeding program for infants, public kindergarten and elementary school children.

“It will promote the health of children who are most in need, by providing regular and free access to nutritious food within a safe and clean school and community environment,” said Sen. Bam.

To enhance the social value of the measure, the proposal will utilize locally sourced and locally produced food products to support local farmers and farming communities, providing them with regular income and livelihood.

“This feeding program will help address not only child malnutrition but also poverty in the countryside,” said Sen. Bam.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Si Aling Danilla – Bagong bida sa negosyo (2)

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.

Bam: Support for troubled youth to curb suicide and drug use

A senator wants to create a mental health program for the youth to reduce the rate of suicide attempts and drug use among young Filipinos.

“We should provide troubled youth with professional support and a place of refuge so they don’t resort to drugs or even suicide,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 657 or the Adolescents and Youth Mental Health Program Act.

In a fast urbanizing nation, Sen. Bam said the youth find themselves facing increasing amounts of pressure while being exposed to negative influences.

According to latest report by the Dangerous Drugs Board in 2015, around 49 percent of first-time drug users belong to the age group of 15-19 years old.

The World Health Organization also found that in 2011, 16 percent of Filipino students aged 13 to 15 had contemplated suicide, while 13 percent had attempted suicide.

The bill proposes the creation of a Mental Health Program for the youth aged 15 to 30 years old, to be implemented by the Department of Health, in conjunction with various other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 If enacted into law, every public or private educational institution must employ at least one qualified guidance counselor who is authorized as a mental health practitioner to provide support and advice to students.

“We must ensure that the next generation of Filipinos are mentally resilient and don’t fall prey to drug use,” the senator stressed.

The WHO observes every October 10 as the World Mental Health Day.

 

Bam on chikungunya outbreak

With the occurrence of chikungunya in different parts of the country, we call on all public school officials to strictly follow the Department of Education’s memorandum dated September 30, 2016 to protect our students by intensifying mosquito control efforts.

We commend DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones for her swift action in disseminating information about mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya to all public schools in the country.

 Sa paraang ito, makakapaglatag tayo ng mga hakbang upang hindi makapasok ang mga sakit na ito sa ating mga paaralan.

 

BIDA KA!: Trabaho Centers

Mga bida, isa sa mga isinusulong natin sa Senado ay matugunan ang problema ng kawalan ng hanapbuhay ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ng mga kabataan.

Sa Hulyo 2015, nasa 6.5% ng mga Pilipino ang walang trabaho habang 21% ang underemployed o mayroong trabaho ngunit mas mababa ang antas at sahod kum­para sa kanilang kakayahan. Kasama rin sa underemployed ang mga umaasang makahanap ng full-time na trabaho ngunit part-time lang ang kanilang mahanap.

Pagdating naman sa tinatawag na youth unemployment, nasa 15.7% ng mga kabataan ang walang hanapbuhay sa bansa.

Isa sa mga pangunahing dahilan na itinuturo rito ay ang jobs mismatch o ang kawalan ng sapat na kaalaman at kasanayan sa mga naghihintay na trabaho sa merkado.

***

May kanya-kanyang programa ang mga kaukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, tulad ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Education (DepEd) at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) upang masolusyunan ang problemang ito.

Ngunit napag-alaman natin sa hearing ng Committee on E­ducation na ang kalahati ng solusyon ay ginagawa na ng DepEd at TESDA habang ang ilang bahagi naman ay ginagampanan na ng DOLE.

Ang kulang lang ay kung paano mapag-uugnay ang mga prog­ramang ito, ang mga paaralan, at ang pribadong sektor upang lalong maging epektibo sa pagtugon sa problema sa kawalan ng hanapbuhay at jobs mismatch.

Isa sa mga nakikita nating solusyon dito ay ang paglalagay ng Trabaho Center sa bawat Senior High School (SHS) sa bansa na nakapaloob sa aking Senate Bill No. 170.

Sa tulong ng nasabing panukala, mapag-uugnay ang pri­badong sektor na nangangailangan ng empleyado at ang mga programa sa edukasyon at training ng iba’t ibang paaralan para sakto ang kaalaman at kasanayan ng mga graduates sa nag­aantay na trabaho.

 

***

Natutuwa naman tayo at nagpahayag ng buong suporta ang iba’t ibang ahensiya at pribadong stakeholders sa aking pa­nukala nang magsagawa tayo ng hearing ukol sa Trabaho Centers kamakailan.

Kapag ito’y naisabatas, magkakaroon ng Trabaho Center o job placement centers sa bawat Senior High School sa bansa na tutulong sa SHS graduates na makahanap ng trabaho na akma sa kanilang kaalaman.

Sa pagtaya, nasa 50% ng Senior High School students ay hindi na tutuloy sa kolehiyo at maghahanap na ng trabaho pagka-graduate.

Dito na papasok ang Trabaho Center, na siyang tututok sa tatlong malaking bagay — career counseling services, employment facilitation at industry matching.

Mahalagang masiguro na ang magtatapos sa ilalim ng K to 2 program ay may sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan upang tugunan ang kailangang trabaho sa merkado.

Maganda rin kung alam ng SHS graduates ang kalagayan ng job market sa lugar kung saan sila nakatira, kung anu-ano ang mga oportunidad sa kanilang paligid at trabaho na maaari nilang pasukan.

Sa ganitong paraan, matutugunan ang jobs mismatch, na isa sa sinisisi sa mataas na antas ng youth unemployment.

Maliban dito, hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang mga magulang.

Pagtapos ng Senior High School, dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga nagtapos.

Kasabay ng pagtatapos ng unang batch ng Grade 12 sa 2018, umaasa tayo na nakapuwesto na rin ang ating Trabaho Centers upang mabigyan sila ng agarang tulong para makakita ng trabahong pasok sa kanilang kaalaman at kasanayan.

Bam: Entice overseas Filipino scientists to return to PH, help in R&D

A senator has filed a bill seeking to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

“Although numerous Filipino scientists would like to serve their country and contribute to our technological, social, and economic advancement, many opt to move overseas where their work is highly valued, and where there are more opportunities to conduct meaningful research,” said Sen. Bam Aquino in Senate Bill No. 1183.

 Sen. Bam saw the need to entice Filipino scientists working overseas to return to the Philippines after research showed that the country produced fewer research papers and file far fewer patents with 1.8 per million population in 2010, compared to Thailand (17.6), Malaysia (43.4), and Vietnam (3.5).

“Filipino scientists have been contributing to groundbreaking advancement in scientific research all over the world with their talent, intelligence, and creativity. Yet as a country, we are lagging behind our neighbors in scientific output,” explained Sen. Bam.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, the measure aims to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

 Reinstated in 1993 by virtue of Executive Order No. 130, the DOST’s Balik Scientist Program has successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will address development gaps in the Philippines.

 The Balik Scientist Program provides financial incentives for overseas Filipino scientists and facilitates their return to work on either a short-term or long-term basis.

 The program subsidizes the cost of returning to the Philippines to impart their technical expertise to the nation, while conducting research to address our country’s needs.

 “Institutionalizing this will provide financial benefits to returning overseas scientists, but more importantly, it will signify our government’s commitment to, and recognition of science, research and development,” he added.

 Once enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the bill will assure Filipino scientists that their work is valued and that the government is their partner in promoting, and protecting research and development.

 “It is not just Filipino scientists that stand to gain from this program, but the Filipino people, as the brightest minds pour their brain power to solving longstanding problems like poverty through science and technology,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Bam: Provide support for public school teachers

Senator Bam Aquino wants to make teaching in public schools attractive by providing teachers with additional support and incentives.

“We have enough budget to hire additional teachers but many of them find teaching in public schools unattractive because of inadequate pay, lack of benefits, and a poor working environment,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement for World Teachers Day, capping off National Teachers Month.

 The senator is currently working on a bill that will provide teachers relocation allowance, hazard pay and health care insurance.

 “This is especially relevant for teachers in far flung areas,” said Sen. Bam.

As key to the success of our education reforms and national development, Sen. Bam said teachers should be given additional support and proper compensation for our teachers while they shape the country’s future.

 Aside from additional benefits for teachers, Sen. Bam also wants to improve the working environment of public school teachers by addressing backlogs in classrooms, improving facilities, and giving all public schools access to the internet and online educational materials.

 Recently, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 173 or the Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers Act.

 If passed into law, free education in state universities nationwide will be given to children of public school teachers in all levels, whether they want to pursue baccalaureate degrees or short-term training course.

According to the measure, the full subsidy program shall cover 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.

Sen. Bam also filed the Nurse in Every Public School Act or Senate Bill No. 663 to support our public school teachers that are burdened with duties on top of teaching, such as administrative work and even caring for sick students.

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