Month: September 2018

Sen. Bam questions P100B DepEd budget cut for new classrooms

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the Department of Budget and Management’s move to cut the Department of Education’s budget for construction of classrooms from P116 billion to just P10.2 billion.
 
“Napakalaking kapabayaan ang tapyasan ng halos 90 porsiyento ang budget para sa pagpapagawa ng classroom. Ang ating mga anak at kanilang edukasyon dapat ang prayoridad ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam as he presided the hearing of the DepEd’s budget as vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.
 
Sen. Bam said the amount earmarked by the DBM is enough to build just around 4,000 classrooms. Originally, the DepEd asked DBM for funds to build around 47,000 classrooms for 2019.
 
“Ang mga batang estudyante at ang kinabukasan ng bayan ang magbabayad sa maling pagpaprayoridad ng gobyerno,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the welfare of students is important than the government’s intelligence funds.
 
“Hindi tayo papayag na ipagkait sa kabataang Pilipino ang pondo na dapat ay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam, who briefly served as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
Sen. Bam suggested to increase funding to around P15 billion for construction of 10,000 new classrooms in 2019, instead of just 4,110. Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Finance Committee, committed to bring the issue up with the DBM.
 
“Ilagay natin ang numero sa mga kayang gawin at tapusin bago matapos ang 2019,” said Sen. Bam, with the assurance from concerned government agencies that the 10,000 classrooms will be finished by the end of 2019.
 
In addition, the senator stressed that the DepEd needs additional budget for the repair of classrooms destroyed by Typhoon Ompong amounting to almost P1 billion.
 
“Kailangang gawin ding prayoridad ng pamahalaan ang pagsasaayos ng mga silid-aralan at mga gusali na sinira ng Bagyong Ompong upang hindi maantala ang pag-aaral ng ating mga estudyante,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam calls for passage of Bawas Presyo Bill amid rising fuel prices

Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his push for the passage of his Bawas Presyo Bill, following the fresh round of increase in prices of petroleum products.

“Kumilos na tayo. Hindi pwedeng nganga lang ang gobyerno sa sunod-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” said Sen. Bam, alluding to the latest round of oil price increase on Tuesday.

”Huwag nating kalimutan na may responsibilidad tayo sa bayan, lalo na’t tumitindi ang hagupit sa publiko ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the government should consider Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill as one of the options in solving the rise in prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Hanggang walang ginagawa ang pamahalaan, lalong malulunod ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin. Kailangan nang kumilos ang pamahalaan,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam’s Bawas Presyo Bill aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Passing the measure is crucial as it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019, according to Sen. Bam.

Aside from pushing for the enactment of the Bawas Presyo Bill, Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implement the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law to alleviate the burden of the public, especially the poor.

Among them are the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Bilhin ang ‘Storm Damaged Palay’

Sen. Bam Aquino urged President Duterte to order the National Food Authority (NFA) to purchase Storm-Damaged Palay (SDP) from farmers in areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong as a way to help them and the families get back on their feet.

“Sana po tugunan ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng mga magsasaka at kanilang mga pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the farmers who have failed to harvest their crops before the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

“Utusan sana niya ang NFA na bilhin ang SDP. Tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating magsasaka,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the move will give farmers a chance to recoup their capital used for purchasing rice seeds, fertilizer and other inputs.

The senator said buying SDP is not new to the NFA since the agency has done it in the past. However, the price is dependent on the quality specification, such as moisture content, purity, discolored and damaged grains.

Sen. Bam said the government can use the President’s Social Fund or the Calamity Fund, which are both under the Office of the President, to fund the initiative.

“Unahin sana ng administrasyon ang mga nasasagasaan at napipinsala. Masyado nang maraming Pilipino ang nalulunod sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam also urged the government to work together to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Ompong on the prices of goods in affected areas.

As one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam has been working to lessen the effects of the government’s tax reform program in the prices of goods and services.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam stressed the need to enact his measure into law, saying it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam rallies support for Filipino deaf community, FSL Act

Deaf Filipinos will soon be empowered with their own national language after the Senate passed on third and final reading the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1455 on third and final reading via 20 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

“We hope to build a society where every Filipino is valued and respected. Let’s support and empower the Filipino deaf community,” said Sen. Bam, who explained that the FSL Act seeks to recognize Filipino Sign Language or FSL as the national sign language and endeavors to bring it to the mainstream.

In his sponsorship speech as vice chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the FSL will give the deaf community better access to government services, information, education, and justice.

If enacted into law, the FSL will become the official mode of communication of the deaf for government services, calling for trained interpreters in various government offices. 

The measure also aims to make FSL as means of interpretation in broadcast media, delivering news and information consistently to the deaf community.

In his five years in the Senate, Sen. Bam has continuously worked hard for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam pushing the passage of Republic Act 10754, which exempts PWDs from paying value added tax (VAT), as co-author.

Sen. Bam also worked for the passage of Republic Act 10905 or the Closed Caption Law as co-author. It requires television networks to use the closed captioning system for news and current affairs programs and entertainment shows for the benefit of viewers with hearing impairment.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 967 requiring Filipino Sign Language insets for local news programs. He also filed Senate Bill No. 1249 seeking to mandate government offices and private companies to allocate a percentage of their workforce for PWDs.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Storm to intensify rice and price crisis, address rising prices ASAP

Aside from relief and rehabilitation efforts, a senator called on the government to work together to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Ompong on the prices of goods in affected areas.
 
“Patindi nang patindi ang pagsubok sa pamilyang Pilipino. Kailangan nating magkaisa upang solusyunan ang mga krisis ng bayan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Tiyak na tataas pa ang presyo ng bigas at pagkain dahil sa pananalasa ni Ompong. Kailangang agapan ng pamahalaan bago humagupit ang taas-presyo sa mga apektadong lugar,” added Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill.
 
Sen. Bam said the recent typhoon affects supply of goods and may lead to spike in prices, placing additional burden on people who lost their homes and livelihood to Ompong.
 
“Mahihirapan din pong makabangon agad ang mga kababayan nating nasalanta kung sila ay nalulunod sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam said the government should take additional steps to keep the prices of goods in check, in addition to the implementation of price freeze in areas that will be placed under state of calamity.
 
“Maliban sa pagtiyak na naipatutupad ang price freeze sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng bagyo, dapat magkaroon din ng dagdag na pagkilos ang gobyerno para mapababa ang presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Furthermore, Sen. Bam said concerned government agencies must ensure that there is enough supply of agricultural products in different parts of the country as well after the onslaught of the typhoon.
 
Sen. Bam has been working to lessen the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in the prices of goods and services.
 
The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
 
Sen. Bam stressed the need to enact his measure into law, saying it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam pushes LGUs to work with, prioritize Filipino youth

To push for better, more responsive and more innovative governance, Sen. Bam Aquino is encouraging local government units (LGUs) to work with youth leaders and their organizations.

In his amendment to Senate Bill No. 1843 or the Seal of Good Local Governance Act, Sen. Bam wants LGUs to establish youth development programs to ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in nation building.

The senator said LGUs must develop enabling mechanisms and support systems to boost the involvement of the youth in governance.

In his amendment, Sen. Bam has batted for the establishment of a Local Youth Development Council and a Youth Development Office in all LGUs, they can institute policies and programs geared to mold the youth into successful and kind-hearted citizens.

“Bilang mga kinabukasan ng bayan, bigyan natin ng sapat na pagkakataon ang mga kabataan na makilahok sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan at sa pagpapaunlad ng lipunan,” said Sen. Bam, who thanked Sen. Sonny Angara for accepting his amendments to the measure.

Being a former youth leader and Chairman of the National Youth Commission, Sen. Bam is a known advocate of youth empowerment, pushing for enactment of laws that focus on the welfare of the youth.

Among them is the SK Reform Act, which Sen. Bam pushed as co-sponsor and co-author. Also, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of Republic Act 10679 or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act during his term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress.

The law encourages young would-be entrepreneurs to establish their own business by providing them access to capital and other support. It also creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inculcate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.

Sen. Bam to Duterte Admin: Tama na ang turuan, magtulungan para labanan ang krisis sa presyo at bigas

Sen. Bam Aquino challenged the administration to join forces with the opposition and work together to solve the rice and price crises.
 
“Imbis na magturuan, harapin natin ang krisis na nagpapahirap sa bayan,” said Sen. Bam during his privilege speech on the rising prices of goods and rice in the country.
 
“Nasa kamay po ng administrasyon ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng gobyerno. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
Sen. Bam clarified that the opposition has been in talks not to overthrow the government, but to address the price and rice issues through “Oplan Ginhawa”.
 
“Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Under the “Oplan Ginhawa”, Sen. Bam gave three proposals to the administration to address the growing inflation and high prices of rice and ease the burden of the Filipino people, especially the poor.
 
First, Sen. Bam urged the government to fully implement the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.
 
Sen. Bam also called on the government to replace incompetent NFA officials with people who can help fulfil the agency’s mandate, including the immediate return of the 15-day buffer stock.
 
Third, Sen. Bam renewed is call for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.
 
“Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso — at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga solusyon sa krisis na ito,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech on Martial Law and the Price Crisis

 

Maraming salamat, Mr. President, Mr. majority floor leader. Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan.

Yesterday, there was talk about the opposition’s alleged plans to overthrow the government. But today, I would like to share with you our true and real plans.

As history would have it, forty-six years ago, a devious plot against our democracy was uncovered by a young senator by the name of Ninoy Aquino. He was 39 years old back then. On September 13, 1972, former Senator Ninoy Aquino stood before his colleagues and addressed the nation through a privilege speech on one Oplan Sagittarius.

He said, and I quote:

“In astronomy, Sagittarius is the 9th sign of the zodiac – denoted by the symbol of the arrow or dart.

The ancient Greeks represented this constellation as a centaur in the act of shooting an arrow…

I wonder if this plan is intended to shoot down our cherish[ed] civil liberties with the arrow or dart of a Marcos military rule.

Or could this be an arrowhead of the spearhead of a more devilish plot to transform our Republic into a garrison state?”

In his speech, former senator Ninoy Aquino went on to outline military and police resources and where they would be deployed to effectively blanket our beloved country in intimidation.

He also warned that the Marcos Administration would use the recent bombings – bombings which he alleged to be orchestrated by the government itself – as reason to declare martial law.

Martial law, they will say, is the solution to the country’s problems. They will say, it is the answer to this nation in crisis.

Ninoy Aquino stood courageous before the Senate and asserted, and I quote:

“I do not know what is going on in the mind of the President. I will never attempt to [divine] what his thinking is.

But let me say that at the height of the Huk depredations in 1950, when the armed partisans numbered more than 15,000, when the Huks were actually maneuvering in squadron and battalion strength, tying up the entire military command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines… never was martial law declared in our country.

I do not recall when martial law was ever declared since the birth of this Republic. If the President is thinking of clamping down martial law… I dare say that there must be another more devious plot.

Therefore, I should conclude that Operation Sagittarius is properly named because as the arrow and the dart, it may spearhead what we may actually find as the end of the Republic.” End quote.

Ten days after these words were spoken, former president, dictator and plunderer Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and our beloved country came to know the consequences of absolute power and absolute impunity.

For the veneer of safer streets and the appearance of a disciplined society, the Filipino people paid in pain and in blood. And of course, as we know, Sen. Ninoy Aquino was prisoner No. 1.

In the nine (9) years under Martial Law rule: there were three thousand, two hundred and forty (3,240) victims of salvage or extra-judicial killings; thirty-four thousand (34,000) Filipinos were tortured; seventy thousand (70,000) were detained for being so-called ‘Enemies of the State’; and seventy-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty (75,730) cases of human rights violations were filed.

For the roads, bridges and buildings touted by Marcos apologists, the Filipino people incurred a debt of three hundred ninety-five billion, five hundred and nine million pesos (P395,509,000,000). Today, this is equivalent to three trillion, three hundred sixty-two billion, five hundred seventy-two million, three hundred eighty-four thousand, and six hundred pesos (P3,362,572,384,600).

Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya.

For their service to the Filipino people, the Marcos family was paid in personalized gold bars, jewelry, property around the world, invaluable art, an infamous collection of shoes and a lifetime of luxury. Ang martial law na sinabing magiging sagot sa sugat ng lipunan, pantakip lang pala sa kanilang kasakiman.

Mga kababayan, hindi sagot ang martial law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon. Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.

Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar ngayong taong ito. Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang [kumustahang] bayan. Ang kinokonsulta namin, mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, mga urban poor, mga market vendors, mga jeepney at tricycle drivers. Ano po iyong sinasabi nila?

“Sen. Bam, nalulunod na kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin.”

“Hindi na kami makahinga sa laki ng gastos ng aming pamilya.”

“Kahit anong kayod, hindi na kami maka-ahon.”

Mga kababayan, may krisis muli ang ating lipunan – ito po ang kataasan ng presyo ng bigas at kataasan ng presyo ng bilihin. Mga kaibigan, nababalot muli sa takot ang mamamayan – may isang senador na ang kinulong at isa naman pong pinapatihimik. Mayroon na pong pinapatay na mga pari, , mga mayor at vice mayor, at pati mga kabataang Pilipino. Gayun pa man, hindi pa rin martial law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura.

Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon. At solusyon, aksyon, at malasakit mula sa gobyerno ang lunas na hinahanap ng taumbayan.

Last May 23 of this year, I gave a privilege speech outlining solutions to the rising prices. Many of us were here. It would like to note that back then, inflation back in April was at 4.5% – already beyond the 2-4% target range set by the government. Last August, alarmingly, inflation hit 6.4%. We have not seen inflation this high in almost 10 years.

In that privilege speech last May, I mentioned 3 things government can do to provide Filipino families with some relief from soaring prices:

First, the government should ensure that the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law is fully implemented. Doon po lahat tayo nagkakaisa.

Sumasaklolo na ang ating mga kababayan – ang mga jeepney at tricycle drivers, mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, mga tindera sa palengke – hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino at hindi pa rin naibibigay ng lubos ang pinangakong tulong mula sa gobyerno.

To this day, there are gaps in the implementation of the cash transfer program and other social mitigating measures under TRAIN, such as the pantawid pasada program, na ngayon pa lang ni-ro-rollout in September of 2018, and of course nowhere to be found is the 10% discount on NFA rice.

My second suggestion back then was to address the rice issue by solving the management problem by the NFA. I think many of us here have called for the resignation of NFA administrator Jason Aquino.

Noong nag-speech ako ng Mayo, naaalarma na ang tao sa presyong 42 pesos per kilo para sa bigas. Ngayon, sa sobrang lala ng krisis, umabot po three weeks ago ng 70 pesos per kilo ang bigas sa Zamboanga at pinipilit po na pakainin ang mahihirap nating kababayan ang bigas na may bukbok. Thankfully, in Zamboanga, prices have stabilized, it’s still around P50 plus, mataas pa rin po kumpara sa presyo ng bigas last year.

Sa laki ng kasalanan ng NFA Administrator sa taumbayan, sana naman po makahanap tayo ng mahusay na pinuno dito.

My third suggestion back in May was to suspend and roll-back the excise tax on fuel from the TRAIN Law by passing Senate Bill Number 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill. I will admit, dear countrymen, that speech was actually a glimpse into the opposition’s playbook.

In the past few days, there has been talk about the opposition planning, colluding, talking about things that they want to do. Ngunit hindi po pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno ang pinaplano namin. Ang pinaplano namin ang pag-angat ng mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan. Ang plano ng oposisyon, magkaisa. Hindi lang po oposisyon, pati administrasyon, magkaisa at magtrabaho para solusyunan ang krisis sa taas ng presyo ng bigas at taas-presyo ng bilihin bago pumatak ang Enero.

Mula sa privilege speech ko noong Mayo hanggang sa press conference na kasama si Vice President Robredo noong Lunes, inilahad namin ang Oplan Ginhawa na inasahan naming magiging lunas sa hirap na hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan. Tatlong solusyon, tatlong aksyon po:

Una, na mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon at benepisyo ang ating kababayang nangangailangan. Pagbutihin ang pagpapatupad ng mga cash transfer program at iba pang social protection initiatives.

We challenge the administration to quickly facilitate the release of all these cash transfers at the soonest possible to all of the 10 million Filipino families. And we propose, at the proper time here in the Senate, to increase the 200 pesos to 400 pesos, given the alarming spike in inflation. The government must push for the complete and effective implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, the 10% discount on rice for the poorest Filipino families and the rest of the social mitigating measures in the TRAIN Law. We also propose to include tricycle drivers in the Pantawid Pasada program. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit nawala ang tricycle drivers noong ginagawa ang batas sa Pantawid Pasada Program.

Nasa kamay po ng administration and pagpapatupad ng mga programang ito. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino.

Pangalawa, at ito’y mukhang nangyayari na. Palitan ang liderato ng NFA at resolbahin ang isyu ng murang bigas sa ating bansa. Immediately, the NFA should bring back and maintain the mandated 15-day buffer stock. Ito po, order No. 1 para maibaba ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado. Naniniwala kaming kaya itong tuparin ng NFA sa loob ng isang buwan, basta’t mayroon silang matino at mahusay na NFA Administrator. With a 15-day buffer stock, NFA can make rice available and affordable for Filipinos and hopefully, this rice crisis will be over before the Christmas holidays.

Nasa NFA at administrasyon ang sandata para talunin na ang krisis sa bigas. Kailangan lang nilang gawin ang trabaho nila.

Pangatlo, itigil na sana ang excise tax sa petrolyo. Huwag po tayo papayag na magdadagdag na naman ng dalawang piso sa diesel at gasoline ngayong Enero. Ipasa po natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill. Suspindihin po natin ang mga probisyon ng TRAIN Law na nagpapataas ng presyo ng diesel at gasolina.

Marami naman pong pumunta na dito, kahit miyembro ng Gabinete, aminado na ang pagtaas ng diesel at gasolina ang mga nagpapataas sa presyo ng bilihin. Ngayon na napakataas ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo, di na ata tama na dito pa tayo huhugot ng pera para sa gobyerno. Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso – at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko.

We need to bring down prices and provide relief to poor Filipino families. We urge the President to take the lead on this matter, the opposition is ready, members of the administration are also ready. Kailangan lang natin itong itulak.

Iyong NFA, magandang pangitain na umalis na si NFA administrator Jason Aquino. Sana ang ipalit, isang tao na kayang gawin ang mandato ng NFA. Sana po wala nang pumipila para sa bigas sa mga palengke at hindi po nirarasyon ang NFA rice. Iyan po, isang kaagad-agad na puwede nating gawin. Maybe within a month or two, we can do this already para ang Christmas naman po, hindi ganito kalala ang sitwasyon ng bigas sa ating bansa.

Iyong presyo, alam naman natin na iyong presyo ng krudo sa mundo ang nagtutulak ng presyo pataas. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa gamit ang excise tax mula sa TRAIN Law. Ito pong second round ngayong Enero, kung itutuloy natin iyan, saan pupulutin ang inflation rate natin sa Enero.

Kailangan na nating gawin ang makakaya natin para maibaba ang inflation, maibaba ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, hindi iyong dinadagdagan pa natin.

Ito pong tatlong solusyong ito, kayang gawin. This can be done before Christmas. Ang kailangan natin, pagkaisahan. And what we’re asking here is that all of us work together, the executive, the legislative, and even if some economic managers don’t want to see some of these provisions. Puwede nating gawing ito.

I remember that when we passed the Free Tuition Act, initially the economic managers were against it. The Senate and Congress and the President took a stand. Sinabi nating itutulak natin ang libreng tuition para sa kapakanan ng ating kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.

Again, we’re called to be independent. Hinihiling sa atin na gawin ang ating makakaya para masolusyunan ang problemang ito – at kaya natin itong gawin bago mag-Pasko.

Ang kasaysayan ang unang magpapakita na hindi martial law, hindi propaganda ang sagot sa sakit ng bayan. Ang sagot ay nasa pagkakaisa, pagkayod, pagtrabaho at pag-aksyon ng gobyerno, pag-aksiyon ng lahat ng may pakialam at may malasakit sa bayan.

 Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga puwedeng gawing solusyon na ito.

Solusyunan, aksyunan natin ang mga totoong pangangailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino.

Maraming salamat Mr. President. Maraming salamat, Majority Floor Leader. Thank you very much.

Sen. Bam to NFA: Paghandaan ang bagyo, bumawi sa taumbayan

The National Food Authority (NFA) will have a chance to redeem itself by ensuring the sufficient supply of rice in areas that are expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan at siguruhing hindi magugutom ang mga nasalanta,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Dapat nang bumawi ng NFA sa kapalpakan ng kanilang administrador. This is an opportunity for NFA to step up in serving our countrymen,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the blunders of NFA administrator Jason Aquino that affected the supply of affordable rice in the market.

President Duterte is looking for Jason Aquino’s replacement after he asked to be relieved from his post.

Sen. Bam said the NFA must ensure that there is enough stock of rice in warehouses located in areas that will be affected by the typhoon. 

“Gamitin ang teknolohiya at mga harvester para tulungan ang mga magsasaka. Buksan ang mga warehouse sa mga magsasakang kailangang protektahan ang kanilang ani,” said Sen. Bam. 

Super typhoon Mangkhut, which will be known as Ompong when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is expected to pack 200 to 220 kilometers per hour of wind. It is expected to pass through Cagayan province, Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands before heading to Taiwan. 

On Monday, Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1211 or the Philippine Space Act as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 

Sen. Bam said the measure, if enacted into law, can strengthen the country’s mitigation and response to natural calamities and disasters. 

The measure is aimed at beefing up existing government programs on disaster prevention, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s disaster risk management, PAGASA’s astronomical science programs and National Mapping & Resource Information Agency’s satellite information gathering.

Sen. Bam: Tutukan sana ng Pangulo ang bagyo at krisis sa presyo, suspindihin ang excise tax sa Enero

Sen. Bam Aquino called on President Duterte to directly address issues that affect the Filipino people, like high prices of goods, and not use politics to divert the public’s attention.

“Tutukan sana ng Pangulo ang tunay na isyu, taas-presyo at bagyo, imbis na ang pulitika. Krisis sa bigas at pagkain at itong parating na Bagyong Ompong ang mga totoong banta sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Duterte’s address to the nation this afternoon.

“Hindi makakatulong ang pamumulitika sa problema ng ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government should find ways to alleviate the plight of the Filipinos, especially the poor, amid the continuous increase in prices of goods and petroleum products.

 “Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa ating mga kababayan. Solusyunan na ang taas presyo at protektahan ang mga Pilipino sa gutom, bagyo at iba pang peligro,” said Sen. Bam.

Instead of politicking, Sen. Bam said Duterte must inspire government officials and the opposition to work together in finding solutions to pressing problems, such as high inflation rate and high prices of goods.

 “Magkaisa na lang sana tayo sa paghanap at pagganap ng mga solusyon, na matagal nang hiling ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

“Sana suspindihin ng Pangulo mamaya ang excise tax sa Enero. It’s possible,” said Sen. Bam.

According to Sen. Bam, the immediate passage of the law will also stop the scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

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