Issues

Sen. Bam to SUC students: You have the right to free tuition and miscellaneous fees

Sen. Bam Aquino reminded students from state universities and colleges (SUCs) that the collection of tuition and miscellaneous fees is illegal.

“Isang taon na mula nang maisabatas ang Free College Law. Sa ilalim nito, karapatan niyong hindi magbayad ng tuition at miscellaneous fees sa SUCs,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

During dialogue with different sectors, Sen. Bam has received reports that some SUCs are still collecting miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students.

“Kahit mayroon nang batas, may naririnig pa rin tayong ilang SUCs na hindi sumusunod dito at patuloy ang paniningil ng mga bayarin na hindi na dapat pang kinokolekta mula sa mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam insisted.

During the Commission on Higher Education’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam warned SUCs against collecting fees from students.

“If there are mandatory fees still being collected by the schools, that is illegal now,” said Sen. Bam.

In addition, Sen. Bam called on the government to fully implement the Free College Law, saying it should not deprive poor students a chance at a better life through education.

“Prayoridad dapat ang edukasyon. Ito ang susi sa kaunlaran ng pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the Free College Law will provide poor families respite from the high prices of goods and services.

“Lalo na ngayong matindi and pagtaas ng presyo, bigyan ng ginhawa ang mga Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who worked for the measure’s passage during his time as chairman of Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Republic Act 10931 provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

Also, the law allows students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.

Two Aquinos split opposition votes in Pulse survey

The first time two Aquinos were included in the Pulse Asia Survey resulted in a divided choice for voters, leading to a drop for Sen. Bam Aquino.

From being the only opposition candidate among the top 12 in past surveys, Sen. Bam dropped from the Magic 12 in the recent survey conducted from Sept. 1 to 7.

His cousin, actress Kris Aquino, was recently included in the survey and ranked similarly to Sen. Bam.

“Pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan ang mas mahalaga sa usaping ito. Ngayon na lumalabas na isa lang sa amin ang dapat tumakbo next year, pag uusapan at paghahandaan namin ito,” said Sen. Bam.

“Naniniwala pa rin ako na pagdating ng eleksyon, maghahanap ang mga kababayan natin ng mga senador na may sariling isip at handang ipaglaban ang mga programang ikabubuti ng taumbayan. Naniniwala ako na lalabas ito sa boto ng mga Pilipino sa 2019,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law.

Sen. Bam: Hindi sagot ang Martial Law, diktadurya sa problema ng ating kababayan

Sen. Bam Aquino addressed the Senate and insisted that Martial Law will never be a solution to the pressing problems of the country.

“Hindi naging sagot ang Martial Law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon,” said Sen. Bam in his privilege speech. “Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.”

In nine years under Martial Law, Sen. Bam said there were 3,320 victims of extrajudicial killings, 34,000 cases of torture, 70,000 cases of illegal detention, 75,730 cases of human rights violations and debt of around P395 billion, which is equivalent to more than P3 trillion in today’s money.

“Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said Martial Law is not the solution to the country’s pressing problems, including high prices of food, such as rice, and rampant killings of local officials, priests and even young people.

“Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon,” said Sen. Bam.

“Ngunit hindi Martial Law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government must simply act on the concerns of the Filipinos to solve these problems.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill, which aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

According to Sen. Bam, the immediate passage of the law will also stop the scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam to SUCs: Collecting mandatory fees is now illegal

Sen. Bam Aquino cautioned state universities and colleges (SUCs) from collecting fees from students amid the implementation of the Free College Law.
 
“If there are mandatory fees still being collected by the schools, that is illegal now,” said Sen. Bam during the budget hearing of the Commission on Higher Education.
 
“Mag-ingat sila sa kinokolekta nila kasi nasa batas iyan. If it is a mandatory fee, that should not be charged to the students,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after receiving complaints from students and parents about mandatory fees being collected by SUCS despite the implementation of the free college law.
 
“May natatanggap pa rin tayong reklamo ukol sa di makatwirang paniningil na ginagawa ng ilang SUCs. Di na ito dapat ginagawa,” said Sen. Bam, also the vice chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
Republic Act 10931 provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools. 
 
Also, the law allows students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.
 
The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam questions P100B DepEd budget cut for new classrooms

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the Department of Budget and Management’s move to cut the Department of Education’s budget for construction of classrooms from P116 billion to just P10.2 billion.
 
“Napakalaking kapabayaan ang tapyasan ng halos 90 porsiyento ang budget para sa pagpapagawa ng classroom. Ang ating mga anak at kanilang edukasyon dapat ang prayoridad ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam as he presided the hearing of the DepEd’s budget as vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.
 
Sen. Bam said the amount earmarked by the DBM is enough to build just around 4,000 classrooms. Originally, the DepEd asked DBM for funds to build around 47,000 classrooms for 2019.
 
“Ang mga batang estudyante at ang kinabukasan ng bayan ang magbabayad sa maling pagpaprayoridad ng gobyerno,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the welfare of students is important than the government’s intelligence funds.
 
“Hindi tayo papayag na ipagkait sa kabataang Pilipino ang pondo na dapat ay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam, who briefly served as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.
 
Sen. Bam suggested to increase funding to around P15 billion for construction of 10,000 new classrooms in 2019, instead of just 4,110. Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Finance Committee, committed to bring the issue up with the DBM.
 
“Ilagay natin ang numero sa mga kayang gawin at tapusin bago matapos ang 2019,” said Sen. Bam, with the assurance from concerned government agencies that the 10,000 classrooms will be finished by the end of 2019.
 
In addition, the senator stressed that the DepEd needs additional budget for the repair of classrooms destroyed by Typhoon Ompong amounting to almost P1 billion.
 
“Kailangang gawin ding prayoridad ng pamahalaan ang pagsasaayos ng mga silid-aralan at mga gusali na sinira ng Bagyong Ompong upang hindi maantala ang pag-aaral ng ating mga estudyante,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam calls for passage of Bawas Presyo Bill amid rising fuel prices

Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his push for the passage of his Bawas Presyo Bill, following the fresh round of increase in prices of petroleum products.

“Kumilos na tayo. Hindi pwedeng nganga lang ang gobyerno sa sunod-sunod na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” said Sen. Bam, alluding to the latest round of oil price increase on Tuesday.

”Huwag nating kalimutan na may responsibilidad tayo sa bayan, lalo na’t tumitindi ang hagupit sa publiko ng patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the government should consider Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill as one of the options in solving the rise in prices of goods and services due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Hanggang walang ginagawa ang pamahalaan, lalong malulunod ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin. Kailangan nang kumilos ang pamahalaan,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam’s Bawas Presyo Bill aims to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Passing the measure is crucial as it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019, according to Sen. Bam.

Aside from pushing for the enactment of the Bawas Presyo Bill, Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implement the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law to alleviate the burden of the public, especially the poor.

Among them are the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Bilhin ang ‘Storm Damaged Palay’

Sen. Bam Aquino urged President Duterte to order the National Food Authority (NFA) to purchase Storm-Damaged Palay (SDP) from farmers in areas devastated by Typhoon Ompong as a way to help them and the families get back on their feet.

“Sana po tugunan ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng mga magsasaka at kanilang mga pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the farmers who have failed to harvest their crops before the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong.

“Utusan sana niya ang NFA na bilhin ang SDP. Tulungan natin ang mga kababayan nating magsasaka,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the move will give farmers a chance to recoup their capital used for purchasing rice seeds, fertilizer and other inputs.

The senator said buying SDP is not new to the NFA since the agency has done it in the past. However, the price is dependent on the quality specification, such as moisture content, purity, discolored and damaged grains.

Sen. Bam said the government can use the President’s Social Fund or the Calamity Fund, which are both under the Office of the President, to fund the initiative.

“Unahin sana ng administrasyon ang mga nasasagasaan at napipinsala. Masyado nang maraming Pilipino ang nalulunod sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam also urged the government to work together to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Ompong on the prices of goods in affected areas.

As one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, Sen. Bam has been working to lessen the effects of the government’s tax reform program in the prices of goods and services.

The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam stressed the need to enact his measure into law, saying it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam rallies support for Filipino deaf community, FSL Act

Deaf Filipinos will soon be empowered with their own national language after the Senate passed on third and final reading the Filipino Sign Language (FSL) Act, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

On Tuesday, the Senate approved Senate Bill No. 1455 on third and final reading via 20 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention.

“We hope to build a society where every Filipino is valued and respected. Let’s support and empower the Filipino deaf community,” said Sen. Bam, who explained that the FSL Act seeks to recognize Filipino Sign Language or FSL as the national sign language and endeavors to bring it to the mainstream.

In his sponsorship speech as vice chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the FSL will give the deaf community better access to government services, information, education, and justice.

If enacted into law, the FSL will become the official mode of communication of the deaf for government services, calling for trained interpreters in various government offices. 

The measure also aims to make FSL as means of interpretation in broadcast media, delivering news and information consistently to the deaf community.

In his five years in the Senate, Sen. Bam has continuously worked hard for the welfare of persons with disabilities (PWDs). In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam pushing the passage of Republic Act 10754, which exempts PWDs from paying value added tax (VAT), as co-author.

Sen. Bam also worked for the passage of Republic Act 10905 or the Closed Caption Law as co-author. It requires television networks to use the closed captioning system for news and current affairs programs and entertainment shows for the benefit of viewers with hearing impairment.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 967 requiring Filipino Sign Language insets for local news programs. He also filed Senate Bill No. 1249 seeking to mandate government offices and private companies to allocate a percentage of their workforce for PWDs.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Storm to intensify rice and price crisis, address rising prices ASAP

Aside from relief and rehabilitation efforts, a senator called on the government to work together to mitigate the effects of Typhoon Ompong on the prices of goods in affected areas.
 
“Patindi nang patindi ang pagsubok sa pamilyang Pilipino. Kailangan nating magkaisa upang solusyunan ang mga krisis ng bayan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Tiyak na tataas pa ang presyo ng bigas at pagkain dahil sa pananalasa ni Ompong. Kailangang agapan ng pamahalaan bago humagupit ang taas-presyo sa mga apektadong lugar,” added Sen. Bam, who has been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill.
 
Sen. Bam said the recent typhoon affects supply of goods and may lead to spike in prices, placing additional burden on people who lost their homes and livelihood to Ompong.
 
“Mahihirapan din pong makabangon agad ang mga kababayan nating nasalanta kung sila ay nalulunod sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam said the government should take additional steps to keep the prices of goods in check, in addition to the implementation of price freeze in areas that will be placed under state of calamity.
 
“Maliban sa pagtiyak na naipatutupad ang price freeze sa mga lugar na sinalanta ng bagyo, dapat magkaroon din ng dagdag na pagkilos ang gobyerno para mapababa ang presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Furthermore, Sen. Bam said concerned government agencies must ensure that there is enough supply of agricultural products in different parts of the country as well after the onslaught of the typhoon.
 
Sen. Bam has been working to lessen the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in the prices of goods and services.
 
The senator filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
 
Sen. Bam stressed the need to enact his measure into law, saying it will stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam pushes LGUs to work with, prioritize Filipino youth

To push for better, more responsive and more innovative governance, Sen. Bam Aquino is encouraging local government units (LGUs) to work with youth leaders and their organizations.

In his amendment to Senate Bill No. 1843 or the Seal of Good Local Governance Act, Sen. Bam wants LGUs to establish youth development programs to ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in nation building.

The senator said LGUs must develop enabling mechanisms and support systems to boost the involvement of the youth in governance.

In his amendment, Sen. Bam has batted for the establishment of a Local Youth Development Council and a Youth Development Office in all LGUs, they can institute policies and programs geared to mold the youth into successful and kind-hearted citizens.

“Bilang mga kinabukasan ng bayan, bigyan natin ng sapat na pagkakataon ang mga kabataan na makilahok sa pagpapatakbo ng pamahalaan at sa pagpapaunlad ng lipunan,” said Sen. Bam, who thanked Sen. Sonny Angara for accepting his amendments to the measure.

Being a former youth leader and Chairman of the National Youth Commission, Sen. Bam is a known advocate of youth empowerment, pushing for enactment of laws that focus on the welfare of the youth.

Among them is the SK Reform Act, which Sen. Bam pushed as co-sponsor and co-author. Also, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of Republic Act 10679 or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act during his term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress.

The law encourages young would-be entrepreneurs to establish their own business by providing them access to capital and other support. It also creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inculcate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.

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