Month: September 2018

Sen. Bam: Pababain na ang presyo ng petrolyo, solusyunan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain

After one key government official admitted that the surge in the country’s inflation rate is sparked by high fuel prices, Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his call for the passage of his measure seeking to halt the excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
“Sa wakas, inamin na ng gobyerno na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain ay dahil sa taas ng presyo ng petrolyo. Pababain na natin ito. Itanggal na ang TRAIN Tax sa petrolyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam was referring to Agriculture Sec. Manny Pinol’s pronouncement during the agency’s budget hearing that the high prices of fuel was the main reason behind the country’s high inflation rate, which was pegged at 6.4 percent in August.
 
“Sana kasabay ng pag-amin ay gawing urgent na din ang Bawas Presyo Bill para mabigyan naman ng kaunting ginhawa ang mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his Senate Bill No. 1798.
 
Sen. Bam’s measure 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. 
 
The senator underscored the need to immediately pass the bill into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.
 
“May krisis na ang Pilipinas sa bigas at taas presyo. Utang na loob, pagtulungan na natin ito alang-alang sa mga Pilipinong hirap na hirap nang umahon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Vice President Leni Robredo supported the passage of the measure while members of the minority in the House — Miro Quimbo, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Josephine Ramirez-Sato – have filed their own version of the bill.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Sponsorship Speech for Philippine Space Agency

Magandang hapon, Mr. President, majority floor leader at mga kasama sa Senado.

I address you today to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1983 under Committee Report No. 434 entitled An Act Establishing The Philippine Space Development And Utilization Policy And Creating The Philippine Space Agency, And For Other Purposes, otherwise known as the Philippine Space Agency Act.

Have you ever looked out of the window of an airplane during take off?

Habang pataas ng pataas ang eroplano, paliit ng paliit ang mga building, mga bahay, at mga tao.

Habang palayo po kayo ng palayo sa lupa, para bang naiiwan mo na din ang problema ng bayan.

I was reminded of that feeling while reading responses to one of our online polls that asked if our country should invest in a Philippine Space Agency.

Madami po ang nagsabi na kailangan po muna natin ayusin ang ating mga problema sa lupa, bago tayo tumingin sa outer space.

Naiintindihan po natin sila. Marami nga tayong problema na kailangan ayusin ngayon.

Tuwing may bagyo, may matinding pagbaha. Araw-araw, walang katapusan ang trapik. Pataas ng pataas ang presyo ng bilihin at parang hindi po natin matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bansa… Bakit tayo gagawa ng isang Space Agency?

Pero natuwa ako sa sagot ng isang Mikael Francisco. Sinagot po niya ito sa ating social media platform. Sabi po niya, “Malaki ang maitutulong ng Space Program sa agrikultura, sa pag-ayos ng traffic, pagpo-forecast ng bagyo, at marami pang iba.”

Doon po sa kanyang sagot, nag-link pa siya sa isang article sa GMA Network na may pamagat: “Why the Philippines Needs a Space Agency”.

Natuwa po akong makakita ng Pilipinong nangangarap ng malaki para sa ating bayan. Natuwa ako na hindi pa nawawalan ng pag-asa ang iilan nating kababayan sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng ating bansa.

Hindi man masosolusyunan ng isang Space Agency ang lahat ng isyu ng Pilipinas, malaki pa rin po ang maiaambag nito sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

For one, satellites can help improve disaster management – from providing accurate information that allow early warnings and predicting of disasters to reliable and quick communication during relief and recovery operations.

Para sa bansang lagi na lang natatamaan ng mga bagyo at pagbaha, malaking tulong po ang Philippine Space Agency para siguraduhing ligtas ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino.

Space technology also enhances production and profitability of agribusinesses thanks to soil and weather monitoring and assessment.

Ang nakukuha pong data ng isang Space Agency ay makatutulong sa mga magsasaka na planuhin ang timing ng kanilang pagsaka at irigasyon nito para dumami ang kanilang ani.

Para naman sa mga nagmamahal sa kalikasan, gaya nina Sen. Legarda at Villar, makakatulong din po ang Space Agency sa environmental conservation.

It can even improve urban planning, transportation and communication networks para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nawawalan na ng pasensya dahil sa trapik at sa bagal ng internet.

Malayo man ang outer space sa Pilipinas, kung nasa puso naman ng Philippine Space Agency ang pagserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan at pagsuporta sa pag-unlad ng bayan, hinding hindi po ito masasayang.

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, launching a Philippine Space Agency will give us a new perspective and valuable insights that can help solve some of our country’s biggest problems.

A solid space program can improve disaster management, enhance the lives of Filipino farmers, speed up our internet and telecommunications systems, and help us build more livable cities.

So let’s continue to dream big for our country! And let’s never tire of finding better solutions for our countrymen.

Mga kaibigan, ipasa po natin ang Philippine Space Agency Act!

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Huwag ipagkait ang diskuwento sa bigas sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law

In addition to the unconditional cash transfer and the Pantawid Pasada programs, Sen. Bam Aquino said the government has yet to fully roll out another social mitigating measure under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

Under the TRAIN Law, Sen. Bam said the government is mandated to provide poor families 10-percent discount when they purchase National Food Authority (NFA) rice from accredited retail stores, up to a maximum of 20 kilos per month. 

“Sa totoo lang, may utang ang gobyerno sa mga mahihirap dahil hindi ipinatupad ang mga mitigating measures ng TRAIN Law, lalo na ang diskwento sa bigas,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

 “Kailangang bayaran ng gobyerno ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan na pinagkaitan nila ng tulong sa bigas,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government should give poor Filipinos an additional P200 per month to cover for the rice discount. 

When the TRAIN Law was being deliberated in the Senate, Sen. Bam urged the government to implement the social mitigating measures and the TRAIN Law at the same time.  

However, concerned government officials said they cannot implement it together due to lack of proper infrastructure, forcing Sen. Bam to vote against the ratification of the measure.  

Now, Sen. Bam renewed his call for full and immediate implementation of the social mitigating measures to alleviate the suffering of the Filipino people, especially the poor, on the high prices of goods due to the TRAIN Law. 

“Dapat agad nang ipatupad ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng social protection measures na nakasaad sa batas para mabawasan ang hirap na dinaranas dahil sa TRAIN Law,” said Sen, Bam. 

Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of his 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.   

The senator underscored the need to immediately pass the bill into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam says economic managers are in denial on price crisis, need real-talk with poor Filipinos

Sen. Bam Aquino slammed the government’s pronouncement that the 6.4 percent inflation rate in August “is not alarming” and “quite normal in a fast growing economy.” 

The senator also insisted that economic managers talk to regular Filipinos living in poverty so they can gain a broader perspective on the effect of the high prices of goods. 

  “Hinding-hindi po normal na nalulunod na sa pagtaas ng presyo ang mga mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Kung lumabas po kayo ng opisina at makipag-usap sa mga kababayan natin sa mga komunidad, sa mga palengke, hindi niyo na maitatanggi na malaking problema itong taas presyo,” added Sen. Bam, who regularly consults with farmers, fishermen, tricycle and jeepney drivers, and market vendors to hear their views on the TRAIN Law and other important issues. 

In a recent trip to Tanauan, Batangas, Francisco Reyes, a tricycle driver, told Sen. Bam that the high price of gasoline has affected his daily income so much that he could not provide enough food and clothing for his family.  

  “Para mabawi namin ang gastos sa gasolina, dapat lima ang sakay namin bawat biyahe. Pero dahil apat lang ang kasya sa tricycle, lugi na agad ang pasada namin,” said Reyes. 

A vegetable vendor and senior citizen in Zamboanga also recently shared that even in her old age, she works everyday just to provide for her children and grandchildren and yet, with the sharp rise in prices, she has to borrow money to get by. 

 “Sa tanda kong ito, umuutang pa rin ako. Kahit ayaw na ng katawan ko, babangon at babangon pa rin ako para tulungan ang pamilya,” said Aling Diding Sada.

Instead of pointing fingers and debating on the matter, Sen. Bam said economic managers should squarely face the problems and look for practical solutions to address the problem. 

 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. 

 Sen. Bam stressed the need to immediately enact the measure into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019. 

”Huwag niyo nang paabutin ng Pasko ang paghihirap ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ipasa na natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill sa lalong madaling panahon,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Gumising na’t solusyunan ang krisis sa taas presyo

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the government’s economic managers to wake up and act quickly on the rising prices of goods and services after the inflation rate hit an over-nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August.

“Gumising na po kayo, nasa krisis na ang bansa,” said Sen. Bam, in response to the Philippine Statistics Authority’s report on the country’s inflation rate.

“Matagal nang naghihintay ng ayuda ang taumbayang nalulunod sa taas presyo ngunit hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin tayong nakikitang malinaw na kilos at plano mula sa pamahalaan,” added Sen. Bam.

Based on initial computations, an average Filipino family which spends around P2,400 for food last year now needs P3,200 to buy the same. The impact is much worse for the poorest 30 percent of the population who are known to spend up to 60 percent of their budget on food.

Sen. Bam said government officials should immediately address the rising inflation rate, which is primarily blamed on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Tama na po ang paghanap ng ibang masisisi. Ang hanapin nyo naman solusyon,” said Sen. Bam, one of the four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

As part of the solution, 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.

“Nasa harap na ng ating economic managers ang solusyon ngunit patuloy pa rin nila itong binabalewala,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam called on economic managers to look into his measure and join the call for its urgent passage before the second round of excise tax increase on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law becomes effective in January 2019.

“Kung hindi ito gagawin ng ating economic managers, pagdating ng 2019 mamimilipit sila sa paghahanap ng solusyon para masuspinde ang TRAIN Law,” Sen. Bam insisted.

Vice President Leni Robredo backed the passage of the measure while members of the minority in the House — Miro Quimbo, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Josephine Ramirez-Sato – have filed their own version of the bill.

Sen. Bam on revocation of Sen. Trillanes’ amnesty

Habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod pa sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin, pagpapakulong sa oposisyon ang inaatupag ng Duterte Administration. 
 
Suportado natin si Sen. Sonny sa laban na ito.
 
Ngayong matindi ang banta sa mga tumututol sa gobyerno, lalong hindi kami aatras sa pagbunyag ng katotohanan at pagtrabaho para sa ikagiginhawa ng taumbayan. 
 
Imbis na insultuhin, gipitin at takutin ng administrasyon ang mga may sariling isip at salita, harapin na lang sana ang mga problemang hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan araw-araw.
 
Huwag na tayong lumayo sa mga tunay na problema ng bayan. Tama na, sobra na ang pananakot at pang-aabuso sa mga tulad ni Sen. Trillanes na hinding hindi magpapatahimik.

Sen. Bam: Nasaan ang liderato sa isyu ng BP, Bigas at Presyo?

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the government to immediately address the issue of high BP or “Bigas at Presyo”, which currently affects millions of Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Mahalagang mabigyan na ito ng lunas dahil malaking isyu po ang BP o bigas at presyo. Kapag masyadong mataas ang BP, nanganganib ang kabuhayan natin. Pababain na ang BP,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Ang hinahanap natin, lalo na sa isyu ng bigas, ay leadership. Seryosohin sana ng pamahalaan ang pahirap na ito sa mga Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam said the leadership of National Food Authority (NFA), led by administrator Jason Aquino, has failed to ensure enough supply of affordable rice for the poor in the last two years.

“Sino ba ang lider na sosolusyunan ito? Nagmumukhang hindi talaga kaya ng NFA administrator natin na resolbahin ang kasalukuyang problema,” added Sen. Bam.

“Hindi maayos ang pamamalakad sa importation at distribution.  Magsisimula ang solusyon sa pagpalit ng liderato. Maghanap tayo ng mga taong kayang gawin ang trabaho nila,” said Sen. Bam.

Also, Sen. Bam renewed his call for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to help lower the prices of goods and services.

Sen. Bam’s measure 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.

Vice President Leni Robredo backed the passage of the measure while members of the minority in the House — Miro Quimbo, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Josephine Ramirez-Sato — have filed their own version of the bill.

Sen. Bam underscored the importance of the measure’s passage, saying there is a second tranche of excise tax increase on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

VP Leni, House Minority throw support behind Sen. Bam’s Bawas Presyo Bill

Vice President Leni Robredo and members of the House minority have thrown their full support for the passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Bawas Presyo Bill to alleviate the burden of the Filipino people due to high prices of goods and services.
 
“Panahon na para umaksiyon at maghanap ng kongkretong solusyon sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin,” said Vice President Robredo during a press conference where she was joined by Sens. Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Cong. Miro Quimbo and Kit Belmonte.
 
According to Vice President Robredo, it is high time for the government to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which is being pushed under Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill.
 
“I-suspend na ang probisyon ng TRAIN 1 ukol sa excise tax sa krudo at i-review ang anumang additional cash transfer,” said Vice President Robredo.
 
Quimbo, for his part, is set to file a counter-part measure of the Bawas Presyo Bill in the House of Representatives. 
 
“Kaya kami nagsama-sama upang iparating sa pamahalaan na ito ang urgent na ang problemang ito at kailangan ng mabilis na solusyon. Nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ang mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam stressed that the measure will help ease the suffering of the Filipino people, especially the poor, from the high prices of goods and services brought by the TRAIN Law.
 
“May magagawa ang gobyerno para mapababa agad ang presyo ng bilihin. Nasa harap na ng ilong ng economic managers ang solusyon pero bakit ayaw nilang gawin?” Sen. Bam emphasized.
 
“Ang Bawas-Presyo Bill ay simpleng solusyon sa napakalaking problema ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam said his measure, if enacted into law, will immediately suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel, meaning that prices of gasoline and diesel will go down by P2.65 and P2.50 per liter, respectively. The price of LPG will go down by one peso per kilo or P11 per 11-kilogram tank.
 
“Mapipigilan pa natin ang pagtaas ng excise tax sa Enero 2019 kung kikilos agad ang gobyerno para hindi na madagdagan pa ang paghihirap ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.
Scroll to top