Author: teambam

SBN-2730: Amending Secs. 32 & 33, Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities

Filipino Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have been actively participating in shaping our history and contributing to the advancement of good governance.

We go back to as early as the 1896 Spanish Revolution era, where Apolinario Mabini, a sublime paralytic, wrote subversive manifestos against Spain and became the brains of the revolution’. Moreover, he eventually drafted the framework of the revolutionary government in 1899.

In recent history, Art Borjal, who moved with leg braces and crutches, was a popular columnist and worked for the rights of the PWDs in the early 1990’s, while polio-survivor Grace Padaca, a former Isabela governor and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, is a staunch advocate of governance and election reforms todal.
Furthermore, the National Federation of Cooperatives of Persons with Disability (NFCPWD) has worked with the Department of Education (DepEd) in producing public school chairs”. The organization has generated P80 million in the past twelve years for workers and staff with disabilities5

Still, our country’s challenge is to be truly inclusive to serve the needs of the marginalized, particularly the PWD sector. PWDs have found it difficult to gain employment and earn income for themselves and for their families. Families with PWDs have also had to worry about their daily expenses for medicine and rehabilitation.

Hence, the PWDs Tax Exemption Act of 2015 seeks to give reprieve to the plight of our PWDs and their families and be able to support them in their daily challenges.

This measure proposes for families with PWD dependents to have a yearly uniform P25,OOO tax exemption, in addition to the regular personal deductions, in order to augment their expenses – wheelchairs, hearing aids, nurses and caregivers, and learning disability tutors, among others. In addition, the act seeks to exempt PWDs from value add taxes (VAT). Such accommodation for our PWD sector is part of our larger reform efforts in pushing for a society that is inclusive for the poor and most vulnerable sectors. It is one of our courses in our journey towards achieving a fully abled nation.

In view of the foregoing, the approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2737: Abolishing the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board

Our Filipino senior citizens have contributed immensely to the growth and progress of the country. As they reach the twilight of their lives, it is our responsibility as a society to ensure their rights and privileges, and that proper accommodation is given to them.

To further embolden RA 7432, the Senior Citizens Act of 2015 seeks to institutionalize the National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC), which shall have the best interests of our country’s seniors at heart.

As a national agency, the NCSC will formulate and implement policies, plans, and programs that promote senior rights and privileges or address issues plaguing the sector.

With sectors such as the youth, women, and persons with disabilities having a specialized body catering to their constituents, it is about time that our Filipino seniors are awarded their own commission as well to ensure that no Filipino gets left behind.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2744: Tarlac Agricultural University

As we move forward into the future, the challenge for all humanity is how to feed over seven billion people in the world, It is a local and global issue for the Philippines, as an agricultural country with rich and fertile land, and apt climate for farming.

It is no wonder that advancements in agriculture and farming technology have modernized the industry and resulted in new ways to increase production, maximize yield, and efficiently and sustainably utilize land and other resources.

Equipment and other tools are constantly being fine-tuned and improved while strategies in efficient farming are also being studied and developed in research facilities and universities around the world.

The country still has immense room for growth and development in the agricultural sector. There is still a long way for us to go in terms of modernizing and streamlining our agricultural sector.

Taking into account that Filipino farmers have an average age of 57 years, just 3 years shy of retirement, there is a pressing need to involve the youth in improving farming and agriculture in the Philippines.

The Tarlac Agricultural University Bill of 2015 seeks to do just that through advanced, technology-driven education, innovative training, and useful & practical research.

The proposed measure aims to transform the Tarlac College of Agriculture into a state university to cater to the region’s needs and potential for agricultural growth.

The University will seek to offer advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture, science & technology, teacher education, engineering, agribusiness management, nontraditional courses and other relevant fields of study.

It will strive to also undertake research, extension services and production activities in support of the development of the Province of Tarlac, and of Central Luzon, an agricultural region, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

Considering the unprecedented and growing demands of the community and the labor market for more specialized and expanded services in agricultural education and other related fields, it is high time to have an agricultural university in the region.

Once converted, the institution will become a potential avenue for intensified collaborative researches as well as technology promotion and commercialization, thereby attracting more young Filipinos, and probably other Southeast Asian students as well, to take on agro-development courses to advance our food security efforts in the region. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2746: Working Poor Protection Act of 2015

For six decades now, the Social Security System (SSS) has provided social protection to Filipinos against likelihoods and eventualities such as disability and injury, Sickness, maternity, old age, and death.

Our contributions to SSS translate to investments into our future and the future of our family. Contributions give citizens access to benefits such as disability aid, retirement relief, and life insurance. SSS also offers loans at reasonable rates that can be used for various purposes like putting a child through school or engaging in a small business.

These benefits can make a difference to fellow Filipinos living at subsistence level. As they earn below P100,ooo.oo annually, their contributions, unfortunately, are not regular.

While the poorest of the poor are covered by our social protection programs, only 6.5% of the 12 million self-employed Filipinos are paying their SSS contributions.

It is a lost opportunity for our countrymen that we consider the working poor, our farmers, fishermen, market and street vendors, tricycle drivers and the millions of who have micro businesses across the country.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2764: Amending R.A.No. 7227 (BCDA) Further Amended by R.A.No. 9400 (Subic Special Economic Zone)

With the country experiencing sustained economic growth, we are flooded with opportunities for development in different industries and across a number of geographical areas in the country. Subic Bay in Central Luzon is one such region with immense potential for foreign investment and overall economic development. This economic development in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) translates to job opportunities and business opportunities for our countrymen.

With this in mind, the Republic Act No. 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, was passed to assign Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) the responsibility to build a prosperous and self-sustaining Freeport in Subic Bay.

SBMA is tasked to promote both economic and social development in Subic Bay, creating a model for economic success and inclusive growth in the region and in the Philippines. We are now in a position to clarify provisions of the decade-old legislation and apply revisions based on what we have learned in the past years, improving the policy and making SBMA a more effective and impactful governing body.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Reform Bill seeks to update the powers and responsibilities of SBMA in the hope that SBFZ can reach its full potential- attracting more foreign direct investments, supporting growth of local business, providing jobs, livelihood, and a wealth of opportunities for more Filipinos in Central Luzon and in the country as well.

Grow, Subic, grow!

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought .
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SRN-620: Impact of Slow and Expensive Internet Connection

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, COMMERCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPACT OF SLOW AND EXPENSIVE INTERNET CONNECTION PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTS EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ADVANCEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY

 

Whereas, Sections 13 and 19 of Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provide that the State shall pursue a trade policy that serves the general welfare and utilizes all forms and arrangements of exchange on the basis of equality and reciprocity and shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires;

Whereas, the State recognizes the vital role of communications in nation building and it has become the objective of government to promote advancement in the field of telecommunications and the expansion of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the Philippines. Executive Order No. 59 (s 1993) required mandatory interconnection for other telecommunications firms and thereby encouraged investment in telecommunications infrastructure by service providers duly authorized by the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC);

Whereas, based on the State of the Internet report made by Massachusettsbased Akamai Technologies Inc., the Philippines had an average peak Internet connection speed of 32.6 megabits per second (Mbps) in the 4th quarter of 2013, representing a 103% quarter-on-quarter growth and a 144% rise from the same period in 2012. According to news reports, the Philippines’ average peak Internet connection speed is faster than that of China and several countries in the AsiaPacific region but its low use of broadband technology as well as high costs for Internet users compared to other countries mean slow average connection speeds for consumers. Reports showed that the Philippines had the slowest Internet connection among members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);

Whereas, there is a need to ensure that all users of Internet services shall have access to it wherever they may be within the Philippines at an acceptable standard of service and at a reasonable cost. According to the “ASEAN Average Internet Speed Index 2014” report by the ASEAN DNA, the Philippines is at the bottom of the list of ASEAN countries (3.6 Mbps), way below the ASEAN average of 12.4 Mbps;

Whereas, Filipino consumers spend around One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) per month for Internet services with speed up to two (2) Mbps while some telecommunication companies offer speed up to five (5) Mbps at around Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00). Comparing the prices of Internet services among Southeast Asian countries, the cost to Filipino consumers is more expensive than Internet costs in Singapore and Thailand, which have the fastest Internet connections globally;

Whereas, in this era of advanced technology, improving Internet connection in the Philippines is crucial to the ASEAN Economic Integration (AEC) in 2015, which aims to transform the region into a single market and production base, and a highly competitive region. To maximize benefits from the AEC for the Filipino people, there is a need to promote an efficient and balanced flow of information into, out of and across the country by providing an environment for the emergence of communications structures that will benefit the vast majority of consumers in the country, which has broad economic growth spurred by increasing competition;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the impact of’ slow and expensive Internet connection provided to consumers which adversely affects ease of doing business in the Philippines and advancement of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the country.

 

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SRN-651: Cybersex Syndicates

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE OF MINORS BY CYBERSEX SYNDICATES AND THE RAMPANT SPREAD OF ONLINE CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

Whereas, the Philippines is a signatory to the United Nations Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. The United Nations (UN) called the attention of countries around the world on the growing availability of child pornography on the Internet and other evolving technologies. In its conclusion, the UN Convention called for the worldwide criminalization of the production, distribution, exportation, transmission, importation, intentional possession and advertising of child pornography, and stressing the importance of closer’ cooperation and partnership between Governments and the Internet industry;

Whereas, in response to the State’s duty to protect the fundamental rights of every child from all abuse prejudicial to his/her development, Republic Act No. 9775 otherwise known as the “Anti-Child Pornography Law of 2009” was enacted into law. It provides that any person who employs, induces or coerces a child to be engaged or involved in explicit sexual activities, whether visual, audio, or’ written combination thereof, and knowingly distributes it in any manner;

Whereas, in a report by the United Kingdom online newspaper Daily Mail, at least 58 Filipino suspects have been arrested in connection to a Scottish teenager’s suicide following a threat to send compromising images of him to his family and friends unless he paid them. The widespread incidence of prostitution and pornography in the Philippines reaches every part of the globe through cyberspace, and cybercrime dens operating in the country have reached international victims;

Whereas, International watchdog Virtual Global Task Force listed the Philippines as among the top ten countries with rampant cyber pornographic activities involving mostly boys and girls age 10-14. Based on news reports, over 31 provinces are considered by the police as cybercrime “hotspots” for harboring cybersex and cyberporn hubs, and are being closely monitored. Reports showed that most patrons of these multi-billion-dollar cyber activities are from the United States of America and European countries;

Whereas, considering that the youth are the primary users of mass media, there is a need to ensure that those who have access to Internet Technology are protected from predators who search out children who are vulnerable and easily manipulated. To be involved in any way in child pornography will cause detrimental and irreversible effects to a child’s physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-being;

Whereas, to address the rampant spread of child pornography, Republic Act No. 10175 otherwise known as the “Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012” was passed into law to further penalizes acts punishable under RA No. 9775 by one degree higher. While rigid measures have been adopted, the government should be able to properly implement these laws and the violators should be penalized accordingly. Only constant vigilance will start the possible eradication of these pornographic materials involving children, in the hope of building a nation that values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Youth to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the exploitation and abuse of minors by cybersex syndicates and the rampant spread of online child pornography.

 

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SRN-652: Maritime Accidents

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE SEAWORTHINESS OF VESSELS TO ENSURE SAFE AND EFFICIENT OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO AVOID MARITIME ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE PLAGUED THE PHILIPPINE SEAS IN THE PAST DECADES

Whereas, Article 1732 of the Civil Code states that common carriers are persons, corporations, firms or associations engaged in the business of carrying or transporting passengers for passengers or goods or both, by land, water, or air for compensation, offering their services to the public. Further, under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act provides that the carrier shall be bound before and at the beginning of the voyage to exercise due diligence to make the ship seaworthy;

Whereas, the carriers are deemed to impliedly warrant the seaworthiness of the ship. For a vessel to be seaworthy, it must be adequately equipped for the voyage and manned with a sufficient number of competent officers and crew. The failure of a common carrier to maintain in seaworthy condition the vessel involved in its contract of carriage is a clear breach of its duty prescribed in Article 1755 of the Civil Code;

Whereas, no less than the Supreme Court held that these provisions owed their conception to the nature of the business of common carriers. This business is impressed with a special public duty. The public relies on the care and skill of common carriers in the vigilance over the goods and safety of the passengers, especially because with the modern development of science and invention, transportation has become more rapid, more complicated and somehow more hazardous;

Whereas, despite the explicit provisions of the laws and the jurisprudence laid down by the Supreme Court, maritime accidents are unfortunately common and quite frequent in the Philippines. Considering the country’s geographical position, eight (8) deadliest ferry disasters occurred in the last two decades and among which, Sulpicio Lines, Inc. owned three vessels: MV Dona Paz in 1987, MV Dona Marilyn in 1988 and MV Princess of the Orient in 1998. The worst maritime disaster happened in December 1987 when MV Dona Paz ferry collided with a tanker, leaving more than 4,000 people dead;

Whereas, on August 11, 2006, the MIT Solar I sank and brought about the Guimaras oil spill. Maritime accidents mentioned in the news reports by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) include the MIB Sunjay on January 15, 2006, M/B Leonida II on November 25, 2006, M/V Catalyn on June 10, 2007, M/V Blue Water Princess I on July 12, 2007 and M/V Don Wilfredo on February 14, , 2008; Whereas, on April 16, 2014, a Korean Ferry, MV Sewol sank while navigating Korea’s domestic water. This tragic incident took the lives of 475 people, mostly Korean high school students. Questions on the integrity of the stability of the vessel due to the alterations that were done when the ship was cited to be one of the probable causes of the ship’s sinking. MV Sewol was 18 years old when sold to Korea by a japanese company, Hayashikane Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd.;

Whereas, due to the prohibitive cost of building and/or buying a new ship, Filipino shipping companies resort to buying a second hand ship from japan. japan has a policy that does not allow shipping vessels that are more than 20 years old to trade in their domestic waters. In effect, japanese ship owners sell their “old” ships to other countries like Korea and Philippines at a cheaper cost. Filipino ship owners, upon buying these ships, do alterations to accommodate more passengers and cargo loads to maximize profit;

Whereas, with more than 7,000 islands, transportation by sea is crucial to the Philippines. Maritime accidents lead to tragic loss of lives and irreparable damage to the environment. These untoward accidents placed in jeopardy the credibility and competence of the maritime officials and employees. The issues on the navigational experience of the concerned government agencies in handling the vessels as well as the training of the maritime officers at times of distress, and the seaworthiness of the vessel remained unanswered through the years;

Whereas the national government has the duty to implement positive measures that can alleviate, if not resolve, the recurring maritime accidents over the past decades. It should give appropriate emphasis on the seaworthiness of the vessels being used by the shipping companies and must demonstrate stronger commitment in the effective implantation of the laws in order to safeguard the safety of the public;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the seaworthiness of vessels to ensure safe and efficient operations in order to avoid maritime accidents which have plagued the Philippine seas in the past decades.

 

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SRN-709: Development of a National Industrial Strategy Roadmap for E-Commerce

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY ROADMAP FOR E-COMMERCE WITH THE END VIEW OF REVIEWING THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8792

Whereas, Republic Act No. 8792, also known as the E-Commerce Act of 2000 recognizes the vital role of information and communications technology (ICT) in nation-building; the need to create an information-friendly environment which supports and ensures the availability, diversity and affordability of ICT products and services;

Whereas, under the law, there shall be an installed electronic online network among government departments, agencies, bureaus, down to the division level and to the regional and provincial and regional offices as practicable as possible, government owned and controlled corporations, government units, other public instrumentalities, universities, colleges and other schools, and universal access to the general public;

Whereas, to facilitate the rapid development of the government information infrastructure (GIl), the Department of Transportation and Communications, National Telecommunications Commission and the National Computer Center were mandated to aggressively promote and implement a policy environment and regulatory or nonregulatory framework that shall lead to the substantial reduction of costs of including, but not limited to, lease lines, land, satellite and dial-up telephone access, cheap broadband and wireless accessibility to the government and the general public;

Whereas, the Philippine Development Plan of 2011-2016 adopts an inclusive growth framework and mandates the government to create a national industrial strategy that shall promote job generation and boost investment in the country. The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Industry Development Group, coordinated the fifty seven different industry associations to produce roadmaps which should guide the growth and development of various industries;

Whereas, in the latest World Economic Forum Global Information and Technology report, the Philippines showed a marked improvement with a rank of 78 out of 148 countries from its previous ranking of 86. In order to sustain this development, there is a need to assess the roadmap for the E-Commerce sector through the aid of appropriate government agencies to promote innovation and further improve the industry’s growth.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate Committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the development of a national industrial roadmap for E-Commerce with the end view of reviewing the provisions of Republic Act No. 8792.

 

 

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SRN-734: Emission Testing Centers

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EFFICIENCY OF EMISSION TESTING CENTERS IN THE ISSUANCE OF EMISSION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AS ONE OF THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE BEFORE A VEHICLE IS PROCESSED FOR RENEWAL REGISTRATION

Whereas, Republic Act (RA) No. 8749 otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Air Act” was approved last 23 June 1999. One of its primary objectives is to maintain the quality of air and protect human life from the dangers of air pollution. The national government should be able to provide for a holistic national program of air pollution management through cooperation and self-regulation to be mainly focused on pollution prevention rather than control;

Whereas, RA 8749 and its implementing rules and regulations provide that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), through the Land Transportation Office (L TO), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall formulate and implement the National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program that will promote the efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles and ensure the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles. The inspection and maintenance program requires all vehicles, as a requisite for renewal of registration, to undergo mandatory inspection to determine compliance with the in-use emission standards;

Whereas, interagency collaboration and cooperation had indeed been a challenge since the passage of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and thereby giving rise to the need to assess the enforcement capacity of these agencies since they share the responsibility in the management and maintenance of air quality in the country. The continuing increase in motor vehicles, lack of mass public transit system, and worsening traffic conditions further contribute to increasing air pollution;

Whereas, there had been reports that the private and public emission testing centers in LTD are remiss in their duties in properly implementing the law through the issuance of false emission compliance certificates (ECCs). Needless to state, all motor vehicles (MV) must comply with exhaust emission standards prior to registration and operation in public highways. However, some emission testing centers in both private and public levels engage in illegal transactions by allowing motor vehicles to avail of a non-appearance scheme or ghost testing of these . vehicles wherein they made it appear that said vehicles are inspected and subjected to the tests in exchange of additional fees;

Whereas, the national government should be able to provide a quick systematic solution to the proliferation of these false ECCs in order to promote overall motor vehicle safety and prescribe an intensive convergence program towards the full implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the efficiency of emission testing centers in the issuance of Emission Compliance Certificates as one of the basic requirements of the Land Transportation Office before a vehicle is processed for renewal registration.

 

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