Issues

Sen. Bam to Duterte Admin: Tama na ang turuan, magtulungan para labanan ang krisis sa presyo at bigas

Sen. Bam Aquino challenged the administration to join forces with the opposition and work together to solve the rice and price crises.
 
“Imbis na magturuan, harapin natin ang krisis na nagpapahirap sa bayan,” said Sen. Bam during his privilege speech on the rising prices of goods and rice in the country.
 
“Nasa kamay po ng administrasyon ang pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng gobyerno. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
Sen. Bam clarified that the opposition has been in talks not to overthrow the government, but to address the price and rice issues through “Oplan Ginhawa”.
 
“Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Under the “Oplan Ginhawa”, Sen. Bam gave three proposals to the administration to address the growing inflation and high prices of rice and ease the burden of the Filipino people, especially the poor.
 
First, Sen. Bam urged the government to fully implement the social mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program, Pantawid Pasada Program and the 10-percent discount on NFA rice.
 
Sen. Bam also called on the government to replace incompetent NFA officials with people who can help fulfil the agency’s mandate, including the immediate return of the 15-day buffer stock.
 
Third, Sen. Bam renewed is call for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to stop the second round of increase in excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.
 
“Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso — at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga solusyon sa krisis na ito,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam to NFA: Paghandaan ang bagyo, bumawi sa taumbayan

The National Food Authority (NFA) will have a chance to redeem itself by ensuring the sufficient supply of rice in areas that are expected to be hit by typhoon Ompong, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 

“Tiyakin ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan at siguruhing hindi magugutom ang mga nasalanta,” said Sen. Bam. 

“Dapat nang bumawi ng NFA sa kapalpakan ng kanilang administrador. This is an opportunity for NFA to step up in serving our countrymen,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the blunders of NFA administrator Jason Aquino that affected the supply of affordable rice in the market.

President Duterte is looking for Jason Aquino’s replacement after he asked to be relieved from his post.

Sen. Bam said the NFA must ensure that there is enough stock of rice in warehouses located in areas that will be affected by the typhoon. 

“Gamitin ang teknolohiya at mga harvester para tulungan ang mga magsasaka. Buksan ang mga warehouse sa mga magsasakang kailangang protektahan ang kanilang ani,” said Sen. Bam. 

Super typhoon Mangkhut, which will be known as Ompong when it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility, is expected to pack 200 to 220 kilometers per hour of wind. It is expected to pass through Cagayan province, Batanes and Babuyan Group of Islands before heading to Taiwan. 

On Monday, Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1211 or the Philippine Space Act as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 

Sen. Bam said the measure, if enacted into law, can strengthen the country’s mitigation and response to natural calamities and disasters. 

The measure is aimed at beefing up existing government programs on disaster prevention, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council’s disaster risk management, PAGASA’s astronomical science programs and National Mapping & Resource Information Agency’s satellite information gathering.

Sen. Bam: Tutukan sana ng Pangulo ang bagyo at krisis sa presyo, suspindihin ang excise tax sa Enero

Sen. Bam Aquino called on President Duterte to directly address issues that affect the Filipino people, like high prices of goods, and not use politics to divert the public’s attention.

“Tutukan sana ng Pangulo ang tunay na isyu, taas-presyo at bagyo, imbis na ang pulitika. Krisis sa bigas at pagkain at itong parating na Bagyong Ompong ang mga totoong banta sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Duterte’s address to the nation this afternoon.

“Hindi makakatulong ang pamumulitika sa problema ng ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government should find ways to alleviate the plight of the Filipinos, especially the poor, amid the continuous increase in prices of goods and petroleum products.

 “Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa ating mga kababayan. Solusyunan na ang taas presyo at protektahan ang mga Pilipino sa gutom, bagyo at iba pang peligro,” said Sen. Bam.

Instead of politicking, Sen. Bam said Duterte must inspire government officials and the opposition to work together in finding solutions to pressing problems, such as high inflation rate and high prices of goods.

 “Magkaisa na lang sana tayo sa paghanap at pagganap ng mga solusyon, na matagal nang hiling ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

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.

“Sana suspindihin ng Pangulo mamaya ang excise tax sa Enero. It’s possible,” said Sen. Bam.

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: Pababain na ang presyo ng petrolyo, solusyunan ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain

After one key government official admitted that the surge in the country’s inflation rate is sparked by high fuel prices, Sen. Bam Aquino renewed his call for the passage of his measure seeking to halt the excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
 
“Sa wakas, inamin na ng gobyerno na ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain ay dahil sa taas ng presyo ng petrolyo. Pababain na natin ito. Itanggal na ang TRAIN Tax sa petrolyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam was referring to Agriculture Sec. Manny Pinol’s pronouncement during the agency’s budget hearing that the high prices of fuel was the main reason behind the country’s high inflation rate, which was pegged at 6.4 percent in August.
 
“Sana kasabay ng pag-amin ay gawing urgent na din ang Bawas Presyo Bill para mabigyan naman ng kaunting ginhawa ang mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to his Senate Bill No. 1798.
 
Sen. Bam’s measure 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. 
 
The senator underscored the need to immediately pass the bill into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.
 
“May krisis na ang Pilipinas sa bigas at taas presyo. Utang na loob, pagtulungan na natin ito alang-alang sa mga Pilipinong hirap na hirap nang umahon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Vice President Leni Robredo supported the passage of the measure while members of the minority in the House — Miro Quimbo, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Josephine Ramirez-Sato – have filed their own version of the bill.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Huwag ipagkait ang diskuwento sa bigas sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law

In addition to the unconditional cash transfer and the Pantawid Pasada programs, Sen. Bam Aquino said the government has yet to fully roll out another social mitigating measure under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

Under the TRAIN Law, Sen. Bam said the government is mandated to provide poor families 10-percent discount when they purchase National Food Authority (NFA) rice from accredited retail stores, up to a maximum of 20 kilos per month. 

“Sa totoo lang, may utang ang gobyerno sa mga mahihirap dahil hindi ipinatupad ang mga mitigating measures ng TRAIN Law, lalo na ang diskwento sa bigas,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

 “Kailangang bayaran ng gobyerno ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan na pinagkaitan nila ng tulong sa bigas,” Sen. Bam pointed out, adding that the government should give poor Filipinos an additional P200 per month to cover for the rice discount. 

When the TRAIN Law was being deliberated in the Senate, Sen. Bam urged the government to implement the social mitigating measures and the TRAIN Law at the same time.  

However, concerned government officials said they cannot implement it together due to lack of proper infrastructure, forcing Sen. Bam to vote against the ratification of the measure.  

Now, Sen. Bam renewed his call for full and immediate implementation of the social mitigating measures to alleviate the suffering of the Filipino people, especially the poor, on the high prices of goods due to the TRAIN Law. 

“Dapat agad nang ipatupad ng pamahalaan ang lahat ng social protection measures na nakasaad sa batas para mabawasan ang hirap na dinaranas dahil sa TRAIN Law,” said Sen, Bam. 

Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of his 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.   

The senator underscored the need to immediately pass the bill into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

Sen. Bam says economic managers are in denial on price crisis, need real-talk with poor Filipinos

Sen. Bam Aquino slammed the government’s pronouncement that the 6.4 percent inflation rate in August “is not alarming” and “quite normal in a fast growing economy.” 

The senator also insisted that economic managers talk to regular Filipinos living in poverty so they can gain a broader perspective on the effect of the high prices of goods. 

  “Hinding-hindi po normal na nalulunod na sa pagtaas ng presyo ang mga mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Kung lumabas po kayo ng opisina at makipag-usap sa mga kababayan natin sa mga komunidad, sa mga palengke, hindi niyo na maitatanggi na malaking problema itong taas presyo,” added Sen. Bam, who regularly consults with farmers, fishermen, tricycle and jeepney drivers, and market vendors to hear their views on the TRAIN Law and other important issues. 

In a recent trip to Tanauan, Batangas, Francisco Reyes, a tricycle driver, told Sen. Bam that the high price of gasoline has affected his daily income so much that he could not provide enough food and clothing for his family.  

  “Para mabawi namin ang gastos sa gasolina, dapat lima ang sakay namin bawat biyahe. Pero dahil apat lang ang kasya sa tricycle, lugi na agad ang pasada namin,” said Reyes. 

A vegetable vendor and senior citizen in Zamboanga also recently shared that even in her old age, she works everyday just to provide for her children and grandchildren and yet, with the sharp rise in prices, she has to borrow money to get by. 

 “Sa tanda kong ito, umuutang pa rin ako. Kahit ayaw na ng katawan ko, babangon at babangon pa rin ako para tulungan ang pamilya,” said Aling Diding Sada.

Instead of pointing fingers and debating on the matter, Sen. Bam said economic managers should squarely face the problems and look for practical solutions to address the problem. 

 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. 

 Sen. Bam stressed the need to immediately enact the measure into law since there is a scheduled P2 additional excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019. 

”Huwag niyo nang paabutin ng Pasko ang paghihirap ng sambayanang Pilipino. Ipasa na natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill sa lalong madaling panahon,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam on revocation of Sen. Trillanes’ amnesty

Habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod pa sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin, pagpapakulong sa oposisyon ang inaatupag ng Duterte Administration. 
 
Suportado natin si Sen. Sonny sa laban na ito.
 
Ngayong matindi ang banta sa mga tumututol sa gobyerno, lalong hindi kami aatras sa pagbunyag ng katotohanan at pagtrabaho para sa ikagiginhawa ng taumbayan. 
 
Imbis na insultuhin, gipitin at takutin ng administrasyon ang mga may sariling isip at salita, harapin na lang sana ang mga problemang hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan araw-araw.
 
Huwag na tayong lumayo sa mga tunay na problema ng bayan. Tama na, sobra na ang pananakot at pang-aabuso sa mga tulad ni Sen. Trillanes na hinding hindi magpapatahimik.

Sen. Bam: Nasaan ang liderato sa isyu ng BP, Bigas at Presyo?

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the government to immediately address the issue of high BP or “Bigas at Presyo”, which currently affects millions of Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Mahalagang mabigyan na ito ng lunas dahil malaking isyu po ang BP o bigas at presyo. Kapag masyadong mataas ang BP, nanganganib ang kabuhayan natin. Pababain na ang BP,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Ang hinahanap natin, lalo na sa isyu ng bigas, ay leadership. Seryosohin sana ng pamahalaan ang pahirap na ito sa mga Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam said the leadership of National Food Authority (NFA), led by administrator Jason Aquino, has failed to ensure enough supply of affordable rice for the poor in the last two years.

“Sino ba ang lider na sosolusyunan ito? Nagmumukhang hindi talaga kaya ng NFA administrator natin na resolbahin ang kasalukuyang problema,” added Sen. Bam.

“Hindi maayos ang pamamalakad sa importation at distribution.  Magsisimula ang solusyon sa pagpalit ng liderato. Maghanap tayo ng mga taong kayang gawin ang trabaho nila,” said Sen. Bam.

Also, Sen. Bam renewed his call for the passage of his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill to help lower the prices of goods and services.

Sen. Bam’s measure 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.

Vice President Leni Robredo backed the passage of the measure while members of the minority in the House — Miro Quimbo, Jorge “Bolet” Banal, Jose Christopher Belmonte, Gabriel Bordado Jr., Raul Daza, Jocelyn Limkaichong, and Josephine Ramirez-Sato — have filed their own version of the bill.

Sen. Bam underscored the importance of the measure’s passage, saying there is a second tranche of excise tax increase on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law in January 2019.

VP Leni, House Minority throw support behind Sen. Bam’s Bawas Presyo Bill

Vice President Leni Robredo and members of the House minority have thrown their full support for the passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Bawas Presyo Bill to alleviate the burden of the Filipino people due to high prices of goods and services.
 
“Panahon na para umaksiyon at maghanap ng kongkretong solusyon sa mahal na presyo ng bilihin,” said Vice President Robredo during a press conference where she was joined by Sens. Aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan and Cong. Miro Quimbo and Kit Belmonte.
 
According to Vice President Robredo, it is high time for the government to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, which is being pushed under Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill.
 
“I-suspend na ang probisyon ng TRAIN 1 ukol sa excise tax sa krudo at i-review ang anumang additional cash transfer,” said Vice President Robredo.
 
Quimbo, for his part, is set to file a counter-part measure of the Bawas Presyo Bill in the House of Representatives. 
 
“Kaya kami nagsama-sama upang iparating sa pamahalaan na ito ang urgent na ang problemang ito at kailangan ng mabilis na solusyon. Nalulunod na sa taas ng presyo ang mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
 
Sen. Bam stressed that the measure will help ease the suffering of the Filipino people, especially the poor, from the high prices of goods and services brought by the TRAIN Law.
 
“May magagawa ang gobyerno para mapababa agad ang presyo ng bilihin. Nasa harap na ng ilong ng economic managers ang solusyon pero bakit ayaw nilang gawin?” Sen. Bam emphasized.
 
“Ang Bawas-Presyo Bill ay simpleng solusyon sa napakalaking problema ng pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam said his measure, if enacted into law, will immediately suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel, meaning that prices of gasoline and diesel will go down by P2.65 and P2.50 per liter, respectively. The price of LPG will go down by one peso per kilo or P11 per 11-kilogram tank.
 
“Mapipigilan pa natin ang pagtaas ng excise tax sa Enero 2019 kung kikilos agad ang gobyerno para hindi na madagdagan pa ang paghihirap ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam to Malacañang: Prioritize, Certify Urgent the Bawas Presyo Bill

TANAUAN, Batangas — Representatives from different sectors here aired their grievance over the high prices of goods as they pushed for the immediate passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Bawas Presyo Bill into law. 

“Hindi man ito prayoridad ng gobyerno, certified urgent ito ng mga mahihirap na Pilipinong nalulunod na sa taas-presyo,” Sen. Bam said during the “Kumustahang Bayan” held at the Trading Post in Tanauan, Batangas. 

“Sana marinig ng pamahalaan ang hinaing ng ating mga kababayan at samahan tayo sa pagsusulong upang maisabatas na ang ating panukala, lalo na’t magtataas na naman ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa Enero dahil sa TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam 

During the dialogue, representatives from the farmers, senior citizens, tricycle drivers, market vendors, and fisherfolk sectors informed Sen. Bam how the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law has affected their livelihood. 

“Mataas ang kuha namin ng gulay, ngunit hindi namin ito puwedeng ibenta nang masyadong mahal dahil wala nang bibili sa amin,” said Lucile Mangaya, a vegetable vendor. 

“Marami na ang natitira sa aming paninda. Natutuyo at nabubulok na lang ang mga ito,” she added. 

Francisco Reyes, a tricycle driver, said the high price of gasoline has affected his daily income that prevented him from providing enough food and clothing for his family. 

“Para mabawi namin ang gastos sa gasolina, dapat lima ang sakay namin bawat biyahe. Pero dahil apat lang ang kasya sa tricycle, lugi na agad ang pasada namin,” said Reyes. 

Nick Chavez, president of the senior citizens’ organization in Tanauan, said they have yet to receive the additional P200 monthly financial assistance under the TRAIN Law. 

“Likas na matiisin ang mga Batangueño, kahit sa pagtaas ng presyo. Pero iba na talaga ang pagtaas ng presyo ngayon, hindi na po namin kaya,” said Chavez 

The representatives urged Sen. Bam to do everything he can to have his Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill enacted into law to ease the burden caused by high prices of goods. 

“Kailangang-kailangan nang maisabatas ang panukala ni Sen. Bam dahil hirap na hirap na po kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Marissa Gatdula, president of the Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI). 

Sen. Bam, for his part, has committed to work for the passage of his measure, 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. 

If passed, the Bawas Presyo Bill will roll-back this year’s increase in the excise tax on petroleum and will suspend another scheduled increase in January 1, 2019. 

Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

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