Author: teambam

BIDA KA!: Sama-sama tayo sa pag-unlad ng edukasyon

Mga bida, napakalaking ta­gum­pay ang natamo ng Senado kama­kailan nang aprubahan nito ang P8.3 bilyong alokasyon sa 2017 budget para sa libreng tuition fee sa state colleges and universities (SUCs).

Orihinal na nakalaan ang nasa­bing pondo sa ibang proyekto suba­lit nasilip ni Sen. Ping Lacson na puwede itong gamitin sa edukasyon.

Kaya naman inilipat ito sa Commission on Higher Education para ipantustos sa libreng tuition fees sa SUCs, sa pagsisikap din ng Committee on Finance ng Senado na pinamumunuan ni Sen. Loren Legarda.

Bilang chairman ng Committee on Education sa Senado, naniniwala tayo na ang nasabing pondo ay isang magandang panimula sa isinusulong nating batas upang maging libre na ang tuition fee sa SUCs, hindi lang sa 2017, ngunit sa ­susunod na mga taon.

***

Ngayong may pondo na para sa libreng tuition fee sa SUCs, kailangan namang kilusin ng Senado ang pagpasa ng nasabing batas.

Ngayong 17th Congress, inihain natin ang Senate Bill No. 177 o ang Free Higher Education for All Act na nagbibigay ng libreng free tuition fee sa lahat ng mga estudyante ng SUCs.

Maliban sa ating panukala, may lima pang katulad na bill ang nakahain sa Senado at kasalukuyang dinidinig sa Committee on Education na ating pinamumunuan.

Kapag naisabatas ito, magiging regular na sa taunang ­budget ang pondo para sa libreng tuition fee sa SUCs.

Dahil sa suportang inaani ng mga panukala sa Senado, umaasa tayong maisasabatas ito sa Pebrero o Marso upang mapakinabangan na pagpasok ng Hunyo ng susunod na taon.

 

***

Malaking isyu ang edukasyon at kailangan nating gawin ang ating bahagi upang maisakatuparan ang mga kailangang reporma para sa kapakanan ng taumbayan.

Nagpapasalamat tayo kina Sen. Legarda at Sen. Lacson sa pagpupursigi na maisama ang P8.3 bilyon sa 2017 budget para sa libreng tuition fee sa SUCs.

Kasama rin natin sa adbokasiyang ito sina Senador Ralph Recto, Win Gatchalian, Chiz Escudero, JV Ejercito at ­Sonny Angara.

Matagal din itong ipinaglaban nina Cong. Sarah Elago ng Kabataan Partylist, si Cong. Ann Hofer sa Kamara at ng ­Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Ngayon pa lang, nagpapasalamat din tayo sa executive branch na magpapatupad ng libreng tuition fee sa SUC kapag naaprubahan ang 2017 budget.

Huwag nating pulitikahin ang edukasyon. Ang edukasyon ay napakaimportanteng bagay na kailangan nating pagtulu­ngan upang mapalago at mapakinabangan ng nakararami ­tungo sa pag-asenso.

TRANSCRIPT: Bam on free tuition fee in SUCs

Transcript of “Umagang Kay Ganda” interview

 

Q: Senator, paano po ba ang proseso ng deliberation at paano tayo nakaabot sa ganitong klaseng desisyon in terms of making a law para magbigay ng ganung subsidy sa mga estudyante?

 

Sen. Bam: Dalawang bagay. Unang-una, iyong budget for 2017 iyan iyong katatapos pa lang at may nakalaan na P8.3 billion budget for next year sa ating SUCs para sa libreng tuition ng mga estudyante. That’s for next year.

 Iyan ipinaglaban natin ng ating chairperson ng finance, si Senator Legarda, si Senator Lacson. Ang iba sa amin sumuporta po diyan.

 In fairness, pumayag naman ang Kongreso na ilagay iyan sa ating budget. For next year, okay na po iyan.

Ang gusto po natin, in succeeding years, maging institutional na po ito, na libre talaga ang tuition fee sa ating mga eskuwelahan.

Kaya tinutulak po namin iyong Free Tuition Fee in SUCs Act that we’re hoping to pass by March of next year para by June, nakalaan na rin ang mga detalye kung paano ito i-implement and for the succeeding years na rin.

 

Q: Senator, para lang di magkaroon ng kalituhan. Kunwari ang magulang bitbitin ang anak niya next year, i-enroll sa SUC, pag sinabing libre ang matrikula, wala na talagang babayaran?

 

Sen. Bam: Hindi po kasi ang binabayaran ng ating mga estudyante, mayroong tuition fee, mayroon miscellaneous expense. Kung ang kurso mo may laboratory, may laboratory expense pa ito. Kung engineering ka, mas malaki ang ibabayad mo.

Itong tuition fee is about 30 to 40 percent of the cost ng ating mga estudyante. Kahit paano, malaking tulong pa rin ito pero hindi po totally free.

 Ito po ay isang bagay na tinatrabaho pa natin. Hopefully, in the succeeding years, mas maging mura talaga at maging ganap na libre na ang ating tuition fee.

 For now, ang pinag-uusapan po ay tuition fee na 30 to 40 percent.

 

Q: Magkano ang inilaan ng gobyerno sa bawat estudyante sa taong 2017?

 

Sen. Bam: Roughly its about P8,000. Iyong average kasi natin is somewhere there. May mga ibang SUCs, nasa P6,000 a year. In fact, last week galing tayong Cagayan at Isabela, doon P3,000 per sem lang ang kanilang tuition fee.

 Noong nakaraang buwan naman, galing tayong Negros Occidental, P8,000 iyong kanilang tuition fee per sem. So magkakaiba.

 

Q: Lahat po ba ng estudyante iyan? Kasi halimbawa sa eskuwelahan ni Atom Araullo, ang mga estudyante diyan puro de kotse. Mas marami pa ang kotse ng estudyante kaysa sa teacher.

 

Sen. Bam: Actually, iba talaga rin ang sitwasyon ng UP. Kasi UP, being the premier university, kasama ang UP dito. Kasama siya sa state university and college. Although admittedly, mas malaki porsiyento talaga ng nasa UP ngayon ang masasabing may kaya.

But karamihan, the other 113 SUCs natin, iyong karamihan po diyan, mga kabataang nangangailangan.

Ang inilaan po namin na free tuition fee at iyong binabalak po natin sa batas ay walang diskriminasyon, walang pinipiling bracketing, walang pinipiling kurso.

 Lahat talaga ng pumapasok sa government state university at college, iyon po dapat libre na ang tuition. Iyon ang intention ng ating batas.

 

Q: Halimbawa sa UP, ang per unit sa UP ngayon is P1,500. Pinakamahal sa lahat ng mga SUC pagdating sa tuition. Kaya ko tinatanong na pati ang mapepera… siguro naman, kung nanonood sa atin ang mga kabarkada ko diyan sa Forbes Park na nag-aaral sa UP, baka puwedeng i-waive niyo na kung walang specific na makikinabang dito.

 

Sen. Bam: Alam mo Anthony (Taberna), the truth is kasi iyong UP system, isang school system iyan compared to nakapakaraming SUCs, Cagayan State, Isabela State, Tarlac State, Central Luzon State.

 Kahit kasama ang UP dito, masasabi nating sila talaga ang medyo outlier o medyo kakaiba talaga ang sitwasyon. But iyong karamihan, majority kung hindi man close to 70 to 80 percent, mga kabataang nangangailangan.

 Mahirap kasing gawing standard iyong UP Diliman ang standard mo for SUCs. Iba talaga siya.

 Hopefully by March next year, pasado na ang batas, maging yearly itong budget item na ito and talagang malibre natin itong part.

 Ang sabi lang namin, baka naman ilibre mo iyong tuition fee, iyong miscellaneous dumoble. Kailangan talagang bantayan na hindi tataas ang ibang fees habang nililibre mo ang tuition.

 

Q: Napag-usapan nga namin ni Tunying kahapon. Katulad sa amin sa Bulacan State University, pag nalibre po senator next year, kung saka-sakali ang mga susunod na taon, hindi naman ni-release ang budget, mahihinto sa pag-aaral, dropout.

 

Sen. Bam: Kaya namin gustong isabatas ito. Kasi ang budget mo, is good for one year. Definitely, malaking bagay po itong ginawa ng mga kasamahan natin sa Senate na ipasok ito for next year but gusto natin itong makita na regular and yearly.

Sana po ay maging yearly na with the passage of our bill.

 

Q: Bakit ang pahayag ng ibang senador ay P12,000 ang laan sa ibang estudyante ng SUCs, bakit ang nabanggit niyo ay P8,000. Ano ba talaga?

 

Sen. Bam: Magkakaiba kasi iyong per SUC. In some SUCs, P12,000 ang kanilang per year. Iyong iba nga P6,000 lang. More or less, ma-a-average out iyan. But ang balak talaga niyan, wala ka nang ilalabas para sa tuition fee.

 

Q: Sino ba talaga ang dapat naming pasalamatan natin dito? Pasensiya na, sa ganda ng istorya, nag-aagawan po ang sinu-sino. Sa inyo na po manggaling.

 

Sen. Bam: Panahon ng pagbibigayan. Dapat lahat ng kasama, masabi natin na mabigyan ng tamang praise. To be fair, ito po’y naging Senate initiative, wala po ito sa original budget.

 Naitulak po ito ni Sen. Legarda at Sen. Lacson. Ang iba nating mga kasama po natin na may ganitong adbokasiya, si Sen. Gatchalian, Recto, Angara, Escudero, marami ho.

 In fairness, noong hinarap natin ito sa Kongreso, pumayag din.

Matagal na itong pinaglalaban ni Cong. Sarah ng Kabataan Partylist, si Cong. Hofer.

 Kapag pinirmahan ni President Duterte ito, mayroon ding siyempreng praise para sa kanya dahil naituloy ito.  Si CHED is also behind this.

Huwag na nating pulitikahin ang edukasyon. Ang edukasyon napaka-importanteng bagay, kailangan tayong magtulungan.

 

Q: For the record, ito po kasing P8.3 billion na ito, originally sa ARMM po ito. Tapos ginawa ng ibang congressman, nilagay sa national DPWH. Noong nakita ni Sen. Lacson, pork barrel. Nabisto po ni Sen. Lacson kaya ang P8.3 billion from DPWH napunta po sa SUCs.

 

Sen. Bam: Tama iyan. Just for the record. And hopefully by next year, nagkakasundo naman ulit tayo dito, gawin na nating yearly. Ituloy natin ang batas na iyon.

Bam: Free college tuition fee bill expected to be passed next year

Sen. Bam Aquino is optimistic that measures pushing for free tuition fees in state colleges and universities will be enacted into law next year.

 “We’re hoping we can pass this by February or March in time for June school year at para libre na ang college tuition every school year,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, during a media interview in Tuguegarao City.

“Masaya rin tayo na maraming senador ang sumusuporta sa panukalang ito na ng libreng tuition fee ang mga mahihirap na estudyante sa ating SUCs,” added Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from Sen. Bam’s bill, five other similar measures were filed in the Senate during the 17th Congress.

While P8 billion was already earmarked for free tuition fees in SUCs in next year’s budget, Sen. Bam stressed that a law is needed to make it a regular item in succeeding national budgets.

“Malaking bagay po ang dagdag na budget na ito but hopefully, by next year, we can do the accompanying law na maglalaan ng regular na pondo para rito bawat taon,” Sen. Bam said.

 During his visit to several state colleges in Cagayan and Isabela recently, Sen. Bam also held a dialogue with students, informing them about the education-related bills he has filed in the 17th Congress.

 Among them is the Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which recently hurdled the committee level and will be discussed in plenary next year.

Sen. Bam also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

 

Bam pushes for greater internet access and free internet in public places

A measure providing free internet connectivity in public places and improving internet access across the Philippines is now closer to becoming a law, according to its main proponent, Sen. Bam Aquino.

 Sen. Bam said Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act passed the committee level and is slated for plenary deliberations.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committees on Education and Science and Technology, free internet access will be provided in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 “It is imperative that we institutionalize this very important platform – to improve access to quality Internet in the Philippines especially when only 52.6% of Filipinos have Internet access,” said Sen. Bam.

 Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program.

 “The DICT will also take the lead in coordinating with local government units to ensure the on-ground implementation of the program,” said Sen. Bam in his sponsorship speech.

 The measure will also authorize the DICT to streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of equipment necessary, in coordination with national government agencies and local government units.

 “Now is the time to invest completely in developing internet quality and bringing this powerful tool to every port, every station, every park, every museum, and every classroom in the Philippines,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1050 seeking to connect all public educational institutions to the internet to help students enhance their personal and academic development.

 In a previous hearing, it was discovered that only 26 percent of public schools in the country have Internet access, which is detrimental to the progress of education.

BIDA KA!: Ang isyung internet at ang national broadband plan

Mga bida, isa sa mga itinutulak natin sa Senado ay mapabilis at mapamura ang halaga ng internet sa bansa.

Ilang beses na rin tayong nagsagawa ng pagdinig upang alamin ang pangangailangan upang mangyari ang matagal na nating pangarap.

Isa sa problema na parating lumilitaw sa ating pagdinig ay ang kakulangan ng imprastruktura kaya hindi makaabot ang internet sa malalayong lugar sa bansa.

Isa sa mga tinitingnan nating solusyon ay ang pagbuo ng pamahalaan ng isang national broadband plan upang madagdagan ang mga kasalukuyang imprastruktura na pag-aari ng gobyerno at pribadong sektor.

Ang national broadband plan ay unang ipinangako sa atin ng bagong tatag na Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), na siyang nakatutok upang mapaganda ang sitwasyon ng internet sa bansa.

***

Noong nakaraang linggo, inilahad sa atin ng DICT ang inisyal na bahagi ng national broadband plan.

Ayon sa DICT, mangangailangan ng P75 bilyon ang kanilang plano na maisasagawa sa loob ng dalawa hanggang tatlong taon.

Tatlong opsiyon ang tinitingnan ng DICT. Una ay itatayo ng pamahalaan ang karagdagang imprastruktura upang paabutin ang internet sa malalayong lugar. Maaaring iparenta ng pamahalaan ang paggamit ng mga imprastrukturang ito sa mga pribadong telcos.

Ang ikalawang opsiyon ay ang pagsaayos ng imprastruktura at paggawa ng isang broadband network na magkokonekta sa bawat opisina ng gobyerno, at makakapagsigurong may point of access sa bawat munisipalidad.

 

Sa ganitong sitwasyon, kunwari ang cable ng internet ay hanggang city hall lang, mas malapit na ang pagsisimulan ng proyekto upang maikonekta ang mga karatig na barangay. Ang proyekto ay maaaring gawin mismo ng gobyerno, o puwedeng ipaubaya sa pribadong sektor.

Ang ikatlong opsiyon ay magtayo at magpatakbo ng sarili nitong broadband network, na magbibigay ng koneksyon hanggang sa bawat user bilang pangatlong telco ng ating bansa, na mas magastos at mas kumplikado.

Kung susundin ang timetable ng DICT, sa ikalawang bahagi ng 2017 ay kumpleto na ang national broadband plan ng pamahalaan at handa nang ipakita sa ating kumite upang mapag-aralan at mapaglaanan ng pondo.

***

Naniniwala ako na sa tulong ng national broadband plan at ng Philippine Competition Act, malapit na nating makamit ang nais nating mabilis at abot-kayang internet.

Dapat ding maengganyo ang mga dayuhang mamumuhunan na pumasok sa bansa at makipag-partner sa mga Pilipinong kumpanya upang magkaroon ng maraming pagpipiliang telco ang taumbayan.

***

Maliban pa rito, dapat ding bantayan ang pagkuha ng congressional franchise at permit ng mga nais pumasok sa telecommunications industry.

Sa hearing, sinabi ng National Telecommunications Commission na aabutin ng anim na buwan bago makakuha ng permit sa pagtatayo ng pasilidad.

Kaya naman, pinaalala ko sa kanila na isa sa mga pangako ng bagong administrasyon ay ang pagpapabilis ng pagkuha ng permit sa tanggapan ng pamahalaan.

Importanteng hindi maantala ang pagkuha ng franchise at permit upang madagdagan pa ang mga player sa merkado.

Kapag nangyari ito, magkakaroon ng kumpetisyon, gaganda ang kalidad ng kanilang serbisyo sa ating lahat.

Mga bida, kumplikado at magastos sa pera at oras ang mga solusyon sa mahina at mabagal na internet sa bansa.

Subalit kailangang ituloy ang ating pagbantay at pagtrabaho upang maging abot-kaya ang mabilis na internet sa bansa.

Sponsorship Speech: An Act Establishing Free Internet Access in Public Places Act

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, December 14, 2016

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

 Today, it is an honor to address you, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, to sponsor an audacious policy that will enable us to leapfrog Internet access in the Philippines.

 I stand before you to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1277 in substitution of S.B. Nos. 58, 190, 816, and 1050, entitled “An Act Establishing The Free Internet Access Program In Public Spaces In The Country And Appropriating Funds Thereof, otherwise known as “Free Internet Access in Public Places Act” which seeks to install free internet access points in public places all throughout the country.

—

 Friends, meet Jose.

Jose wishes to escape the city and travel the entire Philippines to discover with his own eyes the wonders of our country.

Jose will not let work stop him. He can work remotely and send his reports via email.

Jose won’t even let his girlfriend stop him. They can always message one another and even go on video-call dates while he is away.

 All Jose is waiting for is for, Mr. President, is for Internet in the Philippines to be available in every island, mountain, and valley.

—

Mr. President, napaka importante ng internet sa buhay natin.

Para kay Jose, ito’y importante para makapaglibot sa Pilipinas, mag-post ng mga selfie sa Mayon, magtrabaho mula sa kubo, at makipag-online date sa gitna ng mangrove sa Palawan.

 Para sa iba nating kababayan, ito’y mahalaga para makausap at humingi ng payo mula sa amang nagtatrabaho sa Saudi.

Para sa mga call center agent, ang internet ang nag-uugnay sa kanila at kanilang mga kausap abroad.

Para sa mga freelancers, ito’y kailangan para makausap ng maayos ang kliente at mapadala ang hinihinging trabaho.

 Para sa mga negosyanteng Pinoy, ito’y nagagamit sa pagbebenta ng gamit o paghahanap ng mga bagong supply.

Para sa maraming unemployed, ito’y importante para makapag-apply sa mas maraming trabaho online.

Para sa mga guro at mag-aaral, ang internet ang pinanggagalingan ng research, ng learning materials, at modules.

And yet, Mr. President, only about 52.6% of Filipinos have access to Internet services (ITU).

Compared to our neighbors, we are clearly lagging behind in Internet access. The same study shows that 81.3% of Singaporeans, 68% of Malaysians and 60.1% of Thais can access the Internet.

For this reason, Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, it is imperative that we institutionalize this very important platform – to improve access to quality Internet in the Philippines and provide free internet connectivity in public spaces.

The Free Internet Access in Public Places Act mandates the establishment of the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and end-user platform needed to give all Filipinos free internet access in public spaces. 

Under this act, all national and local government offices, public schools – from elementary to tertiary – public transport terminals, public hospitals, and public libraries will have free internet access. 

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) shall be charged with developing a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program. They shall also take the lead in coordinating with local government units to ensure the on-ground implementation of the program. 

Most importantly, the DICT shall be authorized to streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of equipment necessary – a major hurdle faced by companies seeking to build internet infrastructure. 

To address this, national government agencies and local government units will also have the responsibility of coordinating with the DICT and DILG to fast-track these permits and certificates necessary for the program’s roll-out. 

They shall also be in charge of maintaining and safeguarding the program and its equipment with a designated on-site coordinator. 

 Offering Filipinos free high-quality internet access in public places is going to revolutionize the way that we go about our day and open our minds to boundless possibilities for how we can make our lives, our families, and our communities better.

 Mr. President, noong ako’y napuntang Bacolod, bumisita po ako sa Alegria Elementary School kung saan nakilala ko si Baryeth. Siya’y Grade 6 student na miyembro rin ng student council.

 Ang request po niya sakin: sana mayroon na silang internet connection sa paaralan para magawa nila ng mabilis at maayos ang kanilang mga school project.

Mr. President, 26% lang ng ating mga public schools ang may access sa internet at karamihan pa sa mga paaralang mayroong internet ay nagtiyatiyaga sa mga USB dongle.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, now is the time to invest completely in developing internet quality and bringing this powerful tool to every port, every station, every park, every museum, and every classroom in the Philippines.

 Imagine tourist sites with free Internet access, where travelers from here and abroad can read up on historical sites and post beautiful photos of our country on social media.

Imagine museums with free WIFI and downloadable applications so visitors can learn more about our arts and culture.

Imagine strolling through a public park and connecting to free Internet so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re missing out on important emails.

 Imagine getting last-minute work done at an airport or seaport while waiting to go on your next adventure.

 And imagine hundreds of state universities and thousands of public schools with access to world-class learning materials and educational videos, making the most out of the World Wide Web to enhance learning.

Kung hindi po ngayon, kailan pa? Ang internet ay maaaring maging susi sa pag-unlad ng bawat Pilipino – at susi sa pagtupad ng Philippine travel dreams ni Jose.

 Let’s pass the Free Internet in Public Places Act and arm Filipinos with the power of connectivity, the power of information, and the power of education!

Bam: Trabaho Centers in Schools Act to address unemployment and jobs mismatch, up for plenary discussions

A measure establishing job placement centers in high schools and state colleges and universities (SUCs) has hurdled the committee level and will be up for plenary discussions, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

 In his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, said the bill, if enacted into law, will help ensure that suitable jobs await both high school and college graduates.

 By institutionalizing job placement offices in public schools and SUCs, Sen. Bam said it will help create employment opportunities and address the prevalent jobs mismatch in the country by serving as bridge between the job market and supply of graduates.

 “Nag-aral at nagtapos. Nagtrabaho at umasenso. Iyan ang pangarap natin para sa bawat Pilipino. Siguraduhin natin na may trabahong naghihintay para sa bawat graduate,” said Sen. Bam, also the author of the measure.

 “Siguraduhin rin natin na may sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan ang mga bagong graduate na punuin ang mga job vacancies,” he added.

 Based on latest data from the Philippine Statistics Office, the country’s unemployment rate is 4.7 percent with over 2 million jobless Filipinos. The number of underemployed Filipinos is pegged at 7.51 million.

“Clearly, there is a need, not only to generate employment opportunities, but also to address the jobs mismatch in the country,” Sen. Bam said.

 The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.

The Trabaho Center must maintain an updated database of employers, contacts, and job opportunities in the locality and utilize this to provide students counseling on lucrative field of study and what specific jobs they can expect to apply for upon graduation.

  “The key to the success of each Trabaho Center is its relationship with potential employers and industries in their area,” Sen. Bam said.

 The Trabaho Centers can address the skills mismatch by giving feedback for teaching modules and working with TESDA to better develop the skills of graduates and ensure employability upon graduation.

 “This simple intervention can strengthen the link between education and employment and can build a steady bridge for our graduates to cross over to stable jobs and sustainable livelihood,” said Sen. Bam.

Sponsorship Speech: Trabaho Center in Schools Act

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, December 13, 2016

  

Good afternoon, Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues.  Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

I am honored to address you today as I sponsor a policy that seeks to empower every Filipino graduate with gainful employment by bridging our schools and industries.

 Senate Bill No. 1278, Under Committee Report No. 20 entitled: An Act Establishing Job Placement Offices in Public High Schools to Provide Career Services to the Youth also known as the Trabaho Center in Schools Act seeks to ensure that every high school graduate in the Philippines can join the workforce and build a successful career by institutionalizing job placement offices in our public schools and State Universities and Colleges.

 “Nag-aral. Nag-apply. Nabigo.” Isa po ito sa mga sikat naming post sa Facebook.

 Marami po ang nag-like, nag-share, at nag-comment ng kanilang karanasan sa paghahanap ng trabaho. Marami po ang nagsikap sa pag-aaral, gumaan ang loob sa pagtatapos at pag-graduate, ngunit nahirapan pa ring makahanap ng trabaho. Marami po ang naka-relate sa pagkabigo sa job hunt.

 Unfortunately, Mr. President, graduating from high school – even earning a college degree – is not a guarantee of finding a job and kickstarting a career.

As you know, one of the promises of the K to 12 Program is that even high school graduates should be ready and able to seize employment opportunities right after Grade 12. Ngunit marami pa rin po tayong maaaring gawin para masigurado ang pangarap na ito.

 Mr. President, in data released by the Philippine Statistics Office, the unemployment rate is at 4.7% with over 2 million jobless Filipinos. The number of underemployed Filipinos is also quite staggering – 7.51 million Filipinos. Clearly, there is a need, not only to generate employment opportunities, but also to address the jobs mismatch in the country.

 Let’s make sure that all the hard work of our students, their parents, and their teachers do not go to waste. Let’s ensure that there are suitable jobs waiting for students – and that our students are ready to take them on once they graduate.

 Mr. President, the Trabaho Center in Schools Act will serve as that bridge between the job market and the supply of graduates. It mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) CareerCoaching, and 3) Employment Facilitation. The key to success of the Trabaho Center is its relationship with – and knowledge of – potential employers and industries in their area.

 The Trabaho Centers will link with industries to create a functional academic-industry partnership so there can be continuous checking and updating of curricila and courses offered to our students, especially on the tech-voc track in our K to 12 system. They must maintain an updated database of employers, contacts, and job opportunities in the locality and use this data to provide students coaching on what fields of study are available and what specific jobs they can expect to apply for upon graduation. With an updated database and a deep understanding of the needs of companies and employers, these Trabaho Centers can move beyond the usual aptitude tests and vague, conceptual career advice. Career coaching in our Trabaho Centers must be well informed and practical.

 Knowing the needs of the job market and being aware of the skills and knowledge of students, Trabaho Centers can also go beyond job fairs and pre-employment seminars when it comes to employment facilitation. Our responsive Trabaho Centers can address the skills mismatch from within our schools, giving feedback for teaching modules and even working with TESDA to better develop the skills of graduates and ensure employability upon graduation. These Trabaho Centers will not only provide information on the available jobs, but also help schools improve their approaches and regularly update their lessons.

This simple intervention can strengthen the link between education and employment, and can build a steady bridge for our graduates to cross over to stable jobs and sustainable livelihood. With Trabaho Centers in every school, a diploma will be more than a symbol and a graduation will be more than a milestone. With Trabaho Centers in every school, graduates are ensured gainful employment and can look forward to a secure future.

Nag-aral at nagtapos. Nagtrabaho at umasenso. ‘Yan po ang pangarap natin para sa bawat Pilipino!

Siguraduhin po natin na may trabahong naghihintay para sa bawat graduate. Siguraduhin natin na may sapat na kaalaman at kakayahan ang mga bagong graduate na punuan ang mga job vacancies. Siguraduhin natin na maipapasa ang Trabaho Center in Schools Act!

 Mr. President and distinguished colleagues, let’s come together and rally for the future of every Filipino student! Let’s bridge that gap between free, quality education and a secure career so that we can finally beat poverty and bring forth prosperity for every Filipino! Maraming, maraming salamat po! Magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

Sponsorship Speech: Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech as delivered, December 13, 2016

  

Magandang hapon po sa ating lahat! Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues, good afternoon!

 

I stand before you today as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education to sponsor Senate Bill No.1279 in substitution of Senate Bill Numbers 23, 123, 160, 220, 406, 416, and 694, Under Committee Report No. 21 entitled: An Act Creating a National School Feeding Program to Combat Hunger and Undernutrition for All Public Basic Education Students, and For Other Purposes, otherwise known as the “Pagkaing Pinoy Para Sa Batang Pinoy Act”.

Mr. President, yesterday, we lost an exemplary Filipino and a true advocate for prosperity – Mr. Manny Perlas of Lifebank – that’s him right there with the white hair. Manny Perlas was one of the first benefactors of GK’s Kusina ng Kalinga and the group credits his leadership in the establishment of this feeding program back in 2014.

 Mr. President, this is a photo of Mr. Manny Perlas during the opening of the first ever Kusina ng Kalinga in Alang-Alang Leyte. Manny’s Kusina ng Kalinga or KnK has always been a program that brings smiles to people’s faces – whether students, teachers or volunteers!

 Mr. President, nagsimula po ang KnK sa Leyte bilang relief effort para sa public school na apektado ng Typhoon Yolanda – ang Alang-Alang I Central School, kung saan po itinayo ang unang kusina.

 Mr. President, nalaman po nila na ang numero-unong dahilan kung bakit hindi pumapasok ang isang mag-aaral ay dahil sa gutom – gutom na madali namang pawiin sa simpleng feeding program. Noong nakita nila na dahil sa KnK ay mas masigla at mas bibo sa klase ang mga estudyante, itinuloy po nila ang proyekto!

 Kumuha ang KnK ng tatlong regular na kitchen staff at nakakakuha rin sila ng sampu hanggang labinlimang volunteer na magulang sa bawat araw ng pagpasok. Kinausap ho nila ang mga lokal na magsasaka upang mag-supply ng mga ingredients, tulad ng malunggay.

 And Mr. President, thanks to Kusina ng Kalinga in Alang-Alang, Leyte, thanks to parent volunteers, and thanks to local farmers, about 2,600 students are fed nutritious meals in 4 schools (in Leyte) – Alang-Alang I Central School, Binongtoan Elementary School, M Casaus Elementary School, and San Roque Day Care Center.

 Based on their data, the number of severely malnourished children in their schools dropped from 268 to 47, that’s 11% down to 2%, spanning one school year, 2015 to 2016 (Start of Year Report vs. End of Year Report, SY 2015-2016).

 Since they started the project in Leyte in 2014, Kusina ng Kalinga now covers 61 schools and feeds over 18,000 Filipino children around the country. And, Mr. President, I’m happy to learn that Kusina ng Kalinga is not the only successful feeding program in the country.

 There are smaller movements like our friends from Navotas High School with a current program that feeds 120 students. Advancement for Rural Kids or ARK also has a feeding and livelihood program that has helped 10 communities and over 2,400 kids. There are also larger movements like Jollibee Foundation’s Busog, Lusog, Talino School Feeding Program that has covered 1,500 schools, feeding over 140,000 students from 2007 to 2014. And Mr. President, there are even more feeding programs around the Philippines!

 But unfortunately, all of these efforts are still not enough. In The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2012 study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization or FAO, it was revealed that 16 million Filipino children are considered undernourished. Mr. President, labing-anim na milyong batang Pilipino ang undernourished. Iyan po ay isang numero na napakalaki at nakakabahala.

 Sa kabilang dako naman po, ang ating mga mangingisda at magsasaka ay patanda ng patanda at pabawas ng pabawas. The average age of the 11 million Filipino farmers and fishermen is 57 years old and the average annual income of a farmer is only 20,000 pesos.

 In fact, if you look at these 3 sectors – our fishermen, farmers, and children – you will find that these sectors have the highest poverty incidence. For fishermen it is at 39.2%, for farmers it is 38.3% and 35.2% for children, according to the Philippine Statistics Office. All of this is in 2012, Mr. President.

 Kailangan nating gawan ng paraan na matulungan ang mga batang Pilipinong nahihirapang mag-aral dahil sa kumukulong tiyan. Kailangan rin po natin bigyan ng sapat, regular, at pangmatagalang kabuhayan ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.

 Mr. President and honored colleagues, aren’t these two problems pieces of the same puzzle that fit perfectly together?

 On one hand, we have children who need nutritious food and on the hand we have farmers and fishermen producing food without the means to sell. Today, we’re given the opportunity to bridge this gap and fulfill our duty to uplift the lives of our poorest countrymen. The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act can be that link between hungry young Filipinos and anxious farmers and fishermen.

 The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act will bring the progress we’ve seen in Alang-Alang, Leyte of Kusina ng Kalinga to more and more students and more and more communities across the country. The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act will institutionalize an effective feeding program, sustained by local gardens, farmers and fishermen, and powered by community engagement and volunteerism.

 Through this policy, school children in the kindergarten and elementary levels will enjoy free access to nutritious food with the DepEd ensuring that students from kindergarten to grade 6 are provided with proper meals.

 In addition, this measure includes a Gulayan sa Paaralan program to promote gardening in schools and households, which will help augment the food needs of the program and instill a sense of appreciation for food production within the community. Sa programang Gulayan sa Paaralan, matututunan po ng mga mag-aaral na pangalagahan ang pagtatanim ng pagkain at ng pagsasaka. The goal of this measure is not just to feed our hungry Filipino children but to nourish them with healthy food sourced from the community, sourced local farmers, and fishermen.

 Mr. President, when our students are healthy and fed, they grow even hungrier for knowledge and learning! Thanks to the nutritious meals, they joyfully go to school and gladly participate in the classroom.

 Sa Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, lalaki ng malakas, matalino at malusog ang kabataang Pilipino habang umaasenso naman po ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda!

 Suportahan po natin ang pagpasa ng Pagkaing Pinoy Para Pa Batang Pinoy Act para sa kabataang Pilipino, para sa ating mga mangingisda at magsasakam para sa ating komunidad, at para sa ating bayan! Maraming, maraming salamat po!

Aquino, Poe push for approval of feeding program in public schools

A senator urged colleagues to hasten passage of the proposal seeking to address hunger of students in public schools and provide additional livelihood for farmers and fisherfolk.

Sen. Bam Aquino made the call during his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1279 or the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act, that institutionalizes an effective feeding program for students of basic education.

 ​​​Being a staunch advocate of addressing hunger, ​Sen. Grace Poe co-sponsored the measure​.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, these feeding programs will be sustained by local gardens, farmers and fishermen, and powered by community engagement and volunteerism.

 “Through this policy, infants and school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food,” said Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 694, which was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1279 together with Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160 and 548.

 If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said Department of Education will be mandated to ensure that students from basic education are provided with proper meals.

 “Through this policy, school children in the basic education will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food with the Department of Education ensuring that students are provided with proper meals,” he said.

 The proposal will utilize locally sourced and locally produced food products to support local farmers and fishermen, providing them with regular income and livelihood.

 “Sa Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, lalaki nang malakas, matalino at malusog ang kabataang Pilipino habang umaasenso ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” said Sen. Bam.

 Based on 2012 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 16 million Filipino children are considered undernourished.

 Studies also show that the average age of the 11 million Filipino farmers and fishermen is 57 years old while the average annual income of a farmer is only about 20,000 pesos.

 “The Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act can be that link between hungry young Filipinos and anxious farmers and fishermen,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also pushes for the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program to promote gardening in schools and households, which will help augment the food needs of the program and instill a sense of appreciation for food production within the community.

 After sponsoring the measure, Sen. Poe thanked Sen. Bam for his speedy action on the bill and several other senators also lauded his efforts. In turn, Sen. Bam thanked his colleagues for their support behind the enactment of the measure into law.

 “With the full support of fellow lawmakers, we can definitely pass this measure quickly and, finally, feed our poor and hungry students across the country,” said Sen. Bam.

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