Month: February 2018

Minority senators demand: #FreeLeilaNow

Minority senators have joined calls for the “immediate release” of opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima, who will mark her first year of illegal arrest and unjust detention on Saturday, February 24.
 
They filed late Wednesday Senate Resolution (SR) No. 645 making an impassioned call for the freedom of De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime.  
 
“As her colleagues at the Senate, we are pained by the reality that a member of this Chamber is locked up in jail on trumped-up charges when she should be here with us, engaging in productive discussions, legislating laws, and serving her constituents and our country,” they said. 
 
The resolution was signed by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes IV, Bam Aquino, and Risa Hontiveros.
 
They noted that De Lima’s continued unjust detention was instigated by her investigation of the Davao Death Squad as then chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and later investigation of the spate of extra-judicial killings (EJKs) in the country as a senator — which earned the ire of then Davao Mayor and now President Duterte.
 
De Lima’s colleagues nevertheless lauded her spirit, which remains unbroken despite Duterte’s effort to tarnish her reputation and oppress her. 
 
“The road to her incarceration was tormenting — revealing in public her intimate relationships, publicly shaming her by threatening to screen in the House of Representatives her alleged sex videos, and branding her an immoral woman,” they said.
 
“Only a tenacious person with an unshakable resolve like Senator De Lima can withstand all these, unbowed, unbent, and unbroken,” they added.
 
The five senators acknowledged the increasing number of organizations and human rights advocates who have launched petitions seeking her freedom from incarceration.
 
They cited a March 2017 resolution by the European Parliament in Strasbourg calling for “the immediate release of Senator De Lima” and the Geneva-based Inter-Parliamentary Union’s call for her freedom in a report prepared by its human rights committee, among others.
 
“In the narrow confines of her detention cell and under restrictive conditions in the PNP Custodial Center, her physical body has deteriorated; only her dogged spirit to carry on is keeping her alive,” they said.
The same senators filed SR No. 505 in September 2017 asking the Senate leadership to allow De Lima to participate in the sessions and deliberations of important legislative measures. The resolution has not been acted upon. 

Sen. Bam to executive: Implement free college before Cha-cha propaganda

Why focus on Charter change over free tuition law?

 Senator Bam Aquino questioned the Commission on Higher Education’s move to use state universities and colleges (SUCs) to push the government’s Charter change agenda, especially when they have yet to implement the free college law.

Instead of promoting Charter change, Sen. Bam said it would be best for CHED to pour resources into refunding the tuition fees and miscellaneous fees collected by state universities and colleges (SUCs) during the second semester of academic year 2017-2018 and ensure the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Gawing prayoridad sana ng CHED ang pagtulong sa mga estudyante ng ating public universities and colleges. Unahin natin ang pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo imbis na gumastos para sa propaganda ng Charter Change,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

Sen. Bam issued the pronouncement after CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera revealed his plan to conduct a massive information drive in SUCs nationwide to help the youth fully understand Charter change.

 Sen. Bam has been urging the CHED to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18, saying that the legislative intent was to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

Also, Sen. Bam said the CHED itself assured the Senate during the budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

Last Monday, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which rallied the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law.

 Principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.  Under the law, students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.

 The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam to CHED: Heed Senate’s call to implement free college law ASAP

Senator Bam Aquino urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to heed the Senate’s call to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18 to help alleviate the plight of Filipino families.

 Last Monday, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which rallied the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law.

 “Nagkaisa ang Senado na manawagan sa CHED na gawing libre na ang tuition pati miscellaneous fees sa SUCs, ipatupad na ang batas as soon as possible,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

“Hindi nila napatupad sa napagkasunduang timeline, kaya ang kompromiso natin ay refund. Dapat lang ibalik ng mga SUC ang anumang tuition fee at miscellaneous fee na siningil nila sa mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam added.

 Sen. Bam reiterated that during the bicameral conference committee for RA 10931, representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

In addition, Sen. Bam reminded CHED of its assurance during the budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

“May pondo na, ito ang gusto ng parehong executive at ng legislative, nararapat lang na ipatupad na ng CHED ang libreng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.  Under the law, students of both public and private college and universities can also apply  for scholarship grants and student loans.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

 

Sen. Bam: PH Rise is not for China to name

Benham Rise is clearly Philippine territory and its features are not for China to name.

It is only right that the government counter any further moves to name features of our territory and propose remedies for the two formally named by China through the International Hydrographic Organization.

I hope that the hearing I will chair on February 26 will bring clarity to the issue and help determine next steps.

It is imperative that we protect our territory from any foreign interest.

Dapat nang magkaroon ng matibay at malinaw na plano ang pamahalaan sa Philippine Rise, lalo ngayong unti-unti nang kumikilos ang China para ito’y angkinin.

Huwag nating isuko na parang West Philippine Sea ang napakahalagang yamang ito.

Sen. Bam challenges Congress to pass anti-political dynasty law before any Cha-cha talks

Senator Bam Aquino has filed a measure seeking to prohibit political dynasties in the country, stressing that the passage of an anti-dynasty law is a necessary precursor to any moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.

 “Kailangan nating ipasa ang anti-political dynasty law nang mabilisan, lalo na ngayong may banta ng Cha-Cha at pinipilit ang Pederalismo,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 1688.

“I call on Congress to pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Act before any moves towards Federalism,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said that no less than the 1987 Constitution itself prohibits political dynasties, but there is a need for an implementing law to enforce it.

 “There are already 6 anti-political dynasty bills filed and we have the Constitution on our side. I am confident we will have the votes to pass an anti-political dynasty law in the Senate,” Sen. Bam affirmed.

If passed into law, Senate Bill No. 1688 will prohibit the spouse, or any person related within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking re-election from holding or running for any elective office in the same province in the same election.

 If the incumbent elective official is a national one, the aforementioned relatives shall be disqualified from running only within the same province where the former is registered voter.

If none of the candidates are related to an incumbent elective official but are related to one another within the said prohibited degree, they and their spouses, shall be disqualified from holding or running for any local elective office within the same province in the same election.

 In all cases, no person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to the incumbent official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter.

 Sen. Bam hopes an anti-political dynasty law will give the Filipino people a greater variety of candidates to vote for, with new names, faces, platforms and solutions for the country.

 “We must encourage and empower more excellent Filipinos with a passion for service, to run for office and change the Philippine government from within,” said Sen. Bam.

Sponsorship Speech on the Full Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

P.S. RESOLUTION NO. 620

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE 

FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS 

OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT BY ADMINISTERING AND AFFORDING THE STUDENTS 

FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES AT THE START 

OF THE SECOND SEMESTER OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018 

  

  

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV 
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, February 12, 2018

  

Good afternoon, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. 

It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor a Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Immediate Implementation of the Provisions of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by administering and affording the students free tuition and other school fees, including this current semester, which is the second semester of Academic Year 2017-2018. 

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2017, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining all of us to stand behind free college education in the Philippines, as principal sponsor of the now enacted Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, 

 Thanks to your support and thanks to the hard work and strong will of a great number of advocates in and outside Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines ratified this landmark bill on May 30, 2017. 

On August 3, 2017, Mr. President, amidst rumors and threats of a veto, the President signed this revolutionary reform into law as Republic Act No. 10931. 

Mr. President and fellow lawmakers, I remember how we all worked together and crossed  party lines to champion education in the Philippines! 

 Together, we enacted a progressive new policy that prohibits our public universities and colleges from charging their students tuition fees and other school fees. 

 Sa totoo lang, Mr. President, pag binabalita ko po ito sa mga estudyante at magulang, hindi po sila makapaniwala na wala na silang babayaran sa kolehiyo. 

 Sa mga hindi pa po makakapaniwala, totoo po! Naisabatas na po noong August 3 at naging effective ng August 18! Bawal na mangolekta ng tuition fees at miscellaneous fees ang mga state universities at colleges sa ating bansa. 

 And more than this, Mr. President, on December 19, 2017, the General Appropriations Act was signed and sealed with a 41-billion-peso allotment for the implementation of this landmark legislation. 

— 

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we all know that we secured significant funding to cover this law. 

 In fact as early as 2016, thanks to our colleagues Sen. Lacson and budget chairperson, Sen. Legarda, an 8.3 billion peso budget was inserted into the 2017 General Appropriations Act. 

Thanks to this insertion, all 112 state universities and colleges eliminated the tuition fee charge for about 1.6 million students! 

 Take note Mr. President, dito sa P8.3 bilyon na ito, mayroon pa ring natitirang 4.9 billion na nasa budget allocation pong ito.

 This year, Mr. President, there is an additional 41 billion pesos in the 2018 budget to ensure that our countrymen will receive the full benefit of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. 

 Mr. President, this P41 billion is divided into two. 17.7 billion pesos for our newly created Tertiary Education Subsidy for college scholarships, and this can be availed of by students from both public and private universities. Of course, the remodeled and improved student loan program. 

 Of course, Mr. President, and more importantly, we have 23.3 billion pesos to cover tuition fees and other school fees, like miscellaneous fees, in our SUCs, LUCs and TESDA-run technical vocational schools. 

 Mr. President, this astounding 23.3 billion pesos can fund, not only the current second semester of Academic Year 2017-18, this the ongoing semester right now Mr. President, but it can also fund Academic School Year 2018-19. In short, sobra-sobra pa ang nailaan natin para sa budget sa libreng kolehiyo sa bansa.

— 

 Mr. President, the question is no longer should provide students with a free college education. The answer, Mr. President is yes because we passed the law. The question, Mr. President, is no longer whether we can afford it because in the 2018 GAA, sobra-sobra pa, from the 2017 GAA, mayroong P4-plus billion pang natitira. 

 The question, Mr. President is when? When will we implement this landmark law kung saan tayo nagkaisa at pinasa ang nakapagandang batas na ito? Kailan?

 When will our public universities and colleges provide free tuition and free miscellaneous expenses for the benefit of the students? 

When will this landmark law be fully implemented in out country? 

Pasado na ang batas. Napondohan na sa national budget at sapat na sapat ito.

 Kailan makikinabang ang mga estudyante, ang mga pamilyang Pilipino; kailan po makikinabang ang taumbayan sa libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa?

— 

 Noong January 26, sinabi po ng CHED na sa Academic Year 2018-2019 pa raw ipapatupad ang libreng kolehiyo, which includes tuition and school fees.

 Ngunit, Mr. President, noong bicameral conference, at marami sa atin ang nandoon, and this was chaired by Sen. Escudero, nagkasundo ang kumite na on the record, nilagay natin na ang intensiyon ng mambabatas ay kasama ang 2nd semester sa implementation ng batas.

Sa ating nakalaang 2018 budget, Mr. President, kasama po ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees ng kasalukuyang semester sa ating napondohan. Alam ho natin ito dahil kasama natin ang CHED.

Senator Legarda can attest to this. We worked with CHED to include the second semester and the language needed to include the current semester in the 2018 budget.

In short, Mr. President, wala tayong nakikitang funding or legal requirement kung bakit hindi sinasama ang current semester sa implementation ng ating batas. Hindi po pondo ang problema, hindi po legalities and problema, ang problema, hindi ito ipinatutupad ng CHED.

 Mr. President, we witnessed this CHED employees and our LBRMO, through our office, worked together during the budget deliberations to ensure that the language of the budget provision allows for the fund to be used to cover tuition and other school fees for this current semester.

In short, napag-usapan poi to at binoto po natin ito when we passed the GAA. 

So, Mr. President, ang tanong – kailan ba talaga natin ipapatupad ang batas? 

 When will our students and their families experience the financial relief of a free college education? 

 Mr. President, CHED says tomorrow. But with the sense of the Senate resolution signed by practically everybody here in the Senate, we say, yesterday!  Yesterday, Mr. President, dapat napatupad na.

— 

 Yesterday, Mr. President, I went through videos, photos and stories of students who dream of a college education and of course, the parents who work tirelessly to make it happen. 

Na-meet ko Mr. President si Nanay Joana, isang microfinance beneficiary sa Batangas. Mr. President, pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ang dalawa niyang anak kaya naman todo ang pagkayod ni Nanay Joana na nagtitinda ng samu’t saring produkto, nangungutang para makapagbayad ng tuition at iba pang school fees para sa kanyang anak sa Batangas State University.

Nandoon po si Aling Susana ng Zambales.  Siya’y mayroong apat na anak. Dalawa ang hindi na nakapagtuloy sa kolehiyo ngunit ang dalawa ay pursigido magtapos ng college. 

Dalawang taon nang tumigil ang kaniyang pangatlong anak ng pag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan sa buhay. Sa dalawang taon pong iyon, nag-ipon ang pamilya, nagtiyaga sa pangingisda, pagtatanim at pagbebenta ng kanilang ani. 

 Dahil sa libreng tuition, nag-aral na ng automotive course sa Ramon Magsaysay Technological University ang kaniyang anak na lalaki na 21 years old. Ito ang pinakabata ngunit nahihirapan pa rin at kailangan pa rin ng ayuda para matustusan ang lahat ng gastos.

Naririyan din si Kuya Noli, isang security guard sa Iloilo. Noong nagpunta ako kung saan siya nagtatrabaho, nabanggit ko sa isang interview na magiging libre na ang kolehiyo.  Sa kaniyang tuwa, napasigaw siya ng, “Buti na lang!” kasi mayroon siyang dalawang anak sa college.

Kahit nagtatrabaho siya bilang security at ang kanyang asawa ay labas-pasok bilang overseas Filipino, nahihirapan pa rin silang mabayaran ang gastos sa bahay at sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak. 

 “Sa libreng tuition,” sabi ni Kuya Noli, “magkakaroon na ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak namin at makakatulong rin sila sa aming pamilya.” 

 Mr. President, umaasa po sina Nanay Joana, Aling Susana, Kuya Noli, at napakarami pang magulang sa kapangyarihan ng edukasyon. 

Umaasa sila sa oportunidad na mabuksan ng isang college degree para sa kanilang anak ang isang mas magandang bukas.

Araw-araw, buwan-buwan, taon-taon, sila’y kumakayod upang matustusan ang gastos sa bahay at mapaaral ang kanilang mga anak. 

Mr. President, kailangan nating tularan ang mga magulang na ito. Tulad po nila, pangalagahan natin ang edukasyon at manalig na ito’y isang mabisang solusyon upang matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bayan. 

Tulad ng mga mabubuting magulang na iyan, gawin po natin ang lahat upang mapaaral ng kolehiyo ang ating mga kabataan. 

 Let’s take inspiration from these stories, from the work that they put in, from the love that they give to their children, and countless Filipino families who work together, who exhaust all opportunities just to achieve a dream of prosperity. 

— 

  

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2016, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining you to stand behind free college education in the Philippines. And of course, everybody responded.

 This, Mr. President, if I’m not mistaken is still one of our priority bills in the 17th Congress. Many of us, Mr. President, took a stand and said we will pass free college education in the Philippines. Today, with the sense of the Senate, we take another stand to say that we want this implemented right now. Ngayon na po.

Mr. President, with my co-authors who I’d like to thank again — Senators Recto, Villanueva, Ejercito, Gatchalian, Pangilinan, Angara, Legarda, De Lima, Villar, Zubiri, Gordon and of course Senators Lacson and Legarda for the first budget allocation in 2017.

I would like to thank everyone from getting behind the sense of the Senate and to show our country that we stand behind our students who wish to get free education.

We stand especially for the parents and the breadwinners who worked non-stop so that their children can achieve their dreams.

I call on all of us to unite and demand for the full implementation of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Sen. Bam calls on CHED, SUCs to refund students for tuition and miscellaneous fees

Senator Bam Aquino wants state universities and colleges (SUCs) to refund the fees they collected from students in the second semester of school year 2017-18 with the free college law now in effect.

In a radio interview, Sen. Bam said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should be implementing Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act for the second semester of Academic Year 2017-18.

Sen. Bam said some SUCs have already complied with the law and stopped collecting tuition and other fees from students. However, there were some schools which continue to do so despite the law’s enactment, possibly due to lack of funds.

“Mayroon nang mga SUCs ang hindi nangolekta ngayong semester. Sa mga nangolekta na, ang gusto natin ay i-refund ang ibinayad ng mga estudyante at kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931 in the Senate.

During the interview, Sen. Bam renewed his call to CHED to fully implement RA 10931, saying Filipino families need it more than ever, especially amid the rising prices in goods and services due to the passage of the tax reform law.

“Kung tutulong tayo, huwag nang magtimpi. Lubus-lubusin na ang tulong, ipatupad na ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees,” stressed Sen. Bam.

On Monday, the Senate unanimously supported Sen. Bam’s push for the full and immediate implementation of RA 10931 in the second semester of school year 2017-18.

After Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed, the senators adopted it immediately.

In Senate Resolution No. 620, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law, in light of the announcement of a June 2018 implementation by CHED.

During his sponsorship speech, Sen. Bam said that representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by November 2017 during the bicameral conference committee on Republic Act 10931.

Sen. Bam also insisted that during the budget deliberation for Republic Act 10931, the CHED-UNIFAST declared to the members of the Senate that the P41 billion budget allocation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

The commitment was contrary to the latest statement by CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera that it plans to fully implement the law stating June 2018 for Academic Year 2018-19, with CHED still in the process of finalizing the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

Sen. Bam believes that with RA 10931 now in effect and an approved budget to support its execution, there’s no reason for CHED not to attend to its immediate implementation.

Sen. Bam rallies Senate to support full, immediate implementation of free college

Senator Bam Aquino enjoined his colleagues to push for the full and immediate implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act at the start of the second semester of school year 2017-18.

 “Let’s push for the fulfillment of the free college law and relieve our students and their family members of financial burdens,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the free college law, during his sponsorship speech of Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed recently.

 In Senate Resolution No. 620, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law, in light of the announcement of a June 2018 implementation by Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 “Students in public universities and colleges have the right to demand for the implementation of the free college law. Naisabatas at may pondo na ito,” asserted Sen. Bam.

 According to the senator, representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by November 2017 during the bicameral conference committee on Republic Act 10931.

Sen. Bam also insisted that during the budget deliberation for Republic Act 10931, the CHED-UNIFAST declared to the members of the Senate that the P41 billion budget allocation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

The commitment was contrary to the latest statement by CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera that it plans to fully implement the law stating June 2018 for Academic Year 2018-19, with CHED still in the process of finalizing the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

 “The non-issuance of IRR should not prevent the Executive faithfully executing the law. Ano pa ang hinihintay natin,” Sen. Bam pointed out in his resolution.

Sen. Bam believes that with RA 10931 now in effect and an approved budget to support its execution, there’s no reason for CHED not to attend to its immediate implementation.

After his speech, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s resolution.

 The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

Scholarship grants and student loans will also be made available to students of both public and private college and universities.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

Sen. Bam expresses concern after study cites PH as 3rd most ignorant nation on key issues

A senator stressed the need to strengthen the fight against fake news and ramp up quality education efforts to keep Filipinos, especially our youth, fully aware of the issues hounding the country.

This was emphasized by Sen. Bam Aquino as he expressed concern over the survey that ranked the Philippines third among countries “most ignorant” on their nation’s key issues, based on a study by news website Indy100.

The survey also ranked Filipinos third among those most confident, despite giving inaccurate answers. South Africa topped the survey while Brazil ranked second. In 2016, the Philippines ranked 16th in the survey participated in by 38 countries.

“Clearly, we need to strengthen quality education and launch a solid attack on disinformation and fake news,” said Sen. Bam.

“Maraming Pilipino ang nalilito sa datos at hindi na nakikilala ang katotohanan. This is even more distressing when we consider how Filipinos resort to threats and hate speech online instead of reasonably discussing opposing views,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said that the survey should be a lesson in humility for all Filipinos, saying we should check our facts and genuinely listen to one another instead of turning hostile.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam conducted a hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools to fight spread of fake news on social media.

In the said hearing, Sen. Bam urged different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling and spread of misinformation on social media.

Sen. Bam has also urged the Philippine Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to seriously tackle the problem of online disinformation and fake news sites during the recent fake news hearing at the Senate.

Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of the free college law and is an advocate for access to quality education in the Philippines.

Sen. Bam fears TRAIN is killing jobs, livelihood opportunities

Apart from rising prices of goods and services, a senator is dismayed that the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law is leading to less jobs for Filipinos, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“We are now feeling the effects of TRAIN, not just on prices of goods, but also on jobs of thousands of Filipinos. The government is duty bound to cushion the blows of heavy taxes on jobs and employment,” said Sen. Bam.

“Natatakot ako para sa kabuhayan ng pamilyang Pilipino. Kailangan solusyunan ito ASAP,” Sen. Bam added.

Recently, Coca-Cola FEMSA Philippines Inc. announced that it will trim down its workforce in light of the passage of the TRAIN Law that imposes P6 per liter excise tax on beverages using caloric and non-caloric sweeteners and P12 per liter on beverages using high-fructose corn syrup. Reports have it that 600 workers from various units of Coca-Cola will be laid off.

Also, Sen. Bam said that several BPOs are relocating, aborting expansion, or re-shoring workers due to the effects of the TRAIN Law.

To safeguard livelihood for Filipinos working in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, Sen. Bam pushed for the retention of a special tax rate for regional operating headquarters and regional headquarters (ROHQs/RHQs) during the TRAIN’s period of amendments. However, the provision was vetoed by Malacanang, much to the dismay of the BPO sector.

The veto will lead to an increase in cost of doing business, which will affect the status of 5,000 workers and will prevent other BPOs from setting up shop to provide more jobs for Filipinos.

 “These RHQs invested in the Philippines because of these tax incentives, which were suddenly removed by our government. Bakit pa sila mamumuhunan dito at paano pa sila magtitiwala sa gobyerno,” Sen. Bam questioned.

Among those who aborted expansion plans upon the removal of the preferential tax rate is a large global outsourcing hub for technology services. The expansion would have provided up to 400 fresh job to Filipinos.

Sen. Bam also mentioned that a big ROHQ will close its operations in the Philippines this coming year. 

Instead of focusing solely on revenue-generation, Sen. Bam said the government must work with the private sector to boost job creation and strengthening job security, especially with rising prices due to their new tax policies.

 “Importanteng ipatupad na ang cash transfer, pero pansamantalang solusyon lang ito. Livelihood, jobs, sapat na kita para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino ang nararapat na prayoridad ng pamahalaan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam is the former chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship and passed several measures to provide livelihood by supporting small, local businesses in the country. He is also the principal sponsor of the free college law passed last year.

Sen. Bam voted no to the ratification of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

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