Month: July 2018

Sen. Bam on the Bangsamoro Basic Law

Binabati at pinasasalamatan natin ang lahat ng nagtaguyod sa peace process,  sa mga principal sponsors, co-sponsors at sa aking mga co-authors sa Kongreso, at lahat ng nagtrabaho para buuin ang Bangsamoro Organic Law.
 
Ang pagpasa ng BBL ay malaking hakbang tungong kapayapaan at  pagpuksa sa tunay nating kalaban, ang kahirapan.
 
Ngayon, kailangan nating magkaisa upang siguraduhin na mapakikinabangan ng mga pamilya sa Bangsamoro region ang batas na ito.
 
Bantayan natin na maabot ng makasaysayang repormang ito ang mga matatayog na hangarin na kapayapaan at kaunlaran para sa mga kapatid nating Bangsamoro.

Sen. Bam: Patay ang Cha-Cha kung walang suporta ng Senado

Sen. Bam Aquino insisted that any attempt by the House of Representatives to revise the 1987 Constitution without the Senate’s participation is unconstitutional. 

 “Anumang hakbang na gawin ng Kamara para baguhin ang Saligang Batas na hindi kasama ang Senado ay unconstitutional,” Sen. Bam asserted during the hearing of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments on the draft federal charter submitted by the consultative committee. 

Sen. Bam’s view was supported by several members of the consultative committee, including its chairman, retired Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno, retired Associate Justice Eduardo Nachura and former Senate President Aquilino Pimentel. 

 “I expressed my personal opinion that the voting should be done separately by both Houses of Congress and I gave my reasons for that opinion,” said Puno, adding that he based his opinion on historical reasons and coherent reading of the different provisions of the 1987 Constitution.  

“It cannot be done na sila lang,” said Pimentel, referring to the House of Representatives.  

Nachura, for his part, said that he wrote a book about Constitutional law, where he stated that voting should be done separately. Other members of the consultative committee — professors Julio Teehankee and Edmund Tayao – also supported the views of their senior colleagues. 

Sen. Bam Aquino also stood firm on his stand against the postponement of the 2019 elections.  

“Ang eleksyon ay haligi ng demokrasya. Kapag binuwag mo pa ang haliging iyon, baka gumuho ang demokrasya natin,” said Sen. Bam.

“A number of us have already said that we are not in favor of postponing the elections,” Sen. Bam added, referring to his colleagues in the Senate.

Sen. Bam: Unahin ang Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas presyo, suspindihin na ang TRAIN Law

Senator Bam Aquino asked the government to focus on the welfare of the Filipino people rather than think about revenue from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Hindi kayang tumbasan ng kita ng gobyerno sa TRAIN ang hirap ng taumbayan na nalulunod sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 

“Ang malala pa rito, huli na at kulang pa ang tulong ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap na sinasagasaan ng TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the mitigating measures under the tax reform law like the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program and the Pantawid Pasada Program.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement in reaction to the government’s claim that it stands to lose P102 billion in 2019 if Sen. Bam’s measure that aims to suspend excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law is enacted into law. 

Under Sen. Bam’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be suspended and rolled back when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam also stated that the government has enough funds for its priority programs and projects as it has P390 billion in untouched budget in 2017. 

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno, aabot pa nga sa P390 bilyon ang hindi nila nagamit noong nakaraang taon. Huwag naman natin pahirapan pa ang mga pamilyang sumasaklolo sa taas-presyo,” the senator urged. 

“Suportahan sana ng administrasyon ang pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Madaliin na ang tulong para sa mga jeepney driver

Senator Bam Aquino urged the government to immediately release the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Pantawid Pasada Program and ensure that the assistance will go directly to jeepney drivers. 

“Ang pagpapatupad ng Pantawid Pasada Program ang dapat madaliin ng gobyerno. Kailangan na ng mga drayber ng jeepn ang tulong kontra taas-presyo.,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the IRR should be released as soon as possible. 

“Sa IRR, dapat unahin ang kapakanan ng jeepney drivers na nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ng krudo,” added Sen. Bam. 

The Pantawid Pasada Program gives jeepney operators and drivers a total of P5,000 for the last six months of 2018. This will mean an additional P833 per month or P27.7 per day. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam urged the government to review the program to ensure the amount given to jeepney drivers is enough to cover the increase in fuel prices and other needs due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Hindi pa sapat ang tulong ng Pantawid Pasada Program dahil wala pang isang litro ng diesel ang bigay nito sa ating mga jeepney driver. Kulang na nga, hindi pa nila ma-roll-out agad-agad,” said Sen. Bam. 

The senator also reiterated his call to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada Program to other modes of public transportations such as tricycles and UV express vehicles. 

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama ang mga nagmamaneho ng tricycle at UV Express,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time. 

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

“Suportahan sana ng administrasyong and pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” stressed Sen. Bam. 

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang mga drayber. Nababawasan na nga ang kita, tumataas pa ang presyo ng bilihin,” he added.

Sen. Bam: We will not allow railroading, bastardization of Constitution

Senator Bam Aquino asserted that he and fellow senators will not allow the railroading and bastardization of the process to change the 1987 Constitution. 
 
“I doubt that any senator, opposition or administration, will allow a bastardization of the Constitutionally-mandated process,” Sen. Bam stressed. 
 
Sen. Bam made his pronouncement amid reports that the joint session for the State of the Nation Address might be used to convene a constituent assembly that will revise the 1987 Charter. 
 
According to Sen. Bam, the Senate agreed that it will not allow any change in the Charter to be railroaded. 
 
Instead of pushing for Charter change, Sen. Bam urged the government to focus on addressing the high prices of goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 
 
“Nakakahiya naman sa taumbayan na habang nalulunod sila sa taas presyo ay Cha Cha at No-El ang pinag-uusapan ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 
 
“Hanapan na lang natin ng solusyon ang tumitinding pagtaas ng presyo, imbis na pilitin ang Cha-Cha,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam also called on the government to put premium on the welfare of Filipinos, and not on the personal interest of politicians.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Tulungan ang manggagawang nawalan ng trabaho sa Boracay

Senator Bam Aquino urged concerned government agencies to give sufficient assistance to displaced workers in Boracay until the tourist destination resumes operation on October 26. 
 
“Ang kinikita ng mga manggagawa kada buwan ay dapat tumbasan ng ibibigay na tulong ng pamahalaan. We owe it to the displaced workers,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Tourism hearing on the Boracay island’s closure, which started in April. 
 
However, government agencies working on the Boracay rehabilitation admitted that their financial assistance programs are limited. DOLE’s emergency employment program for informal sector workers is only good for 30 days and beneficiaries cannot re-apply to the program.
 
“Kaya ba nating dagdagan ang tulong sa ating manggagawa to at least match the minimum wage? Pagdating ng Agosto, ayaw din naming marinig na wala nang natatanggap na tulong ang mga tao roon,” Sen. Bam insisted. 
 
According to different government agencies, the Boracay closure affected around 21,286 formal workers and 4,764 informal workers. However, Malay Mayor Cecito Cawaling declared that there are around 18,000 informal workers in Boracay. 
 
Sen. Bam urged concerned government agencies to ensure sufficient funds to cover all financial assistance given to formal and informal workers. 
 
The senator also slammed the government for hastily closing Boracay without any clear and concrete plan on how go by its rehabilitation and how to help displaced workers. 
 
Sen. Bam issued this pronouncement after the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) admitted that it will take more than six months, or until the end of 2019, before the drainage problem is finished. 
 
“Bakit pa natin sinara ang Boracay at pinahirapan ang 26 thousand na mga manggagawa?” Sen. Bam asked. 
 
“Ginawa ang pagsara na walang malasakit sa mga manggagawa. Ginawa ito na walang plano, at ngayon naghahabol ang mga ahensya sa man-made disaster na ito,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the hearing, Mayor Cawaling also criticized the government’s lack of clear plan on the rehabilitation of Boracay.

Sen. Bam: Food inflation up to 6.1%, suspend TRAIN now

Senator Bam Aquino warned that the continuing increase in the prices of goods will lead more Filipinos to hunger even as he renewed his call for the suspension of the government’s tax reform program.

Sen. Bam made this pronouncement as he noted that food inflation for June increased to 6.1 percent from 5.7 percent in May, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Lalong nalulunod sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan dahil sa totoo lang, mas nagmahal talaga ang pagkain nitong nakaraang buwan ayon sa sariling datos ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam, who has been consulting with families and communities on pressing issues, like rising prices.

“Sabi ng mga tindera ng isda na nakausap ko, matumal ang bili sa kanila kasi wala nang pera ang mga suki. Instant noodles at sardinas na lang ang mabili,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said government data backs up the claim of many Filipinos that prices of goods and services have increased drastically since the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 “Kung patuloy pong aakyat ang presyo ng pagkain, paano na kakain ng tatlong beses isang araw ang mahihirap nating kababayan?” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam said the government should act now and suspend the TRAIN Law so as to alleviate the plight of poor Filipinos, who are already burdened by the government’s tax reform program.

“Gutom po ang dulot nitong TRAIN sa mga mahirap nating kababayan kaya kailangan na talaga isuspinde ito agad,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time.

The senator has submitted a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam: Itodo na ang tulong sa transport sector

Senator Bam Aquino lamented the government’s insufficient and late support for the transport sector, saying the Pantawid Pasada Program should be reviewed if it’s enough to cover the increase in fuel prices and other needs of jeepney drivers. 

“Atrasado na nga ang tulong, kulang pa ang ibibigay ng gobyerno sa mga tsuper ng pampasaherong jeep,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the July implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, a mitigating measure under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Under the Pantawid Pasada Program, a total of P5,000 will be given to jeepney drivers for the last six months of 2018. This will mean an additional P833 per month or P27.7 per day. 

“Kung kukuwentahin, wala pang isang litro ng diesel ang tulong na binibigay sa ating mga jeepney driver. Kulang na kulang ito sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam urged the government to ensure that the Pantawid Pasada Program is sufficient to cover the rise in fuel prices and allow jeepney drivers to use it for other needs, such as food.

The senator also reiterated his call to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada Program to other modes of public transportations such as tricycles and UV express.

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama ang mga nagmamaneho ng tricycle at UV Express,” suggested Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time.

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

“Suportahan na rin sana ng administrasyong and pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” stressed Sen. Bam.

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang mga drayber. Nababawasan na nga ang kita, tumataas pa ang presyo ng bilihin,” he added.

Sen. Bam has been meeting with different transport organizations all over the country to get their stand on the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Drop in President’s approval signals cry for help from high prices, poverty

The 11-point drop in President Duterte’s approval rating is a cry for help from the Filipino people amid the rising prices of goods due to the government’s tax reform program, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Paalala po ito sa ating pangulo mula sa ating mga kababayan na nalulunod sa taas presyo na pakinggan ang kanilang hiling na ipreno na ang TRAIN,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Senyales ito na lalo nang nahihirapan sa buhay ang mga Pilipino. Bigyan natin sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after Duterte’s net approval rating dropped by 11 points from a “very good” 56 percent to a personal-low 45 percent, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Sen. Bam is hoping that President Duterte will tackle the issue of TRAIN Law and high prices of goods in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Umaasa kami na pupunan ng pansin sa SONA ang isyu ng pagtaas ng presyo. Sana suportahan ng Pangulo ang pagroll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo,” added Sen. Bam, referring to his measure that aims to suspend and roll back the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

Under Sen. Bam’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be suspended and rolled back once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam Aquino on VP Leni Robredo’s competence

Wala pa sa gobyerno si VP Leni napatunayan na niya ang malasakit sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap at inaapi. 
 
Sa akin po ang tunay na pamantayan ng kakayanan ng isang lider ay paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng taumbayan. 
 
Iyong mga pamayanang natulungan ni VP Leni ang patunay ng kanyang kakayahan.
Scroll to top