Author: teambam

Bam seeks to stop ‘Endo’

In a move to strengthen the rights of workers and promote security of tenure, a senator filed a measure that seeks to end the unjust “Endo” (end contract) practice in the country.

 On Thursday, Sen. Bam Aquino filed the End Endo Act, amending Sections 106 to 109 of the Presidential Decree No. 442 or the Labor Code of the Philippines.

 It will put a stop to fixed term employment or hiring of workers based on a limited and fixed period without regularization so more Filipinos are assured of job security and steady compensation.

 Employers are also limited from contracting or subcontracting more than 20 percent of their total workforce.

 The End Endo Act will further professionalize the service contracting industry by prohibiting labor-only contracting and establishing industry standards.

 It will also guarantee contracted workers of reasonable compensation even in between assignments through a Transition Support Program.

 “If approved, tapos na ang nakasanayang 50 o 100 percent ng workforce ay contracted o subcontracted,” said Sen. Bam.

 In addition, the measure requires the mandatory posting of bond that will serve as a safeguard for the employee’s claims in case of violation by the contractor or subcontractor.

Bam fulfills campaign promise to alleviate poverty through Entrepreneurship, Employment and Education

In 2013, Sen. Bam Aquino ran with a campaign promise of uplifting lives of Filipino families and fighting poverty through education, employment, and entrepreneurship or the 3Es.

 In his first three years, Sen. Bam Aquino laid the foundation for the growth of micro and small businesses, improved access to financing for entrepreneurs, lowered logistics costs for imported and exported goods, and ensured the financial literacy of generations to come.

 During the 16th Congress, he worked for the passage of 14 laws in line with his commitment to the Filipino people. Nine of these laws were aligned with his advocacy to build an effective support network for local business, particularly the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and promote ease of doing business.

 These are the landmark Philippine Competition Act, Go Negosyo Act, Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act or Amendments to the Cabotage Policy, Youth Entrepreneurship Act, Microfinance NGOs Act, Credit Surety Act, Lemon Law, the Customs Modernization and Tarrif Act, and the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) Act.

 After gathering dust for more than two decades, the Philippine Competition Act was finally enacted into law thanks to Sen. Bam Aquino’s efforts as co-author and principal sponsor in the Senate.

 Dubbed by Sen. Bam as a “historic, game-changing legislation for the economy”, the Philippine Competition Act or Republic Act 10667 provides a level-playing field for all businesses and penalizes bad market behavior and abuse of dominant positions.

 The law expected to improve the quality and lower the prices of goods and services by eliminating cartels, and penalizing anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the market.

 The Go Negosyo Act, the first law passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress, mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

 “This is a part of our pledge to work for the development of MSMEs to help create jobs and livelihood for many Filipinos and spur the country’s economy,” said Sen. Bam, the youngest senator in the 16th Congress.

 There are already 200 Negosyo Centers catering to the needs of struggling entrepreneurs in the country, from returning OFWs and carinderia owners to farmers and social entrepreneurs.

 As chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, he also initiated investigations into the slow and expensive Internet in the country and the congestion in the Port of Manila.

 The investigation produced several triumphs that will help improve the Internet service in the country, including the much-awaited IP Peering between Globe and PLDT.

 In the 17th Congress, he is expected to head the Committee on Education, hoping to elevate the quality of Philippine education, particularly in our public schools to global standards so that more young Filipinos can build a brighter future for themselves and their family.

 Sen. Bam has already filed four education-related measures such as the Free Education in State Colleges and Universities (SUCs), Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers’ Children, Abot Alam, and the Trabaho Center in Schools bills.

 Even with education on his mind, he continues to push for his social entrepreneurship advocacy and is still building a robust support system for small business with the filing of bills to support Small Business Tax Reform, Startups, and Social Enterprises, among others.

 Sen. Bam is relentless in his pursuit to fulfill his campaign promise of the 3Es to achieve inclusive growth and help Filipino families overcome poverty.

Bam: Free tuition in all state universities and colleges

In a bold move as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a measure making tertiary education in all State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) free for all students.

 This is one in four bills he filed yesterday to improve access to quality education in the Philippines.

 “In line with the mandate of our Constitution, the State must uphold the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels. This bill seeks to make tertiary education in all State Universities and Colleges free of tuition for its students and fully subsidized by government,” said Sen. Bam in his Free Education in State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) Bill.

 He also filed Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers Bill to ensure that children of all public school teachers are given scholarships in all SUCs in the country.

 Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committees on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship and Youth in the 16th Congress, is expected to lead the Committee on Education when the 17th Congress opens on July 25.

 Based on data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Sen. Bam said two out of five high school graduates, or 40 percent, do not pursue tertiary education due to high tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses.

 “Many of them face the choice between working to help their family or sacrificing the education of other siblings so that one may be sent to college,” the senator said.

 Sen. Bam believes that tertiary education is a valuable mechanism that can help Filipino families break out of the poverty cycle, as tertiary degree holders earn twice as much compared to those who do not have postsecondary education.

 By providing free college education to all, Sen. Bam believes that poor and low-income families stand to benefit the most, giving them a chance to be empowered economically and socially.

 Aside from pushing for free tertiary education, Sen. Bam also filed other measures in the 17th Congress that seek to improve the state of education in the country to world-class standards and living condition of public school teachers.

 The Abot Alam Bill seeks to effectively address the needs of Filipino youth aged 7 to 24 who are not attending school.

 It will create a comprehensive national framework designed to achieve the government’s aim to provide education for each and every Filipino, particularly out-of-school youth (OSY).

 In his Trabaho Center in Schools Bill, Sen. Bam wants to create a job placement office or Trabaho Center to assist Senior High School graduates who opt to find employment and help them find those opportunities.

 

Bam: Love for country and public service will unite Duterte, Robredo

Despite their political differences, Sen. Bam Aquino is convinced that President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo will eventually work together for the sake of the Filipino people.

“Everyone has a hangover from the campaign. Very soon, the burden of governance will sober everyone up,” said Sen. Bam after attending the oath-taking ceremony of Robredo in Quezon City.

 “Kapag kaharap mo na ang mga problema sa education, poverty, employment – really serious issues – that’s the time the divisions we saw during the elections should start to fade away. You get to realize that if you really want this country to move forward, you need to work with everyone,” he added.

Sen. Bam is hoping that when the burden of governance sets in, the issue of political partisanship will be put on the back burner and focus will shift on moving the country forward. 

 “The important thing is how to move the country forward and not on where we came from and who we supported in the last elections,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said it is better to start concentrating on what’s important, and that is “fulfilling our mandate and fulfilling all of the promises to the people”.

Sen. Bam Aquino was Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign manager and is expected to head the Senate Committee on Education in the 17th Congress of the Philippines.

 

BIDA KA!: May IP Peering na!

Mga bida, laman ng balita kamakailan ang inisyal na usapan sa pagitan ng susunod na peace process officials at mga lider ng National Democratic Front (NDF) sa Norway.

Sa ulat, nagmistulang reunion ng magkakabarkada ang pulong dahil matagal nang magkakilala ang mga miyembro ng dalawang kampo.

Sa nasabing miting, mabilis na nagkasundo ang dalawang panig na ipagpatuloy ang usapan para matuldukan na ang ilang dekadang tunggalian at ipursigi ang inaasam na kapayapaan.

Lingid naman sa kaalaman ng lahat, may nangyari ring pag-uusap sa pagitan ng PLDT at Globe, ang dalawa sa pinakama­laking telecommunication companies sa bansa.

Hindi tulad ng nangyaring pulong sa Norway, dumaan sa butas ng karayom at mabusisi ang naging usapan ng mga negosyador ng PLDT at Globe upang marating ang kasunduan para sa IP Peering.

Inabot ng halos isang taon ang negosasyon upang maabot ang matagal na nating isinusulong na IP Peering sa pagdinig ng aking kumite ukol sa mahal at mabagal na Internet sa bansa.

 ***

Sa mga nakalipas na hearing ng Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, lumutang ang IP Peering bilang isa sa mga solusyon upang mapabilis ang koneksiyon ng Internet sa Pilipinas.

Dahil walang IP Peering, kapag nagbukas ng isang website sa Pilipinas, ang data ay nagtutungo pa sa ibang bansa bago bumalik dito. Resulta, mabagal magbukas ng isang website.

Sa tulong ng IP Peering, hindi na lalabas ng bansa ang data kaya mas mabilis nang magbukas ang website na nais na­ting puntahan.

Sa una, naging mainit na usapin ukol sa IP Peering. Matigas ang naging pagtutol ng mga telcos sa nasabing panukala sa maraming kadahilanan.

Pero nang tumagal, unti-unti rin silang lumambot at puma­yag nang silipin ang posibilidad na mangyari ang IP Peering.

 ***

Kamakailan, nangyari na nga ang matagal nang pinapa­ngarap ng maraming Pilipino nang pumirma sa isang memorandum of agreement ang PLDT at Globe para sa IP Peering.

Ayon sa telcos, ang benepisyo ng kasunduan ay mararamdaman ng halos lahat ng Internet users sa bansa, lalo na ng mobile subscribers na gumagamit ng data, kapag nakumpleto na ang IP peering sa loob ng 30 araw.

Maituturing ito na isang malaking panalo sa hangarin na­ting mapaganda ang estado ng Internet mula nang buksan natin ang imbestigasyon sa Senado ukol sa mahal at mabagal na serbisyo ng telcos.

Naging matagal man ang proseso, nagpapasalamat tayo na ito’y naging katuparan. Sabi nga nila, better late than never.

Article first published on Abante Online

Bam congratulates Filipino Dota 2 team for making it to ‘The International’

Congratulations to TNC for making it to the prestigious “The International’ Dota 2 Championships in Seattle, Washington.

 As the first Filipino team to qualify to the final stage of the four-leg event after five years, may you bring honor to the country as you battle top Dota squads from around the world

Best of luck to Marco “Raven” Fausto, Carlo “Kuku” Palad, Samson “Sam_H” Hidalgo, Nino “eyyou” Barcelon and Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho.

 Ipakita niyo ang husay na naglagay sa mga Pilipino sa hanay ng pinakamagagaling na eSports athletes sa mundo!

BIDA KA!: Mabilis na proseso sa gobyerno

Mga bida, paalis na ako galing sa isang conference nang nabanggit sa akin ni National Competitive Council (NCC) co-chairman Bill Luz na sa Australia, mayroong nagaganap na “Repeal Day” kung saan pinawawalang-bisa ng Australian parliament ang mga batas na hindi na kailangan.

Dagdag pa ni Bill, na 10,000 batas ang pinawalang-bisa sa kanilang Repeal Day.

Binanggit din ni Bill, na kung pag-aaralan, marami sa mga batas at regulasyon natin sa kasalukuyan ang paulit-ulit, walang pakinabang, lumilikha lang ng kaguluhan at pinag-uugatan ng katiwalian.

Naganap ang pag-uusap namin ni Bill halos dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. Noon pa man, nangako kaming susuportahan ang pagsasagawa ng repeal day dito sa Pilipinas.

Kamakailan, inilunsad ng NCC at iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan, sa pangunguna ng Department of Finance, ang Project Repeal.

Sa nasabing pagtitipon, nagsagawa kami ng ceremonial cutting ng red tape ribbon sa tapat ng santambak na kopya ng mga walang pakinabang na patakaran at kautusan na dapat nang ipawalang-bisa.

Sa huling tala ng NCC, nasa 3,518 department orders at iba pang patakaran ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno ang dapat nang i-repeal dahil ito’y nakakagulo at nagpapahirap lang sa publiko.

***

Ngayong papasok na ang bagong pamahalaan, naniniwala ako na kailangan na ring baguhin ang sistema sa pamamagitan ng pag-repeal sa mga patakarang ito ng mga ahensiya at iba’t ibang tanggapan na pagpapahirap lang sa publiko.

Panahon na upang magkaroon ng isang sistema na magpapabilis sa takbo ng proseso ng pamahalaan para na rin sa kapakinabangan ng taumbayan.

Kung mananatili kasi ang mga patakarang ito sa mga tanggapan ng pamahalaan, masasayang lang ang mga batas na ginagawa ng Kongreso, lalo na sa aspeto ng pagnenegosyo sa bansa.

May mga naipasa na tayong batas na nagbibigay ng karampatang suporta sa mga negosyante at entrepreneurs, tulad ng financing, training at tulong upang sila’y makapasok sa merkado.

Subalit, hindi makapagsimula ang mga entrepreneurs dahil sa dami ng hinihinging requirements ng iba’t ibang tanggapan ng pamahalaan.

Sa halip na suportahan ng pamahalaan ang small at medium enterprises, sila pa ang nagiging hadlang sa paglago ng mga ito.

Resulta, nawawalan ng gana ang mga entrepreneur na magnegosyo. Mananatili na lang na pangarap ang kanilang planong umasenso at mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang kanilang pamilya.

***

Sa pagdalo ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan sa nasabing pagtitipon, nanatiling buhay ang aming pag-asa ni Bill na maisulong ang repeal day.

Kasabay ng repeal day, plano kong ihain sa pagbubukas ng 17th Congress ang tinatawag na Philippine Efficiency Office Bill, na lilikha ng isang tanggapan na siyang bubusisi sa mga umiiral na batas.

Titingnan ng nasabing tanggapan kung nakatutulong ba o nakakabagal sa takbo ng pamahalaan ang mga lumang batas.

Maliban pa rito, trabaho rin ng Philippine Efficiency Office na gabayan ang mga mambabatas at pigilan sila sa paglalagay ng regulasyon at requirements na sa tingin nito ay makakabigat sa taumbayan.

Napakarami kasing bagong batas ang lumalabas sa Senado at Kamara na kung minsan ay kontra sa mga lumang batas na naipasa ilang taon na ang nakalipas.

Tungkulin ng nasabing tanggapan na silipin ang lahat ng mga patakaran sa iba’t ibang industriya at makipag-ugnayan sa Kongreso para makalikha ng mas magandang sitwasyon na hindi mahihirapan ang publiko.

Ang panukalang ito ay magandang suporta sa layunin ni incoming president Rodrigo Duterte na pabilisin ang mga proseso sa gobyerno.

 

Farewell, Dear Summer: 7 Dapat Gawin Para Maka Move On From Summer

Kahit may pabaon pa na summer heat, hindi na natin madedeny ang pagdating ng tag-ulan. Ngayon na back to school season, oras na para salubungin ang darker clouds at cuddly weather… Pero bago nun, mag-goodbye muna tayo sa minamahal nating bright and shiny summer! Ito ang pitong paraan para maka-get over sa summer sepanx!

 

 

1. Shift.  Tapusin na ang habit ng one to sawang pagpupuyat. Time to shift your body clock to normal. For sure mababawasan na ang late night gimik with the barkada ngayon na may pasok na. Move on to being the early bird from being a night owl. Tulog din ng maaga at agahan  ang gising para naman makaiwas sa morning rush na – for sure! – sisira sa good mood mo.

sleepy student

2. Indulge.Tapos na ang summer at ang mga beach getaways kaya’t tigilan na rin ang Project: Abs. Go ahead, indulge sa mga paborito mong canteen meals at rainy day comfort food. Kainin ang lahat ng flavors ng ice cream habang nanunod ng mga paboritong mong pelikula at TV series. Most importantly, appreciate your body type, it adds to your confidence. Pak!

work out meme3. Mag-budget para happy si wallet. Paniguradong sunog ang bulsa mo o kaya ng parents mo nung magpunta ka sa Boracay at kung anu-anong summer trips. Now is the time na bumawi sa piggy bank mong nangangayayat na. Save a part of your allowance para naman hindi ka laging dependent sa mga magulang mo tuwing may kailangan kang bilhin para sa school project. 

saveup

4. Mag “Goodbye Summer” cleaning.  Kung may spring cleaning, mag “Goodbye Summer” cleaning ka naman. Ayusin ang cabinet na parang napagiwanan na ng panahon sa gulo. Itabi na ang swim suits at sun block at ihanda ang iyong payong, bota at mga pananggalang sa ulan. Kung may mga damit at gamit ka namang hindi na napapakinabanagan, mas mabuting i-donate na lang sila sa mga nangangailan. Nakatulong ka na, matutuwa pa ang nanay mo dahil nabawasan ang kalat mo sa kwarto.

 

messybedroom

5. Mag-focus. Minsan mahirap talaga maka move on sa isang masayang summer… Pero wake up and smell the coffee! Pasukan na kaya’t tigilan na ang pag day dream tungkol sa next destination with friends. Bagkus ay mag focus muna sa mga lessons ni teacher kung ayaw mong mabato ng eraser.

daydreamingsaklase

6, Magreminisce. Mag emote habang tinitingnan sa iyong cellphone at Facebook ang inyong masasayang alaala sa pool at dagat. Gawin itong inspirasyon to work harder para sa mas bonggang summer next year. At least you always have something to look forward to agad.

lookingatphone

7. Magsimula muli.Kalimutan na ang mga ala-alang nag-iiwan ng kirot sa iyong puso. Masaya man o malungkot ang naidulot sa iyo ng tag-init, iniwan mang nanlalamig ang iyong puso, ’tis the season to start fresh and begin with a clean slate. Try something new this time or go back to your old habits with a bigger motivation. Kung ano man yan, push mo lang!

moveon

 

 

 

Kung mayroon kayong naiisip na Lis7ahan at nais maging miyembro ng ListAvengers, mag-e-mail sa team.bamaquino@senado.ph!

 

 

Bam: Gina will fight for our environment

A lawmaker welcomed the appointment of Regina “Gina” Lopez as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), saying she will do a good job owing to her background as a staunch environment advocate.

“She will do a good job because she has been fighting for the environment for decades,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, a member of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.

Aquino believes that Lopez’s decades-long advocacy will be an important asset to the Duterte’s administration drive to protect the environment.

“Akma si Gina sa posisyon dahil alam niya ang ugat ng mga problema at marami siyang solusyon na maaaring ipanukala at ipatupad para sa proteksiyon ng ating kalikasan,” the senator said.

 A strong advocate of children and education and protection of the environment, Lopez is the chairperson of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc., the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, and vice chairperson of the ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation.

Lopez also launched Bantay Kalikasan, which seeks to promote environmental protection and education and eco-tourism.

Sen. Bam is pushing for the development of the bamboo industry as means to protect the environment, saying it will help rehabilitate degraded watersheds, sequester carbon dioxide, assist in mitigation of climate change and provide livelihood to communities at the same time.

 

Speech of Sen. Bam during the IP peering MOA signing ceremony

We’ve been talking about this for nine months. Actually, it might even be a little longer than that. 

To be frank, the first time I had these gentlemen visit me in the Senate was, I think, more than a year ago. But, I’m truly happy that we finally came to this deal. 

Maraming salamat and I truly hope that this will be one of more milestones that we can put under our belts in terms of really increasing the speed, quality and access of internet in the Philippines. 

You know, a lot of people say, “You’re giving the telcos a hard time!” But I don’t think it’s really giving you a hard time. I’d like to think that the atmosphere that we create is one where we can collaborate and work together. 

And If we have the goal in mind, which is really improving the quality, access and service to our people, then I think it’s a direction where all of us – whether you’re competitors, you’re in government, you’re in the private sector — it’s a place where we can all move towards. 

Again, thank you for the meeting of the minds that happened. 

There was a negotiating team, I heard. So congratulations to the negotiating team. 

Iyong nakita kong negotiating team this morning was NDF and Philippine Government. Mas madugo ang negotiating na nangyari. But all of these agreements are being signed and this IP peering agreement is akin to that. 

I am very, very elated with these developments. I know that this will be the first of many more steps to improve the quality of internet in our country.

Maraming salamat and congratulations!

 

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