teambam, Author at The Official Website of Senator Bam Aquino #BAMsaSenado

Bam: Finally, IP Peering agreement between telcos inked

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomes the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for IP peering between PLDT and Globe, which was ironed out after months of talks between the two biggest telecommunication companies in the country.

“I am very happy that it’s finally happening after months of talks. We started looking into this option more than a year ago in the Senate,” said Sen. Bam in his speech during the signing ceremony.

Sen. Bam hopes that the MOA is “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”.

The senator has been pushing for IP peering, among other solutions, during the Senate hearing on the country’s Internet conditions, which he initiated as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Sen. Bam said the benefit of this agreement will be felt by nearly all Internet users in the Philippines, especially mobile subscribers who use data, when the IP peering is completed after 30 days.

“The good thing is, bibilis ang internet dahil hindi na kailangan lumabas ng bansa ang data,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam says they will be closely monitoring the developments over the next 30 days and will continue to work on solutions to improve the quality of Internet services in the Philippines.

Bam on the Abu Sayyaf problem

June 16, 2016
In Issues, Other Issues, Uncategorized

Malaking perhuwisyo na ang idinulot ng paghahasik ng lagim ng Abu Sayyaf sa ating bansa.

Naapektuhan na nito ang ating imahe na nagdulot ng malaking epekto sa turismo, ekonomiya at maging sa pamumuhay sa ilang bahagi ng Mindanao.

Panahon na upang gawin ang lahat ng nararapat na aksiyon upang mapulbos na ang bandidong grupo sa lalong madaling panahon.

Suportado natin ang anumang hakbang na gagawin ng kasalukuyang pamahalaan at ng papasok na administrasyon ni President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, basta’t ito’y naaayon sa batas.

Subalit sa pagkilos na ito, dapat unahing bantayan ang kapakanan ng sibilyan na posibleng maipit sa labanan.

BIDA KA!: Unang tatlong taon

June 16, 2016
In Bida Ka! (Abante), Columns

Mga Bida, napakabilis talaga ng takbo ng panahon.

Parang kailan lang, kasisimula lang ng ating anim na taong termino bilang inyong mambabatas. Sariwa pa nga sa ating isip noong tayo’y iproklama bilang isa sa mga nagwaging senador noong 2013.

Pagsapit ng Hulyo a-uno, mangangangalahati na ang ating panununungkulan sa Senado. Tama nga ang kasabihang lumilipad ang oras kapag nag-e-enjoy tayo sa ating trabaho, lalo na kung ito’y para sa bayan.

Nais nating ibalita sa inyo ang mga batas na ating iniakda, isinumite at naisabatas sa nakalipas na tatlong taon.

Labing-apat sa mga panukala na ating iniakda o inisponsoran ang naisabatas, kabilang dito ang Go Negosyo Act, Fair Competition Act, Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, Lemon Law, Microfinance NGO Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act, Credit Surety Act, SK Reform Act, An Act Authorizing Punong Barangay to Administer Oath of any Government Official;

Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, Election Service Reform Act, Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, Tax Relief para sa PWDs at ang pagtatatag ng Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Walo sa mga ito ay dumaan sa ating kumite, ang Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, habang ang iba naman ay dininig ng iba pang komite sa Senado.

May tatlo pang naghihintay ng pirma ni Pangulong Aquino. Ito ay ang Anti-Discrimination Law, Closed Caption Broadcasting for Television at No Shortchanging Act, kaya may tsansa tayo’y magkaroon ng labimpitong batas sa pagpasok ng 17th Congress.

***

Una sa listahan natin ay ang ating kauna-unahan at paboritong panukalang Go Negosyo Act, na nagtatakdang magtayo ng mga Negosyo Centers na tutulong a ating mga negosyanteng mapalago ang kanilang mga kabuhayan at makadagdag ng trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan.

Sa kasalukuyan, nasa 170 na ang Negosyo Centers sa bansa at inaasahan pa ang pag-akyat ng bilang nito ngayong may inilaang P394 million sa 2016 budget para sa paglalagay ng dagdag na sangay ngayong taon.

Noong nakaraang taon din, naisabatas din natin ang Philippine Competition Act makalipas ang halos 30 taong paghihintay.

Ang nasabing batas ay maituturing na makasaysayan at game changer para sa ekonomiya ng bansa dahil mawawala na ang anumang kartel at pang-aabuso sa maliliit na negosyo tulad sa industriya ng sibuyas at bawang.

Dahil may kumpetisyon sa merkado, magreresulta ito sa abot-kaya at de-kalidad na produkto at serbisyo at magkakaroon ng maraming pagpipilian ang mga mamimili tulad sa industriya ng Internet connection, na sa ngayo’y napakabagal at napakamahal.

***

Sa unang pagkakataon din, nakapagpasa tayo ng batas na may anti-dynasty provision sa SK Reform Act o Republic Act No. 10742.

Sa SK Reform Act, bawal nang tumakbo ang mga kamag-anak ng nahalal at nahirang na opisyal bilang miyembro ng SK, hanggang sa tinatawag na second level of consanguinity.

Itinaas din ang edad ng SK officials patungong 18 hanggang 24 taong gulang, upang maging ligal ang pagpasok nila sa mga kontrata at mapapanagot sa kanilang aksiyon.

Kailangan na ring sumailalim sa leadership training programs ang mga SK official upang magkaroon sila ng sapat na kaalaman sa pagtupad sa tungkulin.

Maliban dito, itinatakda ng SK Reform Act ang pagtatatag ng Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), na siyang tutulong sa mga pinuno ng SK sa pagbalangkas ng mga programa’t proyekto para sa mga kabataan at titiyak sa paglahok ng mas maraming grupo ng mga kabataan.

***

Noong Agosto 27, 2015 naman, naibatas ang Youth Entrepreneurship Act, na layong bawasan ang lumalaking bilang ng kabataang walang trabaho sa bansa.

Sa Youth Entrepreneurship Act, maglalagay ng mga module ng financial literacy at pagnenegosyo sa curriculum ng elementary, secondary at tertiary schools sa buong bansa.

Sa tulong ng batas, bibigyan din ang mga kabataang nais magsimula ng negosyo ng access financing, training, market linkages at iba pang tulong na kailangan sa pagpapatakbo ng negosyo.

Mga Bida, ito’y unang tatlong taon pa lang. Asahan niyo na lalo pa nating pag-iibayuhin ang pagtatrabaho sa susunod na tatlong taon para sa inyong kapakanan.

Bam: Lowering age of criminal liability may result in more criminals

June 15, 2016
In Issues, Youth

Lowering the age of criminal liability may result in more criminals rather than reduce crime.

Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Youth, issued this warning in reaction to the incoming government’s plan to lower the criminal liability to 12 years old.

“With the current state of our justice system and the poor condition of our prisons and detention centers, placing a child with incarcerated criminals will likely encourage criminal leanings instead of rehabilitation,” he said.

Sen. Bam stressed that this proposal must be studied carefully because it may lead to more problems, rather than prevent crime.

Under the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act or Republic Act 10630, children below 15 years old are exempted from criminal liability and can be released to the custody of his/her parents or may be referred to a youth care facility or “Bahay Pag-asa”.

“Rather than meting out full criminal liability to children, we can look at reforms improving our juvenile delinquency facilities or even adding penalties to their parents,” he added.

“These improvements and amendments are items the Committee can take up and study.”

Bam opposes plan to increase VAT to 15 percent

Bilang chairman ng Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, tutol ako sa pagtaas ng VAT sa 15 percent dahil mataas na ng presyo ng bilihin kumpara sa kinikita ng pangkaraniwang pamilyang Pilipino.

Hangga’t maaari, kailangang panatilihin ang mababang presyo ng bilihin at huwag payagang tumaas ito.

Pagdating naman sa pangangalap ng pondo, kailangang tutukan ng pamahalaan ang mahigpit na pangongolekta ng buwis at pag-alis ng katiwalian sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Bam: PH ‘next big thing’ in eSports, Video Game Development

June 12, 2016
In Issues, Other Issues

Sen. Bam Aquino, an avid supporter of the local eSports industry, believes the hosting of the Manila Major can help the Philippines boost its image as next eSports and video game development hotbed in the world.

“I think this is just the beginning. The whole world is getting to see that the Philippines is a player in the eSports scene,” Aquino said in an interview at the Manila Major event held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The third event of Valve’s Dota Major Championships, the Manila Major features 16 international teams battling it out for a total pot of $3 million and spots in The International 2016, which will be held in Seattle, Washington in July.

“There are only four of these events every year and we get to host it. I’m hoping that this will be a yearly event, leading up to the biggest competition in the United States. Hopefully, this will be a permanent stop,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from the eSports industry, Sen. Bam said the Philippines is now a favorite destination for video game developers, creating employment for more Filipinos.

“We’ve been helping the game development industry set up shop here in the Philippines. Big publisher is setting up a studio here in partnership with one of the biggest schools,” said Sen. Bam.

“So many things are happening, especially with the number of jobs being created because of events like this (Manila Major) and because of the movements in the game development world,” he added.

Sen. Bam also lauded the organizers, led by the Philippine eSports Organization (PEO), PGL and Valve, for the successful staging of the world-class event in the country.

“This is just a start. A lot of people here worked really hard to put this up. It took years to put it up. The first time we spoke, it was just a dream, now it’s here,” said Sen. Bam, whose initiative led to the formation of PeSPA to strengthen the foundation of eSports in the country.

Recently, the country hosted the ESL One Dota Tournament, which was held for the first time in Southeast Asia.

BIDA KA!: VP Leni Robredo

June 4, 2016
In Bida Ka! (Abante), Columns

Mga Bida, naiproklama na noong Lunes ng Kongreso, bilang National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) ang susunod na presidente at bise presidente ng bansa.

Nais kong ipaabot ang mainit na pagbati sa bagong pangulo ng bansa na si Rodrigo Duterte at bise presidente na si Leni Robredo.

Ang tambalang ito ang magsisilbing gabay ng bansa sa tatahakin nitong landas sa susunod na anim na taon kaya kailangan nila ang ating buong suporta upang magtagumpay.

***

Bilang campaign manager ni VP Leni, masasabi nating napakatamis ng kanyang panalo sa katatapos na halalan.

Maliban sa ito’y isa sa pinakamahigpit na tunggalian sa kasaysayan pagdating sa posisyon ng bise presidente, hindi biro ang aming pinagdaanan ilang buwan bago nagsimula ang kampanya.

Sa mga nakalipas nating kolum, nabanggit natin ang mga hamon na aming kinaharap ni VP Leni sa simula ng labang ito.

Isa sa pinakamalaking hamon noon ay kung paano makikilala si VP Leni. Bago niya tinanggap ang hamon, nasa isang porsiyento lang ang ating rating, kulelat sa anim na kandidato sa pagka-bise presidente.

Bukod dito, problema rin namin noon kung saan kukuha ng pondong gagamitin sa pagpapakilala at pag-iikot sa buong bansa.

***

Subalit hindi namin inalintana ang mga pagsubok na ito. Sa halip, ginawa namin itong “people’s campaign” kung saan ang magdadala sa amin ay ang suporta ng taumbayan.

Naging susi sa aming kampanya ang pagbaba ni VP Leni sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa upang magpakilala at iparating sa mga nasa laylayan ng lipunan ang kanyang mensahe ng pag-asa.

Sa tulong nito, unti-unting nakilala ng publiko ang katauhan ni VP Leni, ang kanyang pinagmulan, mga nagawa at mga gagawin pa para sa kanilang kapakanan.

Sa walang pagod na pag-iikot ni VP Leni, nagsilbi siyang inspirasyon sa aming mga tagasuporta at volunteers na pag-igihin pa ang trabaho at tumulong sa pagpapakalat ng kanyang misyon na iangat ang mga nasa laylayan na mahalaga sa kanya at sa yumao niyang asawa na si Sec. Jesse Robredo.

Pinatakbo natin nang totoong “people’s campaign”, na kahit iba-iba ang pagkilos, ay tumahak pa rin tungo sa malinaw na layunin na mauuwi sa panalo. Ngayon, tapos na ang kampanya at naiproklama na si VP Leni ngunit hindi pa rito natatapos ang kanyang laban, pati na ng kanyang mga tagasuporta.

Dito pa lang magsisimula ang anim na taong laban ni VP Leni upang mapaganda ang kalagayan ng mahihirap, tulad ng kanyang ipinangako sa atin.

Tiwala tayo na ang nabuong pag-asa at tiwala sa kanyang kampanya ay maipagpapatuloy niya sa pagganap ng tungkulin bilang pangalawang pangulo ng bansa.

Sen. Bam: Lower prices of goods, services with IRR for PH Competition Act signed

The signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Competition Act will soon lead to lower prices and improved quality of goods and services for consumers, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“This will bring prices down while improving quality across goods like agricultural products and services like the Internet,” said Sen. Aquino, co-author and principal sponsor of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act.

“Creating a healthier and more competitive business environment in the Philippines has far-reaching benefits for the start-up community, small businesses, and, ultimately, Filipino consumers,” added Sen. Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The IRR of Republic Act 10667 was published in major dailies today (June 3), making the law effective after 15 days or on June 18, 2016.

Sen. Bam lauded the signing of the IRR, saying “this is another major milestone for everyone that worked on the passage of the Philippine Competition Act.”

“Congratulations to the Philippine Competition Commission on the signing of the Philippine Competition Act IRR,” he said.

It took 25 years before Congress finally enacted the Philippine Competition Act into law and it happened under Sen. Bam’s watch as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The Philippine Competition Act will help sustain the country’s ever-growing economy and ensure a climate that provides a level-playing field for all businesses.

Sen. Bam called the Philippine Competition Act as a “historic, game-changing legislation for the economy” as it penalizes bad market behavior and abuse of dominant positions.

The Philippine Competition Act is expected to eliminate cartels, and penalize anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the markets that lead to high prices of goods and services.

Sen. Bam added that Philippine Competition Act promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs.

The senator earlier said that the Philippine Competition Act will be crucial to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s aim to improve the country’s Internet service as the law will encourage the entry of more players in the telecommunications industry.

The Philippine Competition Commission is also expected to look into the sale of San Miguel Corporation’s telecommunications assets to PLDT and Globe to assess its impact on consumers and the industry.

NBA Finals 2016: 7 Dahilan Bakit Mananalo ang Warriors or Cavaliers

June 3, 2016
In Listahan

NBA Finals na naman, siguradong exciting ang magaganap na labanan dahil ito ay rematch ng nakaraang finals.

May pambatong team ka na ba? Kung wala pa, eto ang ilan sa mga dahilan kung bakit mag-cha-champion ang…

… Cleveland Cavaliers!

Kumpleto ang Triple Threat. Noong nakaraang taon, binuhat mag-isa ni LeBron James ang Cavs sa NBA Finals dahil wala sina Kevin Love at Kyrie Irving. Pero ngayon ay injury free na sila at sabay nang makakacontribute sa opensa at depensa.

Triple Shooting.Maliban sa triple threat, poproblemahin din ng Warriors and 3-point shooting average ng Cavs lalo na si J.R. Smith, na kilala bilang 3-point specialist. Sa tulong ni Smith, luluwag ang depensa sa shaded lane at mabibigyan ng pagkakataon sina Love, James at Tristan Thompson na gumawa ng puntos sa loob ng paint.

Center of Attention. Sa height na 6-11, hindi pangkaraniwang sentro si Channing Frye ng Cavs dahil kaya rin nitong tumira sa labas ng arc. Dahil dito, malaking problema para sa Warriors kung paano siya babantayan.

Powerful ang #Hugot. Paniguradong hindi poproblemahin ng Cleveland ang pagrerely sa iba pang players at reserba dahil naririyan sa bench sina Matthew Dellavedova, Richard Jefferson at Iman Shumpert na kilala ding masipag gumawa kapag nasa loob na ng court.

Sabik dahil nagbalik. Paniguradong nangingibabaw sa side ng Cavs ang eagerness at will for redemption. Dahil sa rematch na ito, mabibigyan sila ng pagkakaton na kunin ang kampeonato na ipinagkait ng Warriors sa kanila last year. Hindi pa nakakatikim ng kampeonato EVER ang Cavs sa NBA kaya di lang sila gutom, they are starving for the win.

Meron silang “King”. Haters gonna hate pero si Lebron James lang naman ang isa sa mga nangunguna sa attack points. Ang 4-time MVP na pride ng Cleveland ay 24.6 points per game ang average at 7.0 assists. Siguradong matatakot ang sinumang babangga!

Fresh Start. Isa sa mga bago sa Cavs ngayong taon ay ang kanilang coach. Simula ng pumasok si Coach Tyronn Lue, nakita na din ang mas improved ball movement sa laro ng Cleveland. Mukhang mas nageenjoy din sila sa kanilang laro. Bagong coach at bagong strategy para sa dati na nilang kalaban. Isa yan sa mga baon ng Cavs ngayong finals.

… GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS!

Unanimous “MVP”. Paniguradong si Steph Curry ang magdadala ng laro ng Golden State Warriors sa finals. Matatandaang muntik na silang malaglag sa Western Conference ng makausad sa 3-1 advantage ang OKC. Pero pinatunayan ni Steph ang pagiging MVP, kaya naman dinala nya ang team nya sa 3 straight wins para makabalik sa NBA Finals.

Splash Brothers. Hindi lang si Steph ang standout sa warriors, hindi pwedeng kalimutan ang other half ng lethal na splash brothers na si Klay Thompson. Dahil sa tandem nila, nabura lang naman ng Warriors ang 72-win record ng Chicago Bulls nang tapusin nila ang regular season na may record na 73-9.

Green Defense. – Mabisa ring sandata ng Warriors ang power forward na si Draymond Green, na muling napasama sa All-Defense first team ng NBA ngayong taon. Alalahanin natin na di lang nakakasalalay sa puntos ang panalo, sa galing ng depensa rin. Pero matinik din si Draymond sa opensa dahil kayod-kabayo ito kapag nasa loob na ng court.

Andre the Giant. Kilala si Andre Iguodala bilang scorer sa kanyang career sa Denver Nuggets at Philadelphia 76ers ngunit nagsakripisyo na maging sixth man nang mapunta sa Warriors. Nagbunga naman ang sakripisyo ni Andre dahil sa malaki niyang papel kapag ipinapasok na siya ni coach Steve Kerr, lalo na sa depensa. Remember, sya ang last Finals MVP!

Role players. Maliban kina Curry, Thompson, Iguodala at Green, may iba pang maaasahang players ang Warriors, tulad nina Harrison Barnes, Andrew Bogut, Shaun Livingston at Mareese Speights. Kapag pinagsama sama ang pwersa ng lahat ng role players na ito, hindi malabong mag back to back ang panalo ng Warriors.

Less “Boos”, More “Boost”. Tinapos ng Golden State ang regular season na may league-best 73-9 record para makuha ang top seeding at homecourt advantage sa kabuuan ng playoffs. Dahil sa homecourt sila maglalaro, paniguradong maboboost ang confidence nila at mahihiya ang sinuman sa audience na sisigaw ng “Boo” tuwing makakapuntos.

Finals? Been there done that! Nagawa na nila dati kaya malaki ang tyansang magagawa nila uli. Halos sila pa rin ang team at coach na sumabak sa nakaraang NBA Finals na nakasungkit ng kampeonato kaya experienced na sila sa labanang ito.

Sen. Bam: Competition law to help Duterte improve PH Internet

A senator believes that presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte can improve the state of country’s Internet with the help of the Philippine Competition Act, which will encourage the entry of more players in the telecommunications industry.

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed elation over Duterte’s pronouncement that he will encourage the entry of competition if local telecommunication players fail to improve quality of the country’s Internet.

“We are confident that the Philippine Competition Act, a law we passed last year, through the Philippine Competition Commission, will usher in such competition for the benefit of Filipino consumers for the long term,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act

Sen. Bam said more players in the telecommunications industry will create competition in the market, which, in turn will result to improved service at affordable prices for consumers.

It took 25 years before Congress finally enacted the Philippine Competition Act into law and it happened under Sen. Bam’s watch as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The Philippine Competition Act will help sustain the country’s ever-growing economy and ensure a climate that provides a level-playing field for all businesses.

“We will continue to develop and push policies to provide the public access to quicker and more affordable Internet services,” added Sen. Bam, who spearheaded several hearings on the slow and expensive Internet service in the country.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam also lauded President Aquino’s approval of the creation of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) into law.

“After last year’s hearings to investigate the country’s slow and expensive internet, we are finally seeing progress in our quest for improvement of internet services in the Philippines,” Sen. Bam said.

On March 2015, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill 1091 or the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom, which proposed the establishment of a DICT

“We are happy to learn that RA 10844, an act creating the DICT, was signed into law this week,” said Sen. Bam.

Author: teambam