Author: teambam

Bam: Provide support for public school teachers

Senator Bam Aquino wants to make teaching in public schools attractive by providing teachers with additional support and incentives.

“We have enough budget to hire additional teachers but many of them find teaching in public schools unattractive because of inadequate pay, lack of benefits, and a poor working environment,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement for World Teachers Day, capping off National Teachers Month.

 The senator is currently working on a bill that will provide teachers relocation allowance, hazard pay and health care insurance.

 “This is especially relevant for teachers in far flung areas,” said Sen. Bam.

As key to the success of our education reforms and national development, Sen. Bam said teachers should be given additional support and proper compensation for our teachers while they shape the country’s future.

 Aside from additional benefits for teachers, Sen. Bam also wants to improve the working environment of public school teachers by addressing backlogs in classrooms, improving facilities, and giving all public schools access to the internet and online educational materials.

 Recently, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 173 or the Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers Act.

 If passed into law, free education in state universities nationwide will be given to children of public school teachers in all levels, whether they want to pursue baccalaureate degrees or short-term training course.

According to the measure, the full subsidy program shall cover 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.

Sen. Bam also filed the Nurse in Every Public School Act or Senate Bill No. 663 to support our public school teachers that are burdened with duties on top of teaching, such as administrative work and even caring for sick students.

Bam: Senate to review gov’t foreign policy

The Senate will soon conduct a review of the government’s foreign policy to clarify the direction it wants to take in terms of international relations, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

Sen. Bam said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter.

“There was openness on the part of Sen. Cayetano to have the hearing, so I hope he will schedule it soon,” said Sen. Bam, who filed a Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issue.

Sen. Bam stressed the urgency to conduct an investigation amid President Duterte’s threat to end the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“Mahalagang malinawan tayo kung anong direksiyon ba ang nais tahakin ng pamahalaan pagdating sa foreign policy,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from the EDCA issues, government officials also issued contradicting statements on different foreign policy issues, such as joint maritime patrols and the stationed American troops in Mindanao.

“I hope we can clear up these statements soon so that our strategies to protect our territory and develop our economy are aligned with the administration,” Sen. Bam stressed.

As provided in Article 2, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, Sen. Bam said a clear strategic foreign policy is integral to the country’s development.

“Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” Sen. Bam stressed.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: ‘Mentor Me’ program

Mga kanegosyo, isa sa mga mahalagang tulong na makukuha ng isang nagsisimula sa negosyo ay ang turo at gabay mula sa isang subok o kilalang negosyante.

Makailang ulit na na-ting binanggit sa ating kolum na ang pagkakaroon ng tamang mentorship ay daan tungo sa matagumpay na negosyo.

Ito ang layunin ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) nang simulan nito ang ‘Mentor Me’ program tatlong buwan na ang nakalilipas.

Sa aming panayam kay DTI Assistant Secretary Bles Lantayona sa programang Go Negosyo sa Radyo sa DZRH kamakailan, mayroon nang dalawang pilot area ang nasabing programa sa Laguna at Mandaluyong.

Sa paliwanag ni ASEC Bles, napakahalaga ang gabay at payo na makukuha ng isang papausbong na negosyante mula sa mentor na bihasa at may malawak na karanasan sa pagnenegosyo.

Kabilang sa mga mentor na nagbibigay ng tulong ay mga matagumpay na entrepreneurs at mga negos­yante na may puso na ibahagi ang kanilang kaalaman at formula sa tagumpay sa mga bagong negosyante.

Ayon kay ASEC Bles, malaking tulong ang karunungang bigay ng ‘mentor’ o iyong mga nagtuturo sa mga ‘mentee’ o iyong mga tuturuan para magtagumpay.

Sa tulong ng magaling na mentor, magkakaroon din ng inspirasyon ang isang mentee upang masundan ang yapak ng nagtuturo.

Mahalaga rin ang pagkakaroon ng unawaan o rapport sa pagitan ng mentor at mentee kaya tinitiyak ng DTI na naipaparating nang tama ng isang mentor ang kailangang kaalaman sa mga tinuturuan.

Ayon kay ASEC Bles, nakatakda na ring simulan ang ‘Mentor Me’ program sa Zamboanga, Iloilo, Cebu, Cavite, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro City, General Santos City, Davao City, Baguio, Tarlac at Lanao de Norte.

 

***

Isa sa mga mentee na nakapanayam namin ay si Jay Menes, isang stage performer na naengganyong magnegosyo na kabilang sa mga unang batch ng mga dumaan sa ‘Mentor Me’ program.

Sa kuwento ni Jay, aksidente lang ang pagkakapasok niya sa ‘Mentor Me’ program sa Negosyo Center sa Mandaluyong.

Balak lang kumuha ni Jay ng business permit ngunit naalok ng isang taga-Negosyo Center na sumali sa programa. Sa una, akala ni Jay na isang beses lang ang seminar ngunit tumagal ito ng 12 Biyernes.

Kakaiba ang karanasan si Jay sa ‘Mentor Me’ program dahil nabigyan siya ng daan upang mailabas ang kanilang mga ideya sa negosyo at maranasan ang praktikal na aplikasyon at totoong nangyayari sa merkado.

Para kay Jay, sulit ang 12 Biyernes na kanyang pinagdaanan sa ‘Mentor Me’ program dahil marami siyang natutunan sa iba’t ibang aspeto ng negosyo.

***

Natutuwa tayo sa pagbuhos ng suporta ng DTI sa Go Negosyo Act, ang kauna-unahang batas na aking naipasa noong 16th Congress.

Sa ngayon, mayroon nang 270 Negosyo Centers sa buong bansa, ang huli’y binuksan sa Capas, Tarlac kamakailan.

Ang mga Negosyo Center na ito ay handang tumulong upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga papausbong na entrepreneurs at matatagal nang negosyante para sa lalo pa nilang pag-asenso.

Bam eyes safety, livelihood of OFWs

Recognizing their immense contribution in keeping the country’s economy afloat, a senator has filed a measure that aims to ensure the safety of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) while abroad and secure their livelihood once they return to the Philippines.

In his Senate Bill No.  648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act, Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to bolster support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

“They aren’t only keeping their loved ones above water financially, they are also keeping the Philippine economy afloat with remittances reaching $16.21 billion or P764 billion from January to August 2015,” Sen. Bam said in his measure.

“Even with their contribution, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers. In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success,” the senator added.

 In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last September 2015, only 38.2 percent of the 563 household‐respondents said that a portion of the money from OFWs are set aside for savings.

“This is very alarming since many OFWs come home without a plan for retirement,” Sen. Bam said.

 The measure mandates the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a help‐desk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.

 “It also sets effective, efficient and credible information dissemination to OFWs on labor, employment, and migration data through various mediums, including social media,” said Sen. Bam.

The measure requires all embassies and consular offices to designate at least one social media officer who will be responsible for the efficient and timely dissemination and communication through social media of pertinent information related to the welfare, protection and security of migrant workers, especially in hotspots and vulnerable areas.

Furthermore, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to truly achieve prosperity for every Filipino family.

“This is our opportunity to show our gratitude for and appreciation to our overseas Filipinos while fulfilling our duty as public servants,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Bam wants simplified tax system and lower taxes for small businesses

Aside from reducing personal income tax, the government must also provide small businesses with lower income tax rate, a simplified process and other privileges to stimulate their growth, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

While he is certain that the personal income tax reform will be passed, Sen. Bam said the government must include tax reform for small businesses in its tax reform package.

“With all the support from the executive, we’re certain the personal income tax reform will be passed. What we should also focus on is the Small Business Tax Reform Act na makakatulong sa mga maliliit na negosyo na nagsisilbing kabuhayan ng maraming pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his Senate Bill No. 169.

Sen. Bam’s bill seeks to provide small businesses with a lower income tax rate, VAT exemption and simplified filing of taxes.

 Under the measure, all small businesses shall be exempt from payment of income tax for the first three years of its operation from date of establishment and will be subjected to lower income tax rates thereafter.

Small businesses earning less than P300,000 will be exempted from income tax while those with income ranging P300,000 up to P10,000,000 will be subjected to a 10-percent income tax rate.

 “This bill also proposes the lowering of the income tax rate for MSEs and an exemption from VAT, among other methods to​ ​help our small businesses grow,” said Sen. Bam.

 The measure also pushes for simpler bookkeeping, a special lane and assistance desk for MSEs, exemption from tax audit, annual filing of returns, and payment in installment.

 Sen. Bam stressed the need for simpler taxation, saying the Philippines placed 126th out of 189 economies in Ease of Paying Taxes in a joint study by PWC and the World Bank – Paying Taxes 2016.

 “This must change. The Small Business Tax Reform Act will simplify tax procedures and unburden our small businesses of the complex tax process,” said Sen. Bam.

 By streamlining the country’s tax system, it will boost the chances of our local enterprises to succeed and, in turn, generate prosperity and livelihood for more and more Filipinos.

Bam: Educate students on proper, responsible use of social media

Worried by the prevalence of misinformation and use of abusive language in social media, especially by so-called “paid trolls”, a senator wants schools to educate, guide and develop students on responsible and proper social media use.

In Senate Resolution No. 173, Sen. Bam Aquino calls on the Senate to conduct an inquiry on the proper education and development of responsible social media use in schools.

“Our schools can play a critical role in guiding students to become ethical and productive digital citizens and to communicate properly and respectfully online,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 In addition, learning institutions can teach students on how to determine reliability and credibility of online news and views, practice digital safety and prudence and to create a positive digital footprint.

“Social norms, best practices, and guidelines for social media use are still evolving, which is why our children and the youth need guidance on proper and responsible social media use,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pointed out the growing concern across the globe over how social media is increasingly being used and abused to spread fake news and misinformation.

“In the Philippines, this unfortunate phenomenon was observed widely during and following the recent national elections,” Sen. Bam said, mentioning social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

As a response, some of these social media companies have initiated moves to combat misinformation and fraudulent news that emerge online.

 Recently, Facebook and Twitter joined over thirty major news and technology organizations in the First Draft Partner Network to collectively address “issues of trust and truth in reporting information that emerges online.”

The Network plans to share best practices and a collaborative platform for verifying news and stories shared in social media, and promote news literacy among social media users;

In January 2015, Facebook updated its News Feed to reduce the distribution of posts that users have reported as hoaxes. Annotations were also made to posts that were frequently reported as false or misleading so as to warn others on the platform.

Twitter, for it part, released new guidelines in December 2015 for the removal and moderation of abusive, hostile and offensive language on its platform.

According to latest data, the Philippines has the second highest social media penetration rate among internet users in Southeast Asia, with 39.7 million people, representing 74 percent of its internet users, regularly visiting a social network in 2015.

JOINT STATEMENT: Lower House plan to show video is illegal: De Lima’s fellow Liberal Party Senators

We vehemently oppose the plan of the House of Representatives to show the alleged videos as disrespectful, deplorable, and illegal.

Regardless of the authenticity of the alleged videos, viewing it is disrespectful to a sitting senator, to her person, and to the office she holds, and is violative of the law.

The following laws may apply:

– Anti-Voyeurism Law (RA 9995) prohibits the recording or broadcast of videos of a sexual act, among others, with or without the consent of the persons featured in the material. Such recordings are also inadmissible even in legislative hearings.

– Anti Wiretapping Law (RA 4200) prohibits and penalizes the playing of recordings of any private communication without the consent of those involved. Such recordings are also inadmissible as evidence even in legislative hearings.

– Revised Penal Code on Crimes against Honor:

* Slander by Deed which is by performing an act intended to cast dishonor, disrespect, or contempt upon a person, OR

* Incriminatory machinations which may either be:
(i) Incriminating an innocent person in the commission of a crime by planting evidence;
(ii) Intriguing against honor by resorting to any scheme, plot, design, but not by direct spoken words, to destroy the reputation of another.

We appeal to the members of House of Representatives to be more circumspect of our larger roles as legislators: safekeepers of governance traditions and examples to our children.

BIDA KA!: Pinoy freelancers

Mga bida, dumarami na ang freelancers sa buong bansa.

Wala silang mahabang kon­trata sa isang kumpanya at nagtatrabaho lang para sa isang parti­kular na proyekto.

Ang bayad naman nito ay naka­depende sa kasunduan sa pagitan ng freelancer at nagpagawa ng trabaho.

Dahil mas kontrolado ng freelancer ang kanyang oras at kondisyon ng trabaho, marami sa ating mga kababayan ang naeengganyong pumasok bilang freelancer.

***

Kabilang na rito si Marvin, isang freelance professional photographer at video editor.

Bilang freelancer, maraming kumukuha sa serbisyo ni Marvin, mula sa paggawa ng simpleng video o photo ­coverage sa kasal at iba pang malalaking event.

Maganda man ang bayad bilang freelancer, ngunit inaangal ni Marvin na ilang ulit na rin siyang naloko at hindi nabayaran ng mga kliyente.

May ilang sitwasyon na inabot ng taon bago siya mabayaran kahit tapos na niya ang kanyang bahagi sa kasunduan.

Sa sitwasyon naman ni Paolo, marami siyang nakukuhang kliyente na nagpapagawa ng graphics at iba pang disenyo para sa kanilang kumpanya, website at mga produkto.

 

Problema naman ni Paolo, may ilang kliyente na nanghi­hingi ng official receipt na nakukuha lamang sa BIR kung ­nakarehistro siya bilang isang negosyo.

Nahihirapan siyang makatugon sa maraming requirements ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at dahil doon, kailangan niyang tanggihan ang ibang proyekto at trabaho.

Ang masaklap na karanasang ito nina Marvin at Paolo ay karaniwan nang nangyayari sa mga Pinoy freelancers.

***

Mga bida, ito ang dahilan kung bakit inihain natin ang Senate Bill No. 351 na layong protektahan ang karapatan at kapakanan ng freelancers, ngayong isa na silang lumalaking sektor sa bansa.

Naniniwala ako na ngayong dumarami na ang freelancers sa bansa, nararapat lang na sila’y protektahan ng pamahalaan at tulungan sa mabilis na pagkuha ng kailangang dokumento sa pamahalaan, lalo na sa BIR.

Kapag naisabatas ang panukala, may kapangyarihan na ang freelancers na hingin sa employer ang mga nararapat na bayad at benepisyo sa ilalim ng kanilang kasunduan.

Kapag tumanggi ang employer na bayaran ang free­lancer para sa serbisyong ibinigay, maaaring maghain ng reklamo sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), na puwedeng magpataw ng multa na aabot sa P250,000 kapag napatuna­yang hindi tumupad sa usapan ang isang panig.

May dagdag pang multa sa bawat araw na nabigong bayaran ng employer ang freelancer. Magkakaroon din ng karapatan ang freelancer na magsampa ng civil case upang mahabol ang bayad para sa kanyang serbisyo.

Layon ng panukala na gawing simple para sa freelancers ang pro­seso pagdating sa pagpapatala sa BIR at gawin na lang itong taunan.

Mabibigyan din sila ng tax exemption sa unang tatlong taon kung ang kanilang taxable income at hindi lalampas sa P300,000 at 10 porsiyento kung ang taxable income naman ay nasa pagitan ng P300,000 hanggang P10 milyon bawat taon.

***

Kung hindi natin bibigyan ng karampatang ­suporta ang sektor na ito, sayang ang oportunidad, lalo na ang pagkaka­taong mabigyan ng kabuhayan ang marami nating kababayan.

Oras nang tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating freelancers na umasenso!

Gov’t, private stakeholders back Trabaho Centers in Schools Act

Government agencies and private stakeholders expressed support for Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure to establish Trabaho Centers in Senior High Schools (SHS) all over the country as means to address unemployment and underemployment among youth.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) all backed Senate Bill No. 170.

“Natutuwa naman tayo na full support ang DepEd, DOLE, TESDA. Kung pumasa po ito, magkakaroon ng job placement centers sa bawat senior high schools natin,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam said it can help Senior High School (SHS) find employment that fits their skill set and the career path they have chosen.

 “Napakahalaga po iyon kasi iyong reporma ng K-12, nakasalalay po diyan iyong employability ng ating mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

With an estimated 50 percent of Senior High School students not going to college, Sen. Bam stressed the need to help them find employment after they graduate through Trabaho Centers.

“Maganda kung alam na agad ng estudyante kung ano ba ang job market sa lugar, ano ang opportunities na puwede nilang pasukin at kung ano ang skills na kailangan nilang makuha para qualified sila sa mga job opening sa lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The proposal is also aimed at addressing the prevalent jobs mismatch, which is being blamed as major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 “Kung wala po iyon, we will continue to have a jobs mismatch, we will continue to have roughly five percent unemployment, almost 20 percent underemployment at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin, mahihirapan on their day to day,” said Sen. Bam.

The Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

The Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam pushes for a more tourist-friendly Philippines

As the Philippines joins the celebration of the World Tourism Day (September 27), a senator hopes to improve the country’s tourist-friendliness through seminars and by penalizing the harassment of domestic and international visitors.

“This bill seeks to ensure a pleasant experience for tourists by discouraging aggressive solicitation and imposing fines for repeat offenders,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 667.

 The measure also establishes tourism help desks in identified tourist havens, where regular patrols should be conducted to safeguard the proper implementation of the law.

 The Department of Tourism, in coordination with the barangay officials, shall promote responsible marketing and conduct regular seminars for the local vendors and residents to foster a tourist-friendly culture among communities located in tourist havens,

“We Filipinos take pride in our hospitality and ability to make guests feel welcome,” Sen. Bam said.

“Ngunit dahil sa paghihirap, naiisip ng iba na pagsamantalahan ang mga turista. We hope to address this with proper training and imposing penalties,” he added.

 Under the measure, the DOT will identify barangays which will be considered as tourist havens, or places that have high volume of tourists who stay for longer than one day.

 The bill punishes unlawful solicitation from tourists who have already expressed their desire not to be bothered by solicitations. First-time offenders will be issued warning while subsequent violations will be meted a P500 fine for each incursion.

Based on data from the DOT, around two million tourists visited the country from January to April of this year, earning the country a reputation of being one of the most sought after travel destinations in the world.

 “With more and more foreign and local travelers in our country, it’s time we develop that tourist-friendly mindset within our communities. Let’s give our tourists a wonderful, hassle-free experience so they come back for more,” Sen. Bam said.

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