Author: teambam

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview at Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel

On Constitutional Change/Entry on Foreign Ownership on Businesses

A. To be frank, I don’t think we need to change the Constitution. We can actually get the investments even without changing the Constitution. Changing the Constitution is too large an endeavor to do in 2014 right before 2016.

That will probably mean the next president will be the one tackling changes to the Constitution. Alam ko po si Speaker Belmonte is very adamant about it but in the Senate, there’s really not much movement in terms of any constitutional changes.

I don’t think we’ll have that in the next two to three years. Probably the next president will undergo that if that’s the priority of the next president.

In the meantime, if you’re waiting for that before you move, it’s a moving target. We really have to do the reforms that can be done currently within our constitution.

Get the investments in.  In other countries, they have even stricter but they were able to get the investments.

It’s a matter of balancing your incentives, the investments you want to get in the country in the next two to three years.

 

On government Relying Too Much on OFWs Remittances

A. Remittances are big part of our economy and in fact, malaking bagay po siya. We have to thank our OFWs for that.

But the drive to go from consumption to production goes through increasing jobs and supporting enterprise kaya iyon po ang aking pinaka-focus. Kailangan po ng mas may production dito.

That’s why DTI is moving to revitalize our manufacturing sector.

Ang ating BPO industry is trying to go beyond voice and go into other services that it can provide. Definitely, there is a push for jobs and enterprise here and that will actually balance our dependency on remittances.

If you look at our portfolio and the things that we have pushed for, our Microfinance bill, our Go Negosyo bill, our Youth Entrepreneurship bill, lahat ng mga tinutulak natin, it all leads to that.

To try to have a stronger economy here that is more equitable, recognizing our growth and at the same time, making sure this growth reaches the poorest Filipinos.

 

On Controversies Hounding Senate

A. Well ang trabaho ng senador o kongresista ay gumawa ng polisiya at batas para sa kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Without PDAF, it really forces you to focus on legislative work. Iyan na ang nagiging focus namin but then again, just because wala ka nang PDAF, it doesn’t mean you cannot engage in programs.

May nagtanong sa akin noon, Senator, paano po ba ibabalik ang tiwala sa Senado ngayong bagsak na bagsak ang tiwala sa inyo?

No amount of words will get the people’s trust back.  It’s really your output and your work. Kapag nakikita na nagtatrabaho ka para sa kapakanan ng tao, maybe at some point babalik ang tiwala nila sa iyo.

We just committed to work hard and make sure na ang mga naipangako natin noong campaign ay gagawin natin.

 

Telcos must Declare Average Minimum Internet Speed on Ads – Sen. Bam

Instead of the ‘up to’ phrase, Senator Bam Aquino wants telecommunication companies to put average minimum Internet speed on all forms of advertisements so as not to mislead subscribers.

“We are pushing changes in advertising. It would be good for our consumers if what is communicated is clearer,” said Aquino, after the hearing of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship on the slow and expensive Internet connection in the country.

During the hearing, Aquino said part of the consumers’ dissatisfaction is that flyers and other advertisements claim speeds of up to between 5 to 10 Mbps but experience just the average when they subscribed.

“Why can’t we just advertise the average speed? The one that I will get for 24 hours of the day rather than the one that I will get three or four hours of the day,” Aquino asked.

“In the same way, we ask people selling products to just share the common experience rather than the special experience,” he added.

The senator also wants the average minimum speed to be printed in large fonts instead of fine print so consumers will be properly informed of what they are getting from Internet providers.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy supported Aquino’s call, saying the agency did the same with the budget promo fares by airlines years ago.

“It’s a no-brainer for Telcos to actually adjust their advertising,” said Sy, head of the DOJ’s Office of Competition.

Sy also promised the committee to issue an advisory to Telcos to put average Internet speeds on their advertisements.

In addition, Aquino will push for the amendment of a 78-year-old law making Internet a basic service, giving government greater control over pricing and quality.

“We’ll push for the amendment of Public Service Act which is a 1936 law. We’re talking about the high-tech information age and we’re still using a 1936 law,” said Aquino.

Aquino also called on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to check if indeed congestion is the main cause of slow Internet.

Aquino would also push for added budget for NTC for purchase of added equipment to monitor the Internet service in the country.

Sen. Bam Challenges the Me-Generation to be We-Generation

Senator Bam Aquino challenges the youth, known as the ‘me-generation’, to prove that they’re more than just selfies and gimmicks by engaging themselves in nation-building programs and projects.

“Sad to say, the perception is that majority of today’s youth are synonymous with parties, selfies and video games,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Youth.

“The youth must dispel these negative perceptions by actively participating in nation-building initiatives that will help improve the country we live in,” added Aquino.

The senator cited the Gualandi Volunteer Service Program, Inc., a youth-led non-government organization based in Cebu City, which leads the fight against sexual assault of deaf children and women.

The group started the Break the Silence Network Project to help hearing-impaired children and women who are victims of sexual assault.

The senator also mentioned the Tagum-based TC Youth Laboratory Cooperative, which teaches youth the value of savings and financial security by “bringing the bank to the schools.”

These two groups were among the winners of the 11th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) awards last year.

Aquino said other youth organizations would be given a chance to join the circle of TAYO winners, announcing that registration of entries for TAYO 12 is now open until September 30, 2014.

“This is a chance for youth groups that have contributed to the development of local communities, schools and workplaces through innovative and valuable projects to be recognized,” said Aquino, one of the TAYO co-founders.

The senator said search is open to all groups, organizations, clubs and societies whose membership and leadership are composed of at least 15 members 15 to 30 years old.

Interested groups may submit a recently concluded project or an ongoing program. A project entry (or one that started in 2012) must either be completed, or a major portion must have been undertaken by the deadline.

Participants will be judged based on the following criteria: 1. Impact of project entry on stakeholders; 2. Harnessing the spirit of volunteerism and citizenship; 3. Creativity and Innovation; and Sustainability and Effective use of Resources.

To know more about the search, information is available in www.tayoawards.net.

An online entry form can be filled out at the TAYO website. For inquiries, TAYO Secretariat can be contacted through text at 0917 TXT-TAYO (898-8296) or e-mail at tayo.secretariat@gmail.com.

Since its inception in 2002, the TAYO Awards Foundation has successfully gained credibility as an institution that recognizes and supports the outstanding contributions of youth organizations to the country.

It has attracted more than two thousand youth organizations from all over the Philippines to join the search.

The winning organizations will receive a grant of P50,000 that they can use to fund new projects or continue their long-term programs, aside from the trophy sculpted by Mr. Toym De Leon Imao for the event.

TAYO was co-founded by Senator Kiko Pangilinan.

Mindanao has 10 of 16 Poorest Provinces in the Region

Ten of the poorest provinces in the country are in Mindanao, with Lanao del Norte leading the way with a 67.3 percent poverty incidence.

Aside from Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao, Zamboanga del Norte, Saranggani, North Cotabato, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Camiguin, Sultan Kudarat and Sulu also made the list of the top 16 poorest provinces.

The problem exists despite Mindanao’s vast natural resources, which remained untapped until now due to the decades-long conflict in the region.

However, Senator Bam Aquino believes that things will turn for the better for Mindanao with the imminent passage of the Bangsamoro political entity and the ASEAN Integration in 2015.

“The expected approval of the Bangsamoro political entity and the ASEAN Integration in 2015 will turn Mindanao into a magnet for businesses and investors,” said Aquino.

Aquino added that the 1st Mindanao Social Business Summit, which will be held from June 4-6 at the Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon, will play a key role in addressing problems hounding the region.

Carrying the theme, “Wealth Creation with Justice and Peace through Social Entrepreneurship,” the summit’s goal is to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity in Mindanao thru social innovation and entrepreneurship.

The summit will advocate for partnerships among stakeholders the need for a holistic support mechanism towards inclusive growth to reduce poverty and discuss the implications of development in Mindanao for social entrepreneurship.

During the summit, Aquino will discuss the importance of inclusive growth and social entrepreneurship in reducing poverty.

A former social entrepreneur before becoming a lawmaker, Aquino will share his experience with the Hapinoy program, which he co-founded, to delegates from the business and government sectors, officials from different universities and other NGOs from Mindanao.

Aquino will also tackle his inclusive growth bills that will help boost micro, small and medium enterprises, leading to creation of jobs and other livelihood for millions of Filipinos.

Statement of Senator Bam Aquino on Janet Lim Napoles

Do we have to thank her for her offer to return the money she stole from us?

Is this our utang na loob to her?

Even if she doesn’t return it initially, in the course of our justice system, we expect to recover the billions of pesos that Janet Lim Napoles stole from the public.

Napoles may be remorseful but it’s too late. Many sectors were deprived of important projects that were supposed to be funded by the billions of pesos that Napoles stole from government funds.

Air-Traffic Controllers Leaving for Greener Pastures Abroad – Sen. Bam

Just like its weathermen, Senator Bam Aquino warned that the country would lose many of its air-traffic controllers due to lack of benefits, ideal working conditions and job security.

“It was brought to my attention that some of our air-traffic controllers have left for greener pastures abroad while others plan to join them if their working situation will not improve in the near future,” said Aquino.

“The exodus of air-traffic controllers will mean another brain drain for the country. Also, it will slow down the operation of airports and hinder the country’s tourism, which has been steadily growing in the past years,” he added.

According to documents submitted to Aquino by concerned employees of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, about 195 of the country’s 500 air-traffic controllers hired by CAAP from the Civil Aviation Training Center are on job-order status.

“Since the CAAP was created last 2008, no CATC graduate has been issued an appointment or not one became a regular employee,” Aquino said.

“They are hired as air traffic controller assistants but they perform the duties and responsibilities that of a regular rated ATC once they obtain a rating,” the senator added.

The lack of job security has forced five experienced ATC to leave the country for a better job abroad, leaving other ATCs with additional workload that leads to longer working hours.

“This is very unproductive and at the same time dangerous because it causes undue stress to our air traffic controllers. In our job where safety is the top priority, a sound mind and relaxed body is a necessity,” Aquino said.

The CATC cannot provide immediate replacements to the posts vacated by several ATCs because the job requires special skills and time, Aquino emphasized.

Before the situation worsens, Aquino called on the CAAP and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to look into the plight of the country’s ATCs before things turn for the worse.

Tax Exemption for Business Virgins – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino has filed a measure granting start-up businesses tax exemption from operations for two years.

Aquino said Senate Bill 2217, also known as the Start-Up Business Bill, would provide these enterprises the proper time to stand on their own as they try to create a niche in the market.

“The intervention provides the opportunity for these start-ups to get organized, establish their business operations and market base,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The measure proposes a tax exemption from operations for two years, given that these enterprises are not an affiliate, a subsidiary or a franchise of any existing company.

Also, these start-ups must not have any other existing registered company in case of a sole proprietorship.

“They should have at least five percent share with no nominal stockholders and a in case of a corporation, a venture capitalist should only have up to fifteen percent of total outstanding shares,” Aquino said.

The senator believes that the passage of his bill will legitimize the start-ups’ role in the economy and the acknowledgement of the State’s commitment to innovation.

“Start-ups have the potential to spur and spread such innovation.  As these enterprises have likewise the appetite to take on more risks, they would fuel creativity and challenge existing ways of doing business,” he said.

Aquino added that the growth of start-ups would be beneficial for more Filipinos who have the innate talent of working with limited resources but able to fashion out contemporary ideas.

“Let them grow, and by the end of two years, they will be able to pay the right taxes and join the formal economy,” the lawmaker stressed.

“The idea is not to exempt businesses, but to give them space to grow,” he said.

 

Photo source: startuphyderabad.com

Statement of Senator Bam Aquino on the Napolist

Whether she’s most guilty or least guilty, Janet Lim Napoles is still guilty and should be held accountable for her actions.

The veracity of her affidavit will determine whether her apology to the public is real and heartfelt or if she’s just destroying the reputation of innocent government officials.

That’s why the Department of Justice needs to scrutinize it thoroughly and compare it with the earlier testimonies of Benhur Luy, Ruby Tuason and other whistleblowers.

The other cases filed with the Ombudsman underwent the same process so it is imperative that Napoles’ affidavit goes through the same process to determine its truthfulness.

If it will be established that Napoles is lying, then she wasted the only opportunity to redeem herself for her sins against the public.

 

Sen. Bam, DTI Inspect Prices, Quality of School Supplies in Divisoria

Days before the start of classes, the Office of Senator Bam Aquino and concerned government agencies conducted a joint test-buy operation Thursday (May 29) to check prices and ensure quality of school supplies in Divisoria, Manila.

The group, led by Aquino and Trade Secretary Gregory purchased school supplies from different stores in Tutuban to check on their prices and quality.

Also, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) officials joined the operation and inspected several school supplies, including crayons, for safety issues.

“As we all know, Divisoria is a favorite destination for budget-conscious shoppers of school supplies so we want to know if stores follow the suggested retail prices set by the DTI,” said Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“Aside from checking prices, there is also the need to check the labels of school supplies being sold to ensure that consumers are getting their money’s worth down to the last centavo,” Secretary Domingo added.

Aquino warned that violation of existing quality standards and labeling requirements is punishable under the Consumer Act.

School supplies covered by PNS are crayons, wood-cased black lead pencils, pencil sharpeners, writing chalk, bond paper, notebooks, grade school pad, ruler, white board marker, correction fluid, paper clips, glue, ball point pen and refill, and, eraser.

The Trade Secretary said that stalls that sell non-conforming school supplies would be issued a show-cause letter and given 48 hours to respond.

“If they are found to have a violation, a notice of violation can be immediately issued,” Domingo said.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Hearing on the Slow and Expensive Internet Connection

Q: Kumusta po ang inyong hearing?

A: Marami pang kailangang pag-usapan, to be frank. We just suspended the hearing but you can expect that in a few months, we will have another hearing on this because marami pang unresolved issues.

 

Changes in Advertising

We talked mostly about the problems today but I really want to talk about solutions. One I think iyong changes sa ating advertising, I think that would be quite good for our consumers na mas malinaw kung ano ang nakukuha nila pagdating sa Internet.

Congestion

Pangalawa iyong pagdating sa congestion. We’ve instructed NTC to actually check if indeed congestion is the main problem kung bakit mabagal ang Internet.

Sabi ko nga, kung congestion ito na once in a blue moon, then maybe you can say ok at that particular time, mahina ang Internet. But if it a regular type of congestion, araw-araw mong nararanasan, that’s something that has to be addressed regularly.

Value-Added Service vs. Basic Service

Now, NTC has said na Internet natin is considered as a value-added service, hindi siya basic service meaning hindi siya makapagregulate nang todo-todo dahil hindi ito kasama sa basic services natin.

I think that can be one of the laws that could be amended na gawin nating basic service ang Internet. It is already recognized as a human right and if we make it a basic service, at least puwede talaga nating bantayan kung paano ito puwedeng maikalat sa maraming Pilipino, at the right cost and at the right service level.

Next Step: Technical Working Group

The TWG will probably tackle this more in detail. Hopefully aantabayanan po natin iyan kung paano gumalaw.

Kasi ang nagiging problema sa maraming hearing, nag-uusap-usap pero walang nangyayari.

Hindi natin iiwanan ang isyung ito.

Every quarter we can have this hearing and make sure that we get closer to affordable and quality Internet for our country.

 

Q: Puwede bang babaan ang charges sa Internet na mabagal?

A. Sa totoo lang, NTC cannot regulate even on that because it’s not a basic service.

It is a market driven system right now.  If we’re able to make Internet a basic service, it can one of the services which is regulated.

Alam naman natin na sa ating bansa, may mga regulators tayo, they can basically dictate the prices for certain services and if we’re able to make Internet a basic service, puwede nang gawin iyan. Puwede nang mag-regulate.

 

Q: Sir ano ang mga standards that you want to set?

A: In fact, in the Philippine Digital Strategy, nakalagay doon na by 2016, kailangang 80 percent na ng ating mga kababayan ang mayroong internet access and nasa minimum of 2 MPBS.

Mayroon na tayong standard na kailangang sundan. This Philippine Digital Strategy was made by DOST in 2010.

In fact, binabantayan natin kung umaabot tayo sa standards na iyon. According to the private sector and NTC, mukhang maaabot naman ang 80 percent access by 2016.

But iyong regularity of speed and iyong cost ang dapat bantayan, na dapat affordable pa rin ito at tuluy-tuloy at hindi dapat pawala-wala.

 

Q: Sino ba dapat magre-regulate? Dapat pa ba tayong mag-create ng regulator?

We have a regulator and that’s the NTC. So alam ninyo iyong isang na-reason kanina ay do we need new laws or just have NTC regulate.

In some cases, puwede na silang mag-regulate but in case of the Internet, na hindi considered as basic service, kailangan itong gawing basic service.

 

Q: Sir, how do we do that?

We’ll amend the Public Service Act, which is a 1936 law.

Isipin mo, we’re talking about high-tech information age and we’re still using a 1936 law.

So it’s about time that we update this law and we use those amendments to really push for better access, more affordable internet in the Philippines.

 

Q: This means powerless po ang government?

No that’s not right. In fact, we asked NTC to come up with standards for Internet. Initially, walang pa silang standard na sini-set because this is a value added service.

Standards

To respond lang sa hinaing ng maraming Pilipino, kahit iyong ibang senador may hinaing na rin sila, it’s just right that they come up with standards to check the infrastructure kung talagang kaya ng infrastructure natin ang pinapangakong speed ng ating Internet.

Kung hindi, pilitin natin ang private sector na ma-match ang standards na nakalay-out na at gagawin ng NTC.

Responsibility of Users

Iyong kabaligtad din dito I think, we must be responsible users of the Internet just to be fair. Earlier nga na-mention na iilang tao lang na heavy users, apektado ang lahat.

Kung 24/7 ka sa mobile, panay ang download mo, nakakaapekto sa mga kasama mo.

 

Q: Sir in your next hearing ano po ang tututukan ninyo?

A: First we’ll have a TWG. All of the resource speakers, the NTC, DOST, DTI and telco partners. We’ll invite the other ISPs. I think mahalaga rin dito ang ating local government units.

 

Puro Salita

Himayin natin ang discussion natin and come up with specific recommendations and from there, we’ll give it maybe two to three months to have another hearing para ma-track natin kung may nangyayari ba o wala.

Ang masakit kasi, puro salita at walang nangyayari. By the next hearing, after three months, we can check already, mayroon ba tayong solusyon na naihain o nagawa na o wala pa rin.

 

On Local Government Units

Iyon isa ring siguro na na-raise ay iyong sa local government units. Sinasabi ng ating telcos, hindi pare-pareho ang pagtrato sa kanila ng LGUs. There are some LGUs who will charge a really high amount, ang iba naman will charge less.

Nahihirapan sila (telcos) na i-roll out ang kanilang services. Kaya it’s important also to have the DILG, League of Cities and the League of Municipalities to have a common stand that when it comes to Internet and providing, kailangang tulung-tulong tayo rito.

On Congestion

Standards when it terms to congestion. At the minimum, they can actually show kung iyong infrastructure natin nagma-match sa population or Internet usage, para kung congestion nga ang problema, makita natin kung ano ang paraan kung anong ma-decongest natin.

Q: What’s the issue with Internet peering?

A: Well this is something NTC is already working on. We’ll ask for an update on the next hearing or during the TWG.

Ibig sabihih nito nagko-connect locally ang ating mga nodes. To be frank, maybe a technical answer might be better.

 

Paikot-ikot

Simply put, kunyari galing akong Quezon City pupunta akong Makati, dadaan akong EDSA. Hindi na ako iikot sa Manila Bay, pupunta pa sa Cebu at babalik pa bago makarating sa Makati.

This makes the nodes faster. I think NTC is already working on this, and we’ll look for updates after three months on this issue.

 

Q. Kasama po ba ang mga text na pinapadala ng network na may promo sa resolusyon ninyo?

A: It’s not part of the resolution but we can add it.

 

Q: Kung minsan matutulog ka na lang may magtetext, akala ko importante.

A: I can have that checked. Pag nandoon na ang NTC puwede nating patanong iyon. But primarily kasi, the question is more on the expensive Internet.

Compared to other countries, medyo lumalayo na ang presyo. So we’re hoping kung ma-refer na siya sa aming committee today, we’re hoping to have the hearing next week.

 

Q: Hindi magkakalayo ang mga rates nila, so puwede ba nating sabihin na maaaring may cartel rin sila?

A: Hard to say that that’s a crime.

 

Fair Competition

But babalik din tayo diyan sa competition policy. That’s one of the bills we’re pushing for.  If you have better competition, you have more people in the market, mas competitive, mas bababa ang presyo.

 

Roadmap for Internet

Primarily gusto naming tanungin sa NTC, ano ang roadmap natin.

Technically, regulated industry iyan, NTC should have a roadmap in terms of the price and quality.

Unfortunately, napag-iwanan na tayo ng ibang mga bansa so we want to see. Antabayanan natin kung anong sasabihin nila.

Scroll to top