Month: December 2017

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Guarantee financial assistance before price increase

Senator Bam Aquino urged the government to ensure that financial assistance for the poor through the cash transfer program is implemented by the time the tax reform program is rolled out.
 
“Mahihirap na pamilya ang masasagasaan ng tax reform dahil sa pagtaas ng bilihin. Kaya dapat talagang isabay ang financial assistance sa pagpapatupad ng TRAIN sa Enero 2018 kapag ito’y naisabatas,” Sen. Bam said in a radio interview.
 
Sen. Bam was referring to the financial assistance that will be given to poor Filipino families to help them absorb the brunt of the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) once it is enacted into law and implemented in January 2018.
 
Under the Senate version of financial assistance, poor families will be given P300 a month for three years.
 
During the period of amendments, Sen. Bam worked for the retention of the financial assistance program in the Senate version of the measure and pushed for its implementation on January 2018 to help the poor Filipinos bear the brunt of the expected increase in prices of basic commodities and services.
 
However, the Department of Finance (DOF) said it cannot implement the cash transfer program and the TRAIN at once but will try to do so.
 
Even the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) stated that they cannot roll out the cash transfer program in January 2018, as they still need to finalize the database of families, among other preparations.
 
“Sana makita natin sa final version na magkasabay ang programang iyan para sa mahihirap. Kung may mangyayaring pagtaas ng presyo, dapat kasabay sa Enero ang tulong na ibibigay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Kailangan masiguro natin na may makukuhang suporta ang ating mga mahihirap na kababayan na magsisilbing pambalanse sa mga epekto ng panukalang ito, kabilang na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” Sen. Bam added.
 
Aside from the financial assistance, Sen. Bam pushed for the amendment to exempt micro-enterprises from paying the 3% percentage tax, on top of their income tax exemption.
 
With Sen. Bam’s amendment, micro-entrepreneurs like sari-sari stores, vendors, and farmers would enjoy tax-free status and be spared from harassment by tax agents. The senator also proposed to simplify bookkeeping records and requirements for micro businesses. Sen. Bam’s amendments would come at no additional cost to the government.

Sen. Bam pushes for more players in internet, telco sector

In celebration of the World Competition Day, Sen. Bam Aquino announced that the Senate is moving forward with measures to remove barriers to competition in telecommunications and data transmission services.
 
“I am happy to announce that the Senate will start tackling the Open Access Bill in my Committee next week.” said Sen. Bam Aquino, the principal author of Senate Bill No. 171, otherwise known as the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill.
 
On Tuesday, the Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Sen. Aquino, will hold its first hearing on the Open Access in Data Transmission Bill, which will formulate regulations to encourage the entry of more players in different segments of our telecommunications and data transmission industry, while ensuring that safeguards are in place to maintain fair competition.”
 
“The price of internet service in our country has been tagged as one of the most expensive in our region. Healthy competition is our best bet to promote affordability and finally improve services for the Filipino consumers,” said Sen. Bam, who is the principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act in the Senate during the 16th Congress.
 
It was during Sen. Bam’s tenure as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship that the Philippine Competition Act was passed into law. This landmark legislation took twenty-five (25 years) to pass.
 
The Philippine Competition Act is expected to eliminate cartels, and penalize anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the markets that lead to high prices of goods and services.
 
In addition, the law promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs.
 
The measure will also prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the Philippines.

Sen. Bam calls on stakeholders, leaders to unite for education reform

After the passage of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Sen. Bam Aquino called on different education stakeholders and leaders to unite and work together for education reform to give more Filipino students a chance at a better future. 
 
“Now that we’ve passed our major reform, giving more Filipinos access to a college education through the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, we must move to strengthen the quality of education in the country,” said Sen. Bam during his speech at the 2017 Philippine Education Summit. 
 
At the event, various stakeholders including the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Deveopment Authority (TESDA) presented their accomplishments over the past year, the challenges that lay ahead and their plans to improve access to quality education in the Philippines. 
 
“Let’s work together to ensure that there is a seamless transition from student to employee or entrepreneur through strong academic-industry linkages,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam worked with stakeholders in the crafting of reforms that can give more Filipinos access to quality education. 
 
While his chairmanship was a short one, Sen. Bam spearheaded the passage of one of the most important education reforms in the country –Republic Act 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he pushed in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author. 
 
The law provides free education to students in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and TESDA-run vocational schools. Aside from tuition fees, the government will shoulder miscellaneous and all other mandatory fees. 
 
Scholarship grants will be made available to students of both public and private college and universities. It also provides a new and improved student loan program, where students can apply for financing for other education expenses. 
 
In addition, students taking post-graduate studies can avail of the new and improved student loan program and scholarships under the law. 
 
During his speech, Sen. Bam has given his commitment to ensure that the law will be funded and implemented properly to ensure that “every Filipino has access to quality education and better opportunities to make a living.”

Sen. Bam pushes for more opportunities for PWDs

As the world celebrates International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday (Dec. 3), Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated the call for the passage of his two measures that support Filipino PWDs and provide them with the needed assistance.

“We need to ensure that our PWDs are given proper assistance and opportunities to make a living,” said Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 356 and 1249 in the 17th Congress.

 Under Senate Bill No. 1249, government agencies and private offices must allot two and one percent of their workforce, respectively, to PWDs.

“This bill seeks to create more job opportunities for PWDs in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits and employment terms for PWDs as any other qualified employee,” Sen. Bam said.

 Senate Bill No. 356 aims to provide mandatory Philhealth coverage for PWDs, to ensure that their health is protected.

 “Social services should be provided to those with the least in society. Health services should be provided to those who need it the most,” Sen. Bam said, referring to Senate Bill No. 356.

 The two measures aim to amend Republic Act 7277 or the “Magna Carta for Persons with Disability” to accommodate the latest benefits and privileges for PWDs.

 In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam worked for the welfare of PWDs as co-author of Republic Act 10754 in the Senate. The law exempts PWDs from paying the value added tax (VAT) and gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

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