Month: November 2016

Senate Bill No. 1211: Philippine Space Act

Rocket ships, astronauts, and scenes from outer space are what often come to mind at the mention of Space Science, but there are much more practicai technologicai appiications to this discipiine that can benefit countries iike the Phiiippines.

In fact, both deveioped and developing countries alike, including our ASEAN neighbors, have respective aeronautics and space agencies to build their own spaceships and join the ranks of space-faring nations.

Little known to many Filipinos is that our country has a number of existing programs related to space scjpnce including PAGASA, which has astronomical science programs; the National Mapping & Resource Information Agency (NAMRIA), which requires gathering satellite information; and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which handles disaster risk management. 

Other applications of space science and technology crucial to our country’s welfare are protection of national territory, natural resources accounting, and capacity building for telecommunications. 

This bill seeks the creation of a Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA), which shall be responsible for creating and enacting our nation’s roadmap toward becoming fully participative in global space activity. 

The PhilSA would be responsible for developing space science technology policies, implementirig research and education programs, and establishing industry linkages between private and public sector stakeholders. Lastly, the PhilSA would be our country’s representation for international space agreements and arbitrations. 

A Philippine Space Agency, with its consolidated programs and strategies for space science and technology, will pave the way for future Filipino astronomers, space scientists, and astronauts by laying down a strong foundation in space science education and research.

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

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Bam: Senate should weigh in on Marcos burial

Believing that the Senate should speak on matters of national importance, Sen. Bam Aquino urged colleagues to collectively weigh in on the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

 “Mahalaga na mayroon tayong sasabihin sa isyu na ito na napakahalaga sa ating bansa. Dahil kapag tahimik tayo, Mr. President, nakakasanay iyong pagiging tahimik, said Sen. Bam.

 “More than the Supreme Court, I think this resolution allows us to voice out the sense of the Senators on the matter,” he added, referring to the SC decision.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement before the Senate voted on the resolution regarding the SC decision on the Marcos burial. The resolution was temporarily shelved after the Senate vote ended in a deadlock.

 “I’m totally in favor of coming up with a decision. It is up to the body to decide whether it’s today, tomorrow, or a week from now. It’s important that we weigh in with our own national mandates and as a collegial body,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam expressed “grave disappointment” over the SC decision allowing the burial of “a corrupt and ruthless dictator in the LNMB”.

“Though we must respect the outcome, my heart goes out to the thousands of victims during the darkest years in Philippine history,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pointed out that the SC decision was focused only on technicality and did not give weight on historical facts.

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam’s interview re SC decision on Marcos burial

Sen. Bam: Hi Karmina, Ron and Barry. Magandang hapon po.

Q: How did you take this decision – the Supreme Court voting 9-5 allowing the burial of the late dictator at the LNMB?

Sen. Bam:  Well, I think it’s pretty obvious that we’re quite disappointed with this decision. Alam mo, Karmina, we were hoping that they wouldn’t just vote on technicalities but they’d take into account how this would affect our history. Now, iyong nabasa kanina ni Atty. Jose regarding how they decided really focused on technicalities, specific provisions na wala naman daw specific provisions na nagsasabi na hindi puwedeng ilibing si Former President Marcos sa Libingan ng mga Bayani.

But I think the petitioners and a lot of people wanted them to go beyond the technicalities and look at how this would affect our history. Napakasayang, napaka-disappointing na ganito ang naging desisyon nila.

 

Q: The Marcoses, they’re saying that with this decision they’re going to be moving on but how are you Senator Bam going to move forward from this decision?

 Sen. Bam: Well, alam mo, matagal na rin itong napag-uusapan. Moving forward is fine. Pero kung titingnan mo naman, wala naman [silang] perang binalik. Wala namang pagpapapatawad na hiningi. Ganun-ganon na lang.

 The Marcoses are really looking at this decision as vindication for them. On one hand, the Supreme Court is looking at technicalities. On the other hand, the Marcos family is looking at vindication. At the end of the day, look at the darkest time in our history kung saan napakaraming humans rights abuses ang nangyari. Napakaraming nakulong. Napakaraming pinatay.

This is the result.

 It’s really disappointing and on our end we had those hearings on how martial law is taught in schools. I guess we will continue to push that. The DepEd has said that they will do their best to teach Martial Law properly in our schools. Mayroon pa rin tayong batas pagdating sa reparation ng mga Martial Law victims na hindi pa napapatupad completely. We’ll focus on that even with this decision. That is how we will move on.

 

Q: As you dissect what happened here, Senator Bam, who dropped the ball here? We’re talking about 27 years of the Marcoses really wanting for this day to come and 27 years as well of sort of miseducation for the younger generation as to the place of the Marcoses in our history. Senator?

 Sen. Bam: Well, this was a campaign promise delivered at the expense of history. If you look at it, inamin naman ni President Duterte na campaign promise niya ito sa mga Marcoses. But it was a campaign promise delivered at the expense of our history.  Because of this decision, ililibing ang isang diktador sa Libingan ng mga Bayani. How crazy is that?

It’s disappointing. It’s against our history kung tutuusin. We’ll see what will happen next, kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na mga araw.

 

Q: We were talking to Mon Casiple awhile ago, Sec. Gen of the Humans Rights group Claimants 1081. He says this decision can be seen as a dimunition of the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. Your thoughts on that?

Sen. Bam: Of course we still have to respect the [code and] core values of government and I made a statement before that we’ll be banking on the Supreme Court to make the right decision on this matter.

 Maybe it would be too much to say that this lessens their power or their authority but I’ll go as far as saying I’m quite disappointed with this decision.

 

Q: Thanks for joining us.

 

Sen. Bam: Maraming salamat.

Bam on SC decision allowing Marcos’ burial in LNMB

We are gravely disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to bury a corrupt and ruthless dictator in the LNMB.

Though we must respect the outcome, my heart goes out to the thousands of victims during the darkest years in Philippine history.

We will carry on our work with the Department of Education to ensure that the truth about martial law is effectively taught in our schools.

With this decision, we need to be even more vigilant that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. Never again.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Tamang payo sa negosyo ngayong Pasko

Mga kanegosyo, damang-dama na natin ang simoy ng Kapaskuhan sa bansa.

Kasabay ng unti-un­ting paglamig ng hangin, nakakakita na rin tayo ng iba’t ibang dekorasyon na nagpapahiwatig na nalalapit na naman ang pagdiriwang ng kapanganakan ni Hesus.

Isa ring senyales ng panahon ng kapaskuhan ang pagsulpot ng kabi-kabilang bazaar at trade fair sa malls, pamilihan at maging mga bakanteng lugar kung saan puwedeng maglagay ng tindahan.

Ang iba nating mga kababayan, paboritong dayuhin ang mga bazaar at trade fairs para mamili ng pamasko dahil bukod sa mura, marami pang produkto at tindahan na pagpipilian.

Maging sa tinatawag na foodie, patok din ang mga ganitong uri ng tindahan dahil marami rin ang nagtitinda ng pagkain na galing pa sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa.

Sa ganitong panahon din, marami ang pumapasok sa negosyo, lalo pa’t alam nila na malakas ang kita sa mga bazaar at trade fairs.

***

Ngunit hindi dapat magpadalus-dalos sa pagpasok sa ganitong uri ng negosyo. Mahalagang alam natin ang susuu­nging sitwasyon bago tayo sumabak dito.

Importanteng mabigyan muna tayo ng tamang payo, sapat na gabay at kaalaman bago tayo sumuong sa pagnenegosyo ngayong Kapaskuhan.

Dito papasok ang mahalagang papel ng Negosyo Centers na nasa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

 

Sa Negosyo Center, mabibigyan ang mga nais magnegosyo ng tamang tulong, suporta at training para magtagumpay ang itatayong negosyo nga­yong kapaskuhan.

Handang tugunan ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng micro, small and medium enterprises, mula sa payo, training, seminar, access sa pautang at iba pang pangangailangan sa pagnenegosyo.

Kaya payo ko sa mga nais magnegosyo nga­yong kapaskuhan, huwag panghinayangan ang kaunting oras na gugugulin sa pagbisita sa N­e­gosyo Center.

Upang malaman ang pinakamalapit na Negosyo Center sa inyong lugar, magtungo sa www.bamaquino.com/gonegosyoact o tumawag sa DTI center sa inyong lugar.

***

Sa huling bilang, mahigit 300 na ang Negosyo Centers sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa at inaasahang madadagdagan pa ito bago matapos ang taon.

Bilang principal a­uthor at sponsor ng R­epublic Act No. 10644 o ng Go Negosyo Act sa Senado, nais nating tulu­ngang magtagumpay ang mga kababayan nating nais magsimula ng sari­ling negosyo at palaguin ang sektor ng MSMES sa bansa.

Maliban sa Go Negosyo Act, ang aking unang batas noong ako’y chairman pa ng Committee on Trade noong 16th Congress, may lima pa ta­yong batas na nakatuon sa pagpapaunlad ng MSMEs sa bansa.

Ito ay ang Philippine Competition Act, Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, Microfinance NGOs Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act at Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act.

Ang pagtulong sa mga kababayan nating nais magnegosyo at sa sektor ng MSME ay matagal na nating ginagawa bago pa man tayo naluklok bilang senador.

Kahit na tayo’y chairman na ng Committee on Education ngayong 17th Congress, tuluy-tuloy pa rin ang pagtupad natin sa adbokasiyang ito.

Bam to gov’t, stakeholders: Join forces to take education to next level

Come together to take our education systems to the next level!
 
This was the challenge issued by Sen. Bam Aquino to concerned government agencies and private stakeholders during the 2016 Philippine Education Summit held Thursday at the SMX Convention Center.
 
“I am hopeful that all stakeholders are willing to work together and focus on producing quality education,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 17th Congress.
 
In the 2017 budget, P650 billion has been earmarked for education, or equivalent to 19 percent of the total budget.
 
Out of this, P567 billion will go to the Department of Education, P75 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and P6.87 billion to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
 
“Now that we have the resources to make a quantum leap in our education sector, let’s come together to take our educational systems to the next level,” Sen. Bam pointed out.
 
However, Sen. Bam said the challenge is to make sure that the budget for education is felt by the public, especially the students in public schools and state colleges and universities (SUCs).
 
During the summit, Sen. Bam also reiterated the Senate’s commitment to support the government’s pursuit to further improve quality of education in the country. 
 
As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of a measure that will give free tertiary education in all SUCs.
 
Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.
 
Sen. Bam has also submitted Senate Bill No. 170 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act that creates an employment office in every senior high school, giving SHS graduates access to available job opportunities.
 
The senator also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

BIDA KA!: Libreng kolehiyo

Mga bida, isa sa mga mahalagang panukalang batas na ating isinusulong bilang chairman ng Committee on Education ay ang libreng edukasyon sa state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Maliban sa inyong lingkod, lima pang senador ang nagsumite ng panukalang gawing libre ang pag-aaral sa SUCs.

Magkakaiba man ang nilalaman at detalye ng mga panukalang ito, iisa lang ang direksiyon na tinutumbok ng mga ito – ang bigyan ng libreng pag-aaral sa SUCs ang mga kapus-palad nating mga kababayan na nais magtapos ng kolehiyo.

***

Noong nakaraang Miyerkules, nagsagawa ng pagdinig ang ating kumite sa mga nasabing panukala. Ang pagdinig na ito ay dinaluhan ng iba’t ibang sektor na nagbigay ng kanilang komento at suhestiyon ukol sa panukalang batas.

Nagpahayag ng pangamba ang ilang sektor, lalo na sa pag-alis ng mga estudyante mula pribadong paaralan kapag ginawang libre ang tuition sa SUCs.

Isa pang pangamba ay kung paano epektibong ipatutupad ang panukala. May mga nagsabing dapat naka-target siya sa tipo ng kurso at may iba namang nagpanukala na nakatuon siya sa kakayahan ng estudyante na magbayad.

May nagbanggit naman na maging may kaya man o wala, basta nasa loob ng SUCs, ay dapat libre na ang edukasyon.

Maliban sa tuition fee, pabor din ang iba na isama sa saklaw ng panukala ang miscellaneous expenses, living expenses at iba pang bayarin upang lubos na makatulong sa mga nanga­ngailangan.

Ito ang ilan lang sa mga isyu na kailangang resolbahin upang matiyak na matutupad nito ang hangarin nating mabigyan ng libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo ang mahihirap ngunit determinado nating mga kababayan.

Kaya nakatakda pang magsagawa ng ilang technical working group ang kumite kasama ang iba’t ibang sektor upang mapag-usapan at maplantsa ang mga mabusising isyu.

***

Subalit sa dami ng mga sumusuporta sa libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo, tiwala ako na maisasabatas ito sa loob ng isang taon.

Sa huling tala, nasa P9 bilyon ang koleksiyon ng SUCs mula sa tuition fee ngunit sa aking palagay, hindi ito ang dapat tingnan.

Mas dapat bigyang bigat ng pamahalaan ay tulungan ang mga kabataan nating kapus-palad ngunit determinadong mag-aral na makatapos ng kolehiyo.

Sabi nga, dapat pagbuhusan ng pondo ang mga prayoridad na proyekto at programa ng gobyerno.

At kung mahalaga ang edukasyon, nararapat nga itong paglaanan ng pondo upang ang lahat ay makinabang, lalo na ang mahihirap.

***

Maliban sa libreng edukasyon sa kolehiyo, isa pa nating adbokasiya ay ang lalo pang pagpapaganda ng kalidad ng edukasyon sa ating mga SUCs.

Kumbaga, ang libreng edukasyon sa SUCs ay nakatuon sa pagbibigay ng access o pagkakataon sa mga mahihirap na makatapos ng kolehiyo.

Subalit hiwalay nating isinusulong ay ang lalo pang pagpapaganda sa sistema ng edukasyon sa SUCs sa pamamagitan ng mahahalagang reporma.

Kabilang sa mga repormang ito ay ang paglalaan ng pondo para sa mga dagdag na suweldo at benepisyo para sa mga guro at kailangang pasilidad at kagamitan ng SUCs.

Maliban pa rito, dapat ding tiyakin na ang mga kursong iaalok ng SUCs ay nakakonekta sa mga industriya upang mas madali ang paghahanap ng trabaho ng graduates.

Ito’y ilan lang sa ating mga tututukan at tatrabahuin bilang chairman ng Committee on Education ngayong 17th Congress.

Bam to Christmas Negosyos: Visit Negosyo Center for advice, support

Sen. Bam Aquino encouraged traders to visit a Negosyo Center first to get proper advice, guidance and training as they embark on a business venture this Christmas season.

“Ngayong kapaskuhan, maraming magtatayo ng bazaar sa pamilihan at mall, kaya inaasahan natin na maraming negosyante ang sasali sa mga ito,” said Sen. Bam, principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in the Senate.

“Sa lahat ng gustong sumabak sa negosyo, maaasahan niyo ang tulong at suporta ng mga Negosyo Center,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress.

 At present, over 300 Negosyo Centers are now established in different parts of the country to cater to the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises.  The number is expected to rise before the year ends.

 The Go Negosyo Act, the first law passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress, mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

 The Negosyo Center will provide access to bigger markets and financing for businesses, training programs, and a simplified business registration process thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

Aside from the Go Negosyo Act, Sen. Bam has five other laws focused on the development of MSMEs in the country.

 These are the landmark Philippine Competition Act, Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, Microfinance NGOs Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act and Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act.

To know the Negosyo Center near you, visit https://www.bamaquino.com/gonegosyoact/negosyo-center-tracker/.         

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Burahin ang 5-6

Mga kanegosyo, isa tayo sa mga natuwa sa kampanya ng pamahalaan kontra “5-6” o iyong mga nagpapautang na sobra ang laki ng tubo.

Karaniwang biktima nito ang mga mahihirap na Pilipino na napipilitang kumapit sa patalim sa mataas na interes dahil walang ibang malapitan.

Apektado rin nito ang mga maliliit na negosyante na nahihirapang makautang sa mga bangko o mga lending companies dahil sa higpit ng requirements at hinihinging collateral.

Dahil walang ibang malapitan, kumakagat na rin sa pain ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa mga nagpapa-5-6.

Ang hindi nila alam, sa laki ng interes na ipinapataw ng 5-6, para lang nilang binuhay ang nagpautang sa kanila.

Kaya ang iba, napipilitan na lang magsara dahil lahat ng kinita ay napunta lang sa 5-6, imbes na sa pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan ng pamilya at sa pagpapalago ng negosyo.

***

Isa sa mga susi upang mapalakas ang layuning ito ng pamahalaan ay ang Microfinance NGOs Act o Republic Act 10693.

Ang nasabing batas ay tumutulong sa mga MFI NGOs na nagbibigay ng pautang na mababa ang interes at walang collateral sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan at mga nais mag-umpisa ng negosyo.

Kabilang sa mga natulungan ng Microfinance Institutions (MFI) NGOs ay si Aling Recy, na may negosyong angels figurine at ceramic display.

 

Upang maumpisahan ang kanyang negosyo, nangutang si Aling Recy ng puhunan sa isang 5-6. Pero ‘di nagtagal, napansin niya na wala silang napapalang mag-asawa dahil sa laki ng tubo ng kanilang inutang.

Kaya naghanap sila ng ibang pagkukunan ng puhunan na mas mababa ang interes. Masuwerte naman at natagpuan nila ang microfinance NGO na Kasagana-ka Development Center, Inc. (KDCI).

Ayon kay Aling Recy, malayung-malayo ang karanasan nila sa 5-6 kumpara sa KDCI. Sa MFI NGOs, sinabi ni Aling Recy na magaan na ang kanilang hulog, mahaba pa ang palugit.

***

Ang Microfinance NGOs Act o Republic Act 10693 ay isinulong ko sa Senado bilang co-author at principal sponsor nang ako pa’y chairman ng Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship noong 16th Congress.

Bigay ng MFI NGOs sa mga mahihirap na Pilipino ang pautang na mababa ang interes at walang collateral na maaari nilang ipambayad sa upa, serbisyong medical at sa pag-aaral at puhunan sa maliit na negosyo.

***

Tinutulungan din ng MFI NGOs ang mga Pilipino na makaahon sa kahirapan, hindi lang sa pamamagitan ng pautang, kundi pati na rin sa financial literacy, livelihood at entrepreneurship training.

Binibigyan naman ng batas ang microfinance NGOs ng kailangang suporta at insentibo, kabilang ang access sa mga programa at proyekto ng pamahalaan, technical assistance at malinaw na sistema ng pagbubuwis.

Mga kanegosyo, noong 2013, nakapagpautang ang MFI NGOs na miyembro ng Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) ng kabuuang P15.26 bilyon sa 2.7 milyong micro-entrepreneurs.

Sa Microfinance NGOs Act, mayroon nang mabisang sandata ang pamahalaan upang mailayo ang ating mga kababayan sa 5-6.

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