Month: October 2016

Bam: Senate to review gov’t foreign policy

The Senate will soon conduct a review of the government’s foreign policy to clarify the direction it wants to take in terms of international relations, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

Sen. Bam said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter.

“There was openness on the part of Sen. Cayetano to have the hearing, so I hope he will schedule it soon,” said Sen. Bam, who filed a Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issue.

Sen. Bam stressed the urgency to conduct an investigation amid President Duterte’s threat to end the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“Mahalagang malinawan tayo kung anong direksiyon ba ang nais tahakin ng pamahalaan pagdating sa foreign policy,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from the EDCA issues, government officials also issued contradicting statements on different foreign policy issues, such as joint maritime patrols and the stationed American troops in Mindanao.

“I hope we can clear up these statements soon so that our strategies to protect our territory and develop our economy are aligned with the administration,” Sen. Bam stressed.

As provided in Article 2, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, Sen. Bam said a clear strategic foreign policy is integral to the country’s development.

“Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” Sen. Bam stressed.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: ‘Mentor Me’ program

Mga kanegosyo, isa sa mga mahalagang tulong na makukuha ng isang nagsisimula sa negosyo ay ang turo at gabay mula sa isang subok o kilalang negosyante.

Makailang ulit na na-ting binanggit sa ating kolum na ang pagkakaroon ng tamang mentorship ay daan tungo sa matagumpay na negosyo.

Ito ang layunin ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) nang simulan nito ang ‘Mentor Me’ program tatlong buwan na ang nakalilipas.

Sa aming panayam kay DTI Assistant Secretary Bles Lantayona sa programang Go Negosyo sa Radyo sa DZRH kamakailan, mayroon nang dalawang pilot area ang nasabing programa sa Laguna at Mandaluyong.

Sa paliwanag ni ASEC Bles, napakahalaga ang gabay at payo na makukuha ng isang papausbong na negosyante mula sa mentor na bihasa at may malawak na karanasan sa pagnenegosyo.

Kabilang sa mga mentor na nagbibigay ng tulong ay mga matagumpay na entrepreneurs at mga negos­yante na may puso na ibahagi ang kanilang kaalaman at formula sa tagumpay sa mga bagong negosyante.

Ayon kay ASEC Bles, malaking tulong ang karunungang bigay ng ‘mentor’ o iyong mga nagtuturo sa mga ‘mentee’ o iyong mga tuturuan para magtagumpay.

Sa tulong ng magaling na mentor, magkakaroon din ng inspirasyon ang isang mentee upang masundan ang yapak ng nagtuturo.

Mahalaga rin ang pagkakaroon ng unawaan o rapport sa pagitan ng mentor at mentee kaya tinitiyak ng DTI na naipaparating nang tama ng isang mentor ang kailangang kaalaman sa mga tinuturuan.

Ayon kay ASEC Bles, nakatakda na ring simulan ang ‘Mentor Me’ program sa Zamboanga, Iloilo, Cebu, Cavite, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, Davao City, Baguio, Tarlac at Lanao de Norte.

 

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Isa sa mga mentee na nakapanayam namin ay si Jay Menes, isang stage performer na naengganyong magnegosyo na kabilang sa mga unang batch ng mga dumaan sa ‘Mentor Me’ program.

Sa kuwento ni Jay, aksidente lang ang pagkakapasok niya sa ‘Mentor Me’ program sa Negosyo Center sa Mandaluyong.

Balak lang kumuha ni Jay ng business permit ngunit naalok ng isang taga-Negosyo Center na sumali sa programa. Sa una, akala ni Jay na isang beses lang ang seminar ngunit tumagal ito ng 12 Biyernes.

Kakaiba ang karanasan si Jay sa ‘Mentor Me’ program dahil nabigyan siya ng daan upang mailabas ang kanilang mga ideya sa negosyo at maranasan ang praktikal na aplikasyon at totoong nangyayari sa merkado.

Para kay Jay, sulit ang 12 Biyernes na kanyang pinagdaanan sa ‘Mentor Me’ program dahil marami siyang natutunan sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng negosyo.

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Natutuwa tayo sa pagbuhos ng suporta ng DTI sa Go Negosyo Act, ang kauna-unahang batas na aking naipasa noong 16th Congress.

Sa ngayon, mayroon nang 270 Negosyo Centers sa buong bansa, ang huli’y binuksan sa Capas, Tarlac kamakailan.

Ang mga Negosyo Center na ito ay handang tumulong upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga papausbong na entrepreneurs at matatagal nang negosyante para sa lalo pa nilang pag-asenso.

Bam eyes safety, livelihood of OFWs

Recognizing their immense contribution in keeping the country’s economy afloat, a senator has filed a measure that aims to ensure the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while abroad and secure their livelihood once they return to the Philippines.

In his Senate Bill No.  648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act, Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to bolster support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

“They aren’t only keeping their loved ones above water financially, they are also keeping the Philippine economy afloat with remittances reaching $16.21 billion or P764 billion from January to August 2015,” Sen. Bam said in his measure.

“Even with their contribution, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers. In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success,” the senator added.

 In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last September 2015, only 38.2 percent of the 563 household‐respondents said that a portion of the money from OFWs are set aside for savings.

“This is very alarming since many OFWs come home without a plan for retirement,” Sen. Bam said.

 The measure mandates the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a help‐desk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.

 “It also sets effective, efficient and credible information dissemination to OFWs on labor, employment, and migration data through various mediums, including social media,” said Sen. Bam.

The measure requires all embassies and consular offices to designate at least one social media officer who will be responsible for the efficient and timely dissemination and communication through social media of pertinent information related to the welfare, protection and security of migrant workers, especially in hotspots and vulnerable areas.

Furthermore, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to truly achieve prosperity for every Filipino family.

“This is our opportunity to show our gratitude for and appreciation to our overseas Filipinos while fulfilling our duty as public servants,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Bam wants simplified tax system and lower taxes for small businesses

Aside from reducing personal income tax, the government must also provide small businesses with lower income tax rate, a simplified process and other privileges to stimulate their growth, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

While he is certain that the personal income tax reform will be passed, Sen. Bam said the government must include tax reform for small businesses in its tax reform package.

“With all the support from the executive, we’re certain the personal income tax reform will be passed. What we should also focus on is the Small Business Tax Reform Act na makakatulong sa mga maliliit na negosyo na nagsisilbing kabuhayan ng maraming pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his Senate Bill No. 169.

Sen. Bam’s bill seeks to provide small businesses with a lower income tax rate, VAT exemption and simplified filing of taxes.

 Under the measure, all small businesses shall be exempt from payment of income tax for the first three years of its operation from date of establishment and will be subjected to lower income tax rates thereafter.

Small businesses earning less than P300,000 will be exempted from income tax while those with income ranging P300,000 up to P10,000,000 will be subjected to a 10-percent income tax rate.

 “This bill also proposes the lowering of the income tax rate for MSEs and an exemption from VAT, among other methods to​ ​help our small businesses grow,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also pushes for simpler bookkeeping, a special lane and assistance desk for MSEs, exemption from tax audit, annual filing of returns, and payment in installment.

 Sen. Bam stressed the need for simpler taxation, saying the Philippines placed 126th out of 189 economies in Ease of Paying Taxes in a joint study by PWC and the World Bank – Paying Taxes 2016.

 “This must change. The Small Business Tax Reform Act will simplify tax procedures and unburden our small businesses of the complex tax process,” said Sen. Bam.

 By streamlining the country’s tax system, it will boost the chances of our local enterprises to succeed and, in turn, generate prosperity and livelihood for more and more Filipinos.

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