Issues

Sen. Bam hopes the President also hears cries of ordinary Filipinos on issue of inflation and rising prices

Senator Bam Aquino called on President Duterte to also listen to the cry of the people, especially the poor, on the high prices of goods and services caused by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Tama po kayo. Ramdam na ramdam na ng mamamayan ang paghina ng ekonomiya dahil nalulunod na ang Pilipino sa taas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Duterte’s pronouncement that the rising prices of goods could prolong the economic stagnation in the provinces.

“Ang isa sa magpapasigla sa ekonomiya lalo na sa probinsya at kanayunan ay ang pagpapababa ng presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam said Duterte must listen to the people, who are pleading on the government for respite from the burden of high prices of goods and services.

 “Sana po pakinggan natin ang hinaing at panawagan ng taumbayan, hirap na hirap na po ang pamilyang Pilipino dahil sa taas ng presyo. I-roll-back na natin ang excise tax sa petrolyo na dulot ng TRAIN law,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam renewed his call for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to ease the public’s burden.

The senator has filed a measure seeking to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

In addition, Sen. Bam has also filed a resolution calling for an investigation regarding the implementation of the unconditional cash transfer to ensure if the amount is still sufficient to cover the increase in prices of goods and other services.

Sen. Bam: Solusyunan ang taas presyo, hindi tambay ang problema

The government should solve the pressing problem of high prices of goods and services caused by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, instead of focusing on so-called loiterers or “tambays”, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Mas matinding problema ang mataas na presyo ng bilihin, hindi mga tambay,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.

“Nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang taumbayan. Sana ito ang pagtuunan ng pansin ng ating gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam called on the government to lay a clear-cut plan on how to address the high prices of goods and services to alleviate the plight of Filipinos, especially the poor.

“Ano po ba talaga ang plano ng gobyerno para maisalba ang napakaraming kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo?” said Sen. Bam.

At the same time, Sen. Bam urged the government to stop arresting loiters, most of whom are poor, and focus on the issue that burdens them the most, which is the high prices of goods.

 “Tama na po muna sana ang paghuli sa mga tambay na karamihan ay mahirap. Unahin po sanang tugunan yung nagpapahirap sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam as he renewed his call for the suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has submitted a measure seeking to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam on the death of Genesis Argoncillo a.k.a ‘Tisoy’

Mahirap na naman ang biktima.
 
Tumambay lang sa tindahan, nanonood ng video sa cellphone, inaresto dahil hindi naka-tshirt. Ngayon, nakaburol na. 
 
Napakasakit nito sa kanyang naiwang pamilya at napakasakit na nangyayari ito sa ating bayan.
 
Nakakabahala pa na paiba-iba ang deklarasyon ng pulis sa dahilan ng kaniyang pagkamatay. 
 
Nakikidalamhati tayo sa mga naulila ni Tisoy. At kasama nila tayong nananawagan para sa katarungan. 
 
Mahirap na naman ang biktima.
 
Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad.

Sen. Bam: Drive down price of PH internet, encourage competition in telco sector

Competition will help lower the price and improve the quality of internet service in the country, Senator Bam Aquino maintained.

“Nalulunod na nga sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin, pati internet napakamahal dito sa atin. Mahal na nga, mabagal pa,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“We need more than three telcos to have a healthy competition. We should look at other countries aside from China,” added Sen. Bam.

As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam is currently working on Senate Bill No. 171 or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act of 2016.

If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the will enable more players into and promote competition in the internet industry.

Sen. Bam has been working to improve the quality of internet in the country. In the 16th Congress, he spearheaded an investigation into the slow and expensive internet in the country during his stint as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The probe helped determine needed legislation to address the internet problem in the country and led to the release of a Department of Justice opinion on telco advertising.

The hearing also compelled the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to come out with guidelines on minimum internet speeds and conducted speed testing in various areas of the Philippines to check compliance of telcos.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places as principal sponsor.

Sen. Bam welcomes passage of his 22nd law in support of Filipino scientists

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the passage of the law that provides necessary assistance to Filipino scientists who will return to the country and help strengthen its research and development capability. 
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Repubic Act 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act in the Senate as principal sponsor and principal author. The law is Sen. Bam’s 22nd in his five years as senator. 
 
“Malaking tulong ang batas na ito upang mahikayat ang mga Pinoy scientists na bumalik sa bansa at tumulong sa pagpapaunlad sa bayan at sa buhay ng mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 
 
“Matutugunan din ng batas na ito ang kakulangan ng bansa sa scientists, upang makasabay na tayo sa ating mga kapitbahay sa Asya na mas marami ang nagtatrabaho sa research and development,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the committee hearing, it was discovered that the country has 189 scientists per million, far from the ideal ratio of 380 scientists per million. 
 
Currently, the Philippines trails South Korea and United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million. 
 
The Balik Scientist Act will provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development. 
 
Aside from the Balik Scientist Act, Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and co-author of the Amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, and Researchers bill and the Innovative Start-up Act, which is currently being tackled in the plenary. 
 
Meanwhile, President Duterte also signed into law Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, which Sen. Bam pushed as co-author.

Sen. Bam: Provide enough help to jeepney, tricycle drivers

Senator Bam Aquino reiterated his call to the government to expand the Pantawid Pasada program to include other public transportations to help them shoulder the effects of the administration’s tax reform program.

“Kung tutulong na rin lang tayo, bakit hindi pa natin lubus-lubusin at isama na ang lahat ng uri ng pampublikong transportasyon,” stressed Sen. Bam during his dialogue with members of different transport organizations here.

“Lahat ng kabilang sa sektor ng pampublikong transportasyon, kailangan ng tulong dahil nalulunod rin ang ating mga tsuper sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. Sen. Bam voted against it due to the government’s failure to immediately implement the unconditional cash transfer program and the Pantawid Pasada program.

For 2018, the government has earmarked P977 million for 179,000 jeepney operators under the Pantawid Pasada program. 

 Earlier, Sen. Bam called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to expand the Pantawid Pasada program other means of transportation, such as UV Express and tricycles as well.

 During the Senate hearing of the Senate committee on public services in Legazpi, Albay recently, Sen. Bam also urged the DOTr to conduct further study to see if the subsidy is enough to cover the increase in prices of goods due to TRAIN.

 Sen. Bam has been working to alleviate the burden of high prices of goods and services under the TRAIN Law on the Filipino people, especially the poor.

 Sen. Bam has filed a measure that aims to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Shield farmers and fisherfolk from price surge, suspend TRAIN excise tax

Senator Bam Aquino renewed his push to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, saying the high prices of fuel also drive up cost of agricultural products. 

Sen. Bam said the government, especially the Department of Agriculture (DA), should recognize fuel increase as one of the main reasons for price increase.

“Kailangan natin tulungan ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda na pababain ang kanilang production at transportation cost para bumaba ang presyo ng agricultural products,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the TRAIN Law.

“Ito ang pinaka-epektibong paraan para maibsan ang hirap ng mga nalulunod sa taas ng presyo ng pagkain,” the senator added.

Sen. Bam insisted that suspending the excise tax on petroleum products could help lower prices of fuel, which in turn, would contribute to the lowering of prices of agricultural products.

“Itong pagsuspinde sa TRAIN sa petrolyo ay malaking tulong sa ating mga magsasaka at sa mga mamimili,” said Sen. Bam, saying that farmers also use diesel for their farm machinery such as tractor.

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Also, Sen. Bam wants the Pantawid Pasada program expanded to include fishermen, who use unleaded for bancas and diesel for big fishing vessels.

Sen. Bam: Tulong, di kulong, para sa mahihirap nating kababayan

Krimen na ba maging mahirap ngayon?

Senator Bam Aquino posed this question as he criticized the government’s campaign against so-called “tambays”, which is mostly conducted in poor communities.

While acknowledging the need for crime prevention efforts, Sen. Bam insisted that it should be implemented without infringing on the rights of Filipinos, especially those in poor communities.

“Halos lahat ng mga naaresto ay mga mahirap at ang mga operasyon ay ginagawa sa mahihirap na komunidad,” said Sen. Bam. “Anti-poor ang ginagawa nilang ito.”

“Nalulunod na nga sila sa taas ng presyo, tapos ngayon ikukulong pa sa halip na tulungan,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the burden of high prices brought by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Tulong po, hindi kulong ang kailangan ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan,” said Sen. Bam as he his call for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam is one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. Sen. Bam rejected it due to the government’s failure to immediately implement the unconditional cash transfer program and the Pantawid Pasada program.

As part of his effort to alleviate the burden of high prices of goods and services, Sen. Bam has filed a measure that aims to roll back of TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

In addition, Sen. Bam also renewed his call for the full implementation of the unconditional cash transfer program, which will help alleviate the increase in high prices of goods and services caused by the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam: Don’t hold free tuition hostage to justify TRAIN Law

Don’t hold free college education hostage, government can afford free tuition even without the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

This was Sen. Bam Aquino’s reaction to the government’s statement that the free college education will be affected once the TRAIN Law is suspended.

“May iba namang pagkukunan ang gobyerno ng budget. Sa totoo lang malaki pa ang hindi nagagamit na pondo,” said Sen. Bam, one of the four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Bakit kailangan i-hostage ang libreng kolehiyo? Tama na ang pagpapahirap sa taumbayan na nalulunod na sa pagtaas ng presyo,” added Sen. Bam who is principal sponsor of the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Sen. Bam insisted that the government has enough funds for the continued implementation of the free college education, even without the P70 billion expected revenue from the rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam also reminded the administration that underspending, or the allotted funds that were left untouched by government agencies, reached P390 billion for 2017. The budget for free college education was set at P41 billion for 2018.

“Mahalaga na alam ng pangulo ang totoong numero. Mahirap nang magdesisyon kapag mali mali ang binibigay na impormasyon,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Sen. Bam recalled that government economic managers told the Senate during TRAIN deliberations that inflation will not breach the four-percent mark. Last month, the country’s inflation reached 4.6 percent.

“Ang paglalaan ng pondo ay batay sa mga prayoridad ng gobyerno. Kung hindi nila bibigyan ng pondo ang libreng kolehiyo, ibig sabihin, hindi ito mahalaga para sa kanila,” Sen. Bam maintained.

“Isa pa, hindi namin hahayaan sa Senado na hindi mapondohan ang batas na ito, na layong suportahan ang mahihirap ng Pilipino na umasenso sa tulong ng edukasyon,” added Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam: NFA still prone to mismanagement, corruption

What about the corruption allegations surrounding National Food Authority administrator Jason Aquino?

Sen. Bam Aquino said the government should look into allegations against Aquino rather than entrust him with the task of importing thousands of metric tons of rice.

“Dahil sa kanyang kapalpakan, tumaas ang presyo ng bigas at nadagdagan ang pasan ng pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, who earlier called for the resignation of the NFA administrator.

”Ano na ba ang nangyari sa mga alegasyon laban sa pamunuan ng NFA? Ngayong may dumating na bigas, baka maulit lang ang nangyari at maubos na naman agad ang buffer stock sa kamay ng mga traders,” added Sen. Bam.

During a Senate hearing on the rice issue, Jason Aquino admitted that the agency failed to comply with required 15-day buffer stock since last year. 

 Sen. Bam said this drove the prices of commercial rice up, burdening poor Filipino families further.

“Nangyari ito dahil sa kapabayaan ng NFA sa kanilang tungkulin, at hindi dahil sa NFA Council,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the President’s removal of the powers of NFA Council chairman and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. was unnecessary and leaves the NFA even more prone to corruption and impunity.

“Bakit sinisisi si Evasco na ang tanging gusto lang ay hindi mahaluan ng katiwalian ang proseso ng pag-aangkat ng bigas,” said Sen. Bam. 

Evasco was pushing for a government-to-private mode of procurement to make the process more transparent while Aquino wanted a government-to-government mode, which is prone to corruption.

 

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