Author: teambam

Sen. Bam: January excise tax suspension is small victory against price crisis, a win for Filipinos

Panalo ang pamilyang Pilipino sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa gasolina, diesel at iba pang produktong petrolyo sa Enero. 
 
Ituloy natin ang pagtutulungan at pagtrabaho sa mga solusyon sa krisis na ito para sa mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa matinding pagtaas ng presyo. 
 
Magandang unang hakbang ito sa ating hangaring tuluyang alisin ang buong excise tax sa petrolyo na pinataw ng TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam, pasok sa Magic 12!

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino made it to the top 12 of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in time for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2019 elections.

The September 15-23 SWS survey, commissioned by a certain Alde Pagulayan, deputy secretary general of Lakas-CMD, showed that Sen. Bam is tied for 10th to 12th spots with 22 percent. SWS reportedly used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide.

 “Lubos ang pasasalamat natin sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa atin. Asahan niyong lubos din ang aking pagtrabaho para tulungan kayo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Laban lang! Basta sama-sama tayo’t nagtutulungan, naniniwala akong marami pa tayong magagawa sa Senado para sa kapwa nating Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has over 30 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law that provides free education to Filipinos in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and TESDA-run technical-vocational institutions.

Sen. Bam’s first law, the Go Negosyo Act, resulted in the establishment of over 900 Negosyo Centers, which cater to the needs of Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business.

 Currently, Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of the Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in an effort to lower prices of petroleum products, which in turn would lead to lower prices of food and other goods.

 Filed last May 10, 2018, the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill seeks to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam pursigidong magtrabaho kahit target ng fake news

Even with the upsurge of fake quotes and disinformation against Sen. Bam Aquino, the senator remains unfazed and continues to work on reforms to uplift Filipino families. 

“Hindi naman nawawala ang fake news sa akin, at titindi pa ang pagbaha ng paninira ngayong palapit na ang halalan. Ngunit may mga mas mahalgang isyu ang mga Pilipino na kailangan pang solusyunan, tulad ng matinding pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo bill as early as May this year. 

“Gusto ko lang magtrabaho at magsulong ng mga reporma na makakatulong sa pamilyang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who has already passed 27 laws in his first term as senator, including the law granting free college education to which he is principal sponsor. 

Recently, several Facebook groups have posted fake quotes and misinformation about Sen. Bam. The fake quotes were designed to deceive the public as they were placed beside logos of legitimate news organizations. These legitimate news organizations have already called out the quotes and photos as fake. 

“Baka sa 80 percent na fake news na nakikita ng mga Pilipino, malaki ang porsyento diyan tungkol sa akin,” the senator joked.

“Maging mapagbantay tayo sa pekeng balita at paglilinlang sa social media. Ang maaasahan niyo naman sa akin ay ang patuloy kong pagtrabaho sa mga reporma natin sa Senado, lalo na sa edukasyon,” Sen. Bam said. 

 Recently, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 88 percent of Filipinos are aware of the proliferation of fake news on social media.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam conducted a hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools to fight spread of fake news on social media. 

In the said hearing, Sen. Bam urged different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling, hate speech and spread of misinformation online. 

 In another Senate hearing, Sen. Bam called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to seriously tackle the problem of online disinformation and fake news sites.

Sen. Bam: Senate must act now, roll-back excise tax on fuel before Christmas

The increase in self-rated poverty is yet another indication that the Senate should move on legislative action to address rising prices of food and other goods by suspending the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Kailangan na natin umaksyon. Solusyunan natin ang krisis sa presyo para tulungan ang mga naghihirap na pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the passage of the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in the Senate.

In its third quarter survey, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) noted an increase in self-rated poverty in September to 52 percent or 12.2 million families. This is four points higher than the 48 percent or 11.1 million families in June 2018.

Sen. Bam urged colleagues to support the minority’s Joint Senate Resolution No. 15, which aims to suspend the excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law and rollback the tax on fuel to December 31, 2017 rates.

“Huwag na nating antayin na ma-certify urgent ito. Umaksyon na po tayo nang kusa. Kung kailangang mag-special session tayo sa Senado habang may session break, gawin na po natin ito,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said a collective action of the Senate will send a clear message to Malacanang on the stand of the Upper Chamber to ease the burden of Filipinos, especially the poor, from the high prices of food and other goods.

 “This is a chance to show in word and in action that the Senate wishes to ease the burden of our countrymen and remove the excise tax on petroleum products,” stressed Sen. Bam.

 “Seventy four days na lang po, Pasko na!  Ito na siguro ang pinakamagandang regalo na maibibigay natin sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

On Wednesday, minority senators – composed of Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Risa Hontiveros, Antonio Trillanes, Leila de Lima and Sen. Bam — submitted Senate Joint Resolution No. 15.

In their joint resolution, the minority senators stressed the need for the urgent intervention of the Congress of the Philippines to mitigate the inflationary effects of rising fuel prices by suspending the increases in excise tax on fuel under RA No. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

For his part, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill as early as May 10, 2018, seeking to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam: Protect commuters and drivers, no jeepney phase-out in March 2019

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) both committed that there will be no phase-out of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) come March 2019. 
 
“Lahat, pati komyuter, talo sa planong phase-out sa Marso. Kung mawala ang ating mga jeepney, wala ring masasakyan ang ating mga kababayan. Tulungan natin ang mga driver na mag-modernize, imbis na tanggalin lang ang kanilang trabaho’t kabuhayan ng kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
“Plano niyo sanang bawiin ang ang prangkisa ng mga jeep sa Marso, ngunit hindi man lang kinunsulta o tinanong ang transport sector. Gawin natin ito ng tama, huwag muna ituloy itong phase-out,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the Memorandum Circular released by DOTr and LTFRB. 
 
During the hearing of the Committee on Public Services on the issue of jeepney modernization, LTFRB head Martin Delgra and DOTr Undersecretary Tim Orbos gave their commitment to Sen. Bam Aquino that the phase-out in March will not push through. 
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam filed a public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization bill with the support of the National Confederation of Transport Union (NCTU), Sentro, ACTO, and Philippine Advocates for Transport Convergence. 
 
In his Senate Bill No. 2056, Sen. Bam seeks to make jeepneys safer and more efficient for commuters and the environment, while ensuring the livelihood of drivers and their families. 
 
“Nais natin umunlad at umasenso ang mga sistema ng jeepney at tricycle, bus at tren sa bansa – at naniniwala akong may kakayahan tayong gawin ito. Ngunit kailangan din natin siguraduhin na sa programang ito, walang masasagasaang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
If passed into law, jeepneys will be tested based on road-worthiness and financial assistance will be given to owners who need to upgrade their jeepneys. Drivers that wish to shift careers will also be given sufficient compensation.

Sen. Bam continues education advocacy, dedicates new bills for Filipino teachers to his grandparents

Sen. Bam Aquino has filed two measures for the benefit of Filipino teachers and to celebrate their role in the country’s development. 
 
“Ang mga panukalang ito ay pagkilala sa halaga ng ating mga guro sa pagpapalago ng kaalaman ng mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law for free college education. 
 
“Dedicated kay Lola Vicky at Lolo Dondoy ang mga panukalang ito. Para ito sa lahat ng mga teacher na piniling ilaan ang kanilang buhay sa edukasyon para tulungan ang kabataan,” added Sen. Bam, referring to his grandparents from his mother’s side, Dondoy and Vicky Aguirre, who worked on establishing the University of Mindanao in Davao and worked as educators until their retirement. 
 
On Monday, Sen. Bam submitted Senate Bill No. 2057 or the Teachers Compensation and Support Act of 2018 and Senate Bill No. 2058 or the National Teachers Day Act. 
 
Senate Bill No. 2057 aims to ensure just salaries and ensure reasonable working conditions for private and public school teachers. 
 
The measure would create a Private School Teachers Salary Subsidy (PSTSS), which will allow government to ensure that the salaries of qualified teachers from accredited private basic education institutions match those of public school teachers. The PSTSS will prioritize private school teachers in schools and areas that primarily serve students from lower income families. 
 
There will also be free legal assistance, free counselling services, and an education subsidy for qualified and financially disadvantaged teachers who wish to pursue further education. 
 
The Teachers Compensation and Support Act has the support and participation of various organizations, including the Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines, Inc. (NAPSPHIL), and the PEAC-Fund Assistance to Private Education (PEAC-FAPE). 
 
With the help of the Teachers Dignity Coalition, Sen. Bam also filed Senate Bill No. 2058 to make Oct. 5 a paid non-working holiday for all teachers. 10 Sen. Bam has passed 27 laws including Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act making education free in public universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam’s privilege speech on gas prices and suspending TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products

Good afternoon, Mr. President, dear colleagues!
 
In the past few months, I’ve been meeting many of our students, tricycle drivers, fishermen, market vendors, farmers and seniors to hear their stories and how the government’s policies have affected them over the past months.
 
Sa pag-iikot ko pong ito, mas lumalim ang aking kaalaman sa mga pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan at mas nakikilala ko po ang mga kababayang nating gusto nating matulungan.
 
Tulad ni Ate Lucille na nagtitinda ng gulay sa Tanauan City. Pati raw mga suki niya, nagrereklamo na sa mahal ng bilihin. Sabi pa niya: “Minsan, hindi na nabebenta at nabubulok na lang ang paninda naming gulay.”
 
Tulad po ni Mang Boyong, isang tricycle driver sa Tondo, na pinapaalala sa atin na malaking bagay sa mga tricycle driver tulad niya ang pag-angat ng dalawang piso kada litro ng gasolina.
 
Ang sabi ni Mang Boyong: “Tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina. Sa paghahanap buhay ko hindi na kami nakakaahon sa kahirapan.”
 
Tulad ni Lola Diding na isang senior citizen sa Zamboanga City na nagsabing: “Sa tanda kong ito, umuutang pa rin ako. Pero kahit ayaw na ng katawan ko, babangon at babangon pa rin ako para tulungan ang pamilya.
 
Matinding paghihirap at matindi ring pagsisikap ang dinaranas po ng ating mga kababayan. Lahat po sila, ramdam na ramdam ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo.
 
—
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues, in the past few months, I have stood before you to echo these stories and to propose solutions to this painful price crisis so that our countrymen can find some relief from our sky-high inflation.
 
In the past, I’ve mentioned three actionable solutions:
 
First, to address the rice crisis by appointing effective leadership in the NFA and maintaining our 15-day buffer stock.
 
Second, immediately complete the roll-out of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program and the pantawid pasada program, and ensure the financial help will cover the needs of poor Filipino families.
 
Third is to roll-back and suspend TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products.
 
Dear colleagues, even as we were debating the TRAIN Law last year, we were already concerned about the inflationary effects of taxing petroleum and increasing the price of fuel.
 
The next scheduled increase in the excise tax on petroleum is in January – in 3 months. Under the TRAIN Law, there will be an increase of another 2 pesos per liter for diesel and gasoline, and another 1 peso for kerosene.
 
My fellow senators were so concerned about the excise tax on fuel and its effect on the prices of goods that the principal sponsor, Sen. Angara, even agreed to include my proposed safeguards to the Department of Finance.
 
We thank Sen. Angara for graciously including these safeguards, he even called it Aquino Amendment, in the interpellations. And these were included in the final Senate version of the TRAIN Law.
 
Dalawa po ang safeguards na isinama natin at inasahan nating magsisilbing proteksyon: una – base sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo sa world market; at pangalawa – base po sa inflation.
 
Ito po specifically, ang final version ng panukala dito sa Senate version, and I quote:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when any of the following conditions have been met:
 
One, the average Dubai Crude Oil Price for the first fifteen days of the month based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds eighty dollars per barrel cost, insurance, and freight (CIF); or
 
Two, when the inflation rate exceeds the higher end of the annual inflation target range set by the DBCC or the Development Budget and Coordination Committee and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).”
 
Pinagbotohan po natin ang mga probisiyong ito. Pasado po ito sa Senado. Wala pong tumutol.
 
Ngayon, Mr. President, pagkatapos ng pagpupulong ng bicameral conference committee, nag-iba ang mga safeguard na ito. Ito naman po ang final version ng TRAIN Law:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean Of Platts Singapore or MOPS for three (3) months prior to the scheduled increase of the month reaches or exceeds eighty dollars (USD 80) per barrel.”
 
Alam ho natin, matagal ko nang sinasabi, nawala ang safeguard based on inflation. 
 
—
 
At ang nawalang safeguard na ito ang pinagbasihan ng inihain naming Senate Bill Number 1798 o tinatawag nating Bawas Presyo Bill. 
 
Iyan po ang lagi nating binabanggit sa ating kapulungan at hindi pa rin po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na ipapasa po natin ang panukalang ito sa lalong madaling panahon.
 
—
 
Pero ang naisamang safeguard sa final version ng TRAIN Law ay ang safeguard ukol sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Sa probisyong ito ng batas, ititigil po ang dagdag buwis sa petrolyo sa Enero kung umabot o lumampas ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo sa 80 dollars per barrel for three preceding months.
 
Alam ho natin na January 1 ang buwan ng pagtaas. Three preceding months begins this October. 
 
To be honest, the specific amount of 80 dollars per barrel did not come from this representation, it actually came from the Department of Finance; sila po ang nagtalaga ng presyong iyan. 
 
To be very specific again, noong panahon pong pinagbotohan natin ang TRAIN Law, ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo ay 55 dollars per barrel. Palagay ko hindi inasahan talaga na aabot sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS first breached 80 U.S. dollars per barrel last September 27, when it 80.40 U.S. dollars per barrel. 
 
Yesterday, Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS was at 80.80 U.S.D. per barrel.
 
Some of the oil industry experts that we have consulted with have said that this price is likely to go higher in the next three months, and will only drop sometime next year.
 
Kung ganito po ang mangyayari, meron pong mandato ang gobyerno na itigil ang pagtaas ng excise tax sa petrolyo ngayong 2019.
 
Klaro po iyan sa ating batas! Nasa final version po iyan ng TRAIN Law.
 
Ngunit mga kaibigan, ang hindi po klaro ay ang proseso at pamamaraan ng pagsuspinde nito.
 
Mr. President, pagdating sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), hindi napaghandaan ang proseso ng suspensyong ito.
 
Kung makikita po ang buong probisyon, makikita nating mayroong dalawang provided. 
 
Provided, That the Department of Finance shall perform an annual review of the implementation of the excise tax on fuel and shall, based on projections provided and recommendations of the Development Budget Coordination Committee, as reconciled from the conditions as provided above, recommend the implementation or suspension of the excise tax on fuel: Provided, further, That the recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Meron po tinutukoy na annual review ng Department of Finance at ng DBCC. 
 
Ang tanong, kalian po gagawin ang review na ito? Ano ang batayan ng grupong ito sa kanilang posibleng pagsuspinde sa parating na dagdag na excise tax sa ating mga petroleum products. 
 
Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas gugustuhin ko na automatic dapat ang suspension ng dagdag na excise tax on fuel. Ibig sabihin niyan, pag umabot ng tatlong buwan at lampas sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo, dapat po automatic suspension na iyan.
 
Ngunit iyong final version ng TRAIN, mayroong nakalagay na dalawang provided. Provided that there is an annual review, provided that this recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Iyong tanong natin, na sana matulungan tayo ng Senado upang iklaro ito, para sa atin dito sa mga mambabatas, at para sa publiko. Kailan gagawin ang annual review na ito, ano ang basehan ng kanilang recommendation. Ito ba’y simpleng nag-breach na sa 80 dollars per barrel for three months. Alam ko po, nababasa ko sa pahayagan, marami na sa atin dito ang nagsabing kapag umabot na sa 80 dollars per barrel, kapag nag-average out na ng tatlong buwan ang 80 dollars per barrel ng crude oil, kailangan isuspinde ang pagtaas ng buwis ngayong January 1.
 
Ang hinihiling natin, konting kasiguraduhan, konting kalinawan, pagiging clear kung ano ang patakaran dito sa suspension na nakalagay sa TRAIN Law.
 
Para sa mga mambabatas, para sa akin, na siya pong nagmungkahi sa mga safeguard na ito, dapat automatic ang pagsuspinde ng pagtaas ng buwis kung lumampas na sa 80 dollars per barrel ang average price for three months ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Ang mahirap po ay kung umabot tayo ditto sa nakasaad na batayan sa batas pero dahil walang review o dahil walang recommendation ng administrasyon, hindi itutuloy ang pagsuspinde nitong pagtaas ng excise tax na alam naman nating nagpapabigat sa kalagayan ng napakarami nating mga kababayan.
 
The Senate must call on the DOF to issue clear and actionable guidelines, timelines, rules and regulations on how the suspension can possibly work.
 
Alam po natin na ang basehan dito, October, November, December na mga buwan ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo. Alam din natin na mayroong annual review, alam nating January 1 ang araw ng pagtaas ng excise tax. Ibig sabihin iyan, in these next three months, habang binabantayan natin ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan po matuloy ang annual review, kailangan maging malinaw iyong rekomendasyon ng DOF at ng DBCC dito po sa January 1 increase.
 
Hindi pa po natin pinag-uusapan kung itong increase na ito, ay kung ma-delay man o ma-suspend, ay babalik ba o hindi.
 
There’s very, very short time here Mr. President. Napakaikli po ng panahon natin dito. Tatlong buwan na lang po, habang binabantayan ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan na nating malaman paano ba gagawin ang annual review na ito at kung ano ba ang maging batayan ng kanilang recommendation for suspension or not.
 
Mr. President, it is incumbent upon this body to find out how and when this excise tax may be suspended.
 
There are many questions, dear colleagues, that we need to find clear answers to. We want answers to be clear and on the record.
 
What we can provide through a proper Senate hearing is clarity. But to be frank, Mr. President, what the Filipino people need is hope.
—
 
Mr. President, marami sa mga kababayan nating nagsasabi po paano na bukas? 
 
Iyan ang tanong ng marami nating kababayan. Dahil araw-araw na po naghihirap ang mga Pilipino dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pamasahe, bigas, pagkain, kuryente, at iba pang mga bilihin.
 
Ang tanong po: sa panaginip lang ba natin mabibigyan ng solusyon ang mga problemang ito?
 
Hanggang panaginip lang po ba ang ginhawang inaasam ng mga pamilyang Pilipino? At pagkagising naman, makikita nila na 60 pesos per liter na ang gasolina.
 
Hindi naman po sana. Bigyan po natin sila ng pag-asa.
 
Noon naman, kung ating pong maaalala, panaginip lang din po ang gawing libre ang edukasyon sa kolehiyo.
 
Ngunit noong tayo’y naging pursigido at noong tayo’y nagtulungan sa Senado, sa Kongreso, sa buong gobyerno, naisabatas po natin at naipatupad ang R.A. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
I will always consider it a great honor to have worked on this law for free college education as its principal sponsor here in the Senate.
 
But more than an accomplishment, that victory taught me what possibilities are possible when we decide to work together and get things done for our people.
 
Ang pagpasa po natin sa batas para sa libreng kolehiyo, patunay na kapag nagtutulungan ang mga Pilipino, kapag tayo inuuna ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa at hindi pulitika, nananalo po ang sambayanang Pilipino.
 
Ngayon po, ang hamon sa atin, ito pong suspension ng pagtaas ng buwis ngayong Enero. Pagtulungan po natin ang suspension ng buwis sa petrolyo. Kung hindi man po ipapasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill o isang safeguard dahil sa inflation, siguraduhin naman natin na iyong nasa batas na ay maayos po ang pagpapatupad. At iyon po ang safeguards na mahahanap natin base sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo na nandoon naman sa TRAIN Law ngayon.
 
Let’s make sure that this safeguard is properly implemented, that this safeguard is properly appreciated.  And I hope the Senate, maybe a hearing or maybe the budget process, can clarify paano ba i-implement itong safeguard na ito at paano po ba ito puwedeng magawa para sa ating mga kababayan.
 
Maraming salamat Mr. President, thank you very much to our colleagues.

Sen. Bam Aquino on the 6.7 percent inflation rate in September

Hindi na makahinga ang mga Pilipino sa sobrang paghihigpit ng sinturon.

Siyam na buwan nang tuluy tuloy ang pagtaas ng inflation rate ng bansa. May krisis na tayo sa bigas at taas presyo. Kailangang kailangan na ng aksyon mula sa gobyerno.

Magtulungan po tayo. Unahin natin ang roll-back at suspension ng excise tax sa petrolyo at tiyaking may abot kayang bigas sa ating mga palengke.

Itigil na ang away at turuan. Pabigat lang iyan at hindi mapapagaan ang pasanin ng taumbayan na nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin.

Sen. Bam to champion 2 new reforms for Filipino teachers

In celebration of the World Teachers Day on October 5, Sen. Bam Aquino shared two new reforms to promote the welfare of teachers and recognize their contributions to the development of our country and the lives of students.

Sen. Bam will file a measure entitled National Teachers Day Act to make Oct. 5 a paid non-working holiday for all teachers.

“Non-stop ang trabaho ng ating mga guro. Sa dami ng kanilang ginagawa, para bang mayroon silang superpowers! But even superheroes need rest. Let’s give our teachers their own holiday so they can be appreciated and celebrated,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the measure is being pushed by the Teachers Dignity Coalition.

Sen. Bam is also set to submit the Teachers Compensation and Support Act to ensure reasonable working conditions and provide free legal assistance and free counselling services to educators.

“Sadly, marami pa ring guro ang nagrereklamo na maliit at hindi sapat ang natatanggap nilang suweldo sa pribadong paaralan kung ikukumpara sa pampublikong eskuwelahan,” said Sen. Bam.

“Tulungan at suportahan natin ang mga Filipino teachers. Siguraduhin natin na disente ang nakukuha nilang suweldo at patas ang suweldo at working conditions sa public at private schools,” added Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.

The measure will also provide an education subsidy for qualified and financially disadvantaged teachers who want to pursue further education.

The Teachers Compensation and Support Act is being pushed by different stakeholders and organizations, which include: Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU), Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), National Alliance of Private Schools Philippines, Inc. (NAPSPHIL), and the PEAC-Fund Assistance to Private Education (PEAC-FAPE).

Sen. Bam, for his part, has passed 27 laws including Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act making education free in public universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam: Admin, opposition should plot together to suspend excise tax on gasoline

Sen. Bam Aquino emphasized that the government and the opposition should plot together to suspend the excise tax on gasoline and address the high prices of food and other products. 

“Instead of pointing fingers, let’s work together to suspend the additional tax on fuel scheduled for January 2019,” said Sen. Bam in reaction to Malacanang’s repeated claims that members of the LP are plotting to oust President Duterte. 

Instead of focusing on silencing the opposition, Sen. Bam insisted that the government should immediately address the problems at hand, such as high prices of food and rice and lack of job opportunities. 

“Hindi makakatulong sa mga Pilipino ang away at gulo. Magtulungan na lang tayo para arestuhin ang taas-presyo. Simulan natin sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa petrolyo,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the government to suspend the additional P2 excise tax on petroleum products in January 2019 if prices of oil in the global market remain at $80 per barrel in the next three months, as directed by a safeguard in the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam is also pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which will suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam has passed a total of 27 laws, 10 as a member of the opposition. He helped the administration pass the landmark law making college education free in public universities and colleges. He is the principal sponsor of R.A. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

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