Issues

Sen. Bam: Build trust before Cha-cha, pass anti-dynasty law

Senator Bam Aquino insisted that without the trust in the process and the people behind it, no Charter change will be accepted by the public.
 
“Kailangan ng tiwala ng taumbayan sa proseso at tiwala sa nagsasagawa ng proseso. How do we make sure na para ito sa tao at hindi para sa pulitiko,” Sen. Bam said during the Senate hearing on proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution.
 
As part of the confidence-building measure in the process, Sen. Bam suggested that an anti-dynasty law be first enacted ahead of moves to amend the 1987 Constitution.
 
“Intensified political dynasties, even warlordism in some areas might be a drawback of a federal form of government,” said Sen. Bam, emphasizing that passing an anti-dynasty law would enhance the public’s trust in the shift.
 
Former Chief Justice Reynato Puno agreed to Sen. Bam’s pronouncement, saying the existence of political dynasties is one problem that needs to be addressed by those pushing for federalism.
 
“As it is now, these political dynasties already possess so much power. If you go to federalism, you will not only be giving them so much power, but you will be giving them sovereign powers, and that is a no-no,” said Puno.
 
Earlier, Sen. Bam objected to the House’s move to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly.
 
Sen. Bam issued the statement after the House approved Resolution No. 9, which seeks to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly that will introduce changes in the Charter.
 
The Senator believes that a process as important as a Constitutional Change cannot be rushed and proposed that if ever a change will be done, a Constitutional Convention process would be more acceptable to the people than a Constituent Assembly composed of politicians.

4 reforms led by Sen. Bam Aquino, among Senate priorities

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed the Senate’s commitment to pass four measures that aim to focus on the welfare of Filipino students, scientists and strengthen support for the country’s research and development and start-ups.
 
“Masaya tayo sa suportang ipinapakita ng Senado sa mga panukalang naglalayong palakasin ang suporta sa ating mga estudyante, negosyante at scientist,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.
 
“Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa mga kapwa ko senador na tumutulong na lalo pang mapagbuti at mapaganda ang mga panukalang ito para sa kapakinabangan ng maraming Pilipino,” he added.
 
The Senate has committed to pass a number of measures this year, among them are the Innovative Startup Act, Magna Carta for Scientists Act, Balik Scientist Bill and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act. Sen. Bam is principal sponsor of all four measures.
 
The Innovative Startup Act, Magna Carta for Scientists Act and the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act will undergo period of amendments this week.
 
The Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act aims to institutionalize a feeding program to provide proper and nutritious meals to kindergarten to Grade 6 students.  Aside from Sen. Bam, other co-authors of the measure are Senators Grace Poe, Gringo Honasan, Zubiri, Tito Sotto, Legarda, Cynthia Villar and Joel Villanueva.
 
The Innovative Startup Act aims to give necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market. 
 
The amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists aim to streamline the process of providing benefits and incentives to S&T government personnel. Aside from Sen. Bam, other co-authors of the measure are Senators Loren Legarda, Sonny Angara, Koko Pimentel, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sherwin Gatchalian. 
 
Passed on third and final reading and just awaiting the start of the bicameral conference committee, the Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.
 
Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.
 
In his four years as senator, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of 19 laws, 11 as principal sponsor.

Sen. Bam on Charter Change, plans to abolish OVP

Proteksiyon laban sa diktaturya ang karapatan ng Pilipinong maghalal ng Bise Presidente mula sa iba, kahit pa kalabang partido ng Pangulo. 
 
Ang diwa ng ating demokrasya ay nakalantad sa mga checks and balances tulad nito sa ating Konstitusyon.
 
Sa pagtalakay natin sa Charter Change, kailangang tiyakin na ang mga proteksiyong ito ay mananatili o hihigitan pa, ngayon na mas kailangan natin ito.

Sen. Bam on the resignation of CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan

Higher education has lost a dependable ally with the resignation of CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan. 
 
As former chairman of the Committee on Education, we can attest to her dedication to improve access to quality education as we worked closely to pass the free college law.
 
We thank Chairperson Licuanan for her immeasurable service to Filipino students and for all her help in crafting the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
At the same time, we call on Malacanang to appoint an immediate replacement with the ability and the will to effectively implement this critical reform.
 
We look forward to working with yet another staunch advocate for quality education in the Philippines.

Sen. Bam continues work on reforms for Filipino scientists and start-ups

Despite the enactment into law of one of the committee’s landmark measures — Free Internet in Public Places Act, the Committee on Science and Technology, spearheaded by Sen. Bam Aquino, will not rest on its laurels. 
 
When session resumes on Monday (January 15), Sen. Bam will continue to work on other important bills that will benefit Filipino scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs.
 
“While we consider the Free Internet Law as a major accomplishment of the science and technology committee, we are still eager to work on reforms for scientists and startups,” said Sen. Bam.
 
These measures include the Innovative Startup Act and the amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists. The Senate recently approved on third and final reading the Balik-Scientist Act via a 13-0 vote.
 
On Monday, Sen. Bam will spearhead the period of amendments for the Innovative Startup Act and the Magna Carta for Scientists as principal sponsor of the measures.
 
The Innovative Startup Act, for its part, seeks to give necessary support for business startups to help them thrive and compete in the market.
 
The amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists aim to streamline the process of providing benefits and incentives to S&T government personnel.
 
The Balik Scientist Bill seeks to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage some to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.
 
The measure aims to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will address development gaps in the Philippines.
 
Also on Monday, Sen. Bam will lead the period of amendments for the Pagkaing Pinoy Para sa Batang Pinoy Act, of which he was a principal sponsor and co-author during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
In his four years as senator, Sen. Bam worked for the passage of 19 laws, 11 as principal sponsor.
 
Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.

Sen. Bam Aquino demonstrates willingness to work on sound reforms of admin

Senator Bam Aquino has proven he is willing and able to work on reforms he believes will benefit the Filipino people, as he fulfilled his role as principal sponsor to two major laws passed last year – the free college law and the free WIFI in public spaces law.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to work on reforms that will help uplift families, while opposing policies that will hurt our countrymen,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the two main policies enacted into law during the Duterte administration.

These two major laws are the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.

“Mas mahalagang magtulungan para sa mga mahahalagang reporma na magsusulong ng kapakanan ng taumbayan, tulad ng dekalidad na edukasyon sa bansa,” added Sen. Bam.

During his eight-month stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam ushered in the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary in the Senate, defending the measure in plenary as principal sponsor.

Sen. Bam also worked for the passage of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“I’m glad we can agree on prioritizing education in the Philippines and invest in providing free internet to give our countrymen a leg up in their studies, career, and business ventures,” said Sen. Bam.

Recently, the Unified Student Financial Assistance for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST), led by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with other education stakeholders, crafted the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act No. 10931.

In the 2018 budget, the administration approved a P40-billion budget for the full implementation of the law for school year 2018-2019.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), for its part, is planning to put up 250,000 Wi-Fi access points in public places throughout the country until 2022 to fulfil the mandate of Republic Act 10929.

Under the law, public places include all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

Sen. Bam is co-author and principal sponsor of both measures in the 17th Congress. Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.

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Sen. Bam: Fast track financial assistance for poor families

Senator Bam Aquino renewed his call to the government to hasten the implementation of the cash transfer program to help 10 million poor Filipino families bear the effects of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) on the prices of goods and services.
 
“Kung talagang seryoso tayong gawing positibo ang epekto ng TRAIN sa ekonomiya at sa lahat ng kababayan natin, itong programang ito na tutulong sa 10 million Filipinos – 10 million Filipino families, should be in place at the soonest possible time,” Sen. Bam said in a television interview.
 
Sen. Bam pointed out that the funds needed for the cash transfer program was already included in the 2018 budget and the exact date of its implementation is the only issue. 
 
“Hopefully, the Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Finance (DOF) will speed up the process. Sana huwag nang patagalin ang programang ito, gawin nila as fast as they can, and as efficiently as possible,” Sen. Bam emphasized.
 
Based on the recommendation by the DOF, the law provides a cash grant of P200 a month to poor families on the first year.  The monthly financial assistance will be increased to P300 for the second and third year to help cover the increase in prices of basic goods. 
 
During the measure’s period of amendments in the Senate, Sen. Bam pushed for the immediate implementation of the financial assistance program to help poor Filipinos absorb the expected increase in the prices of goods and services.  
 
However, Sen. Bam’s proposal was not accepted, prompting the senator to vote against its ratification. 
 
“Without a cash transfer program in place, poor Filipinos will bear the brunt of the increase in prices of goods and services due to the TRAIN,” Sen. Bam emphasized.
 
Also, Sen. Bam called on the government to be transparent in the selection and disbursement of the cash transfer program.
 
“Aside from ensuring that it will be implemented at the soonest possible time, the government must conduct its rollout without any political patronage or accommodation,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Don’t forget public schools in free WIFI rollout

Don’t forget our public schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Senator Bam Aquino issued this call as the government prepares the rollout of Republic Act 10929 or the Free Internet Access Program in Public Places, which he pushed in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author, saying Filipino students will benefit from free internet as a vital tool to further enrich their knowledge.

“Internet is an important tool in learning. Students are empowered by the internet in learning lessons, completing assignments, and research,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate in his capacity as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

“Magagamit din ito ng ating mga guro para mapabuti ang kanilang mga sistema ng pagtuturo,” added Sen. Bam.

Republic Act 10929 provides free internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

 “This will expand internet access across public spaces in the Philippines, including public schools to aid in teaching methods and enhance learning,” the senator said.

In addition, the law contains provisions for the faster processing of permits for internet infrastructure, which is designed to fast-track the improvement in the country’s internet backbone.

As part of its mandate under the law, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is tasked to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of the program.

In its latest report, the DICT said it’s planning to establish 250,000 Wi-Fi access points in public places throughout the country until 2022.

During this stint as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded an investigation into the slow and expensive internet in the country.

The probe helped determine needed legislations 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 the current chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam is principal sponsor of the free internet reform. He also filed Senate Bill No. 171 or the Open Access in Data Transmission Act of 2016, which has yet to be passed into law to enable more players into and promote competition in the internet industry.

Principal sponsors have the responsibility of prioritizing bills in their respective committees, conducting hearings on bills assigned to their committee, defending the measures during the period of interpellation, consolidating proposals and amendments to their reforms, and leading the bicameral conference before a bill is passed into law.

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Sen. Bam: 2019 elections, essential to our democracy

Sen. Bam Aquino opposed a possible no-election scenario in 2019 due to the planned shift of government to federal form, saying allowing people to select the leaders they want is essential to democracy.
 
“Ang pagboto ay bahagi ng ating demokrasya. Mahalaga na magkaroon ng tsansa ang mga tao na iboto ang mga lider na gusto nila,” said Sen. Bam in a television interview.
 
Sen. Bam emphasized that the midterm election should push through, saying it will serve as an auditing of the first three years of the current administration and currently elected officials, whether campaign promises are fulfilled or not.
 
“Dumadaan tayo sa mga prosesong iyan dahil demokrasya tayo. Mahalaga na mayroon tayong eleksiyon. Mahalaga na mayroon tayong paraan upang makapagsalita ang taumbayan kung ano ang gusto nila,” said Sen. Bam.
 
On the possibility of a term extension, Sen. Bam responded that this would self-serving to incumbent officials whose term will end in 2019.
 
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Sen. Bam: Tax increase on fuel has domino effect on prices of goods, services

A senator warned that the increase in prices of gasoline due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) may have a domino effect on the prices of goods and other services in the market. 
 
“Nakakabahala ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin dahil sa pagpataw ng buwis sa langis. Dagdag gastos na naman ito sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, who rejected the TRAIN’s ratification in the Senate.
 
The TRAIN mandates the imposition of excise tax of P2.50 per liter on diesel and bunker fuel starting this year, P4.50 in 2019 and P6 in 2020. For gasoline, the excise tax will be increased from P4.35 per liter to P7 this year, P9 in 2019, and P10 in 2020.
 
Sen. Bam said the increase in prices of petroleum will lead to an increase in prices of goods, which will ultimately fall on the shoulders of consumers, especially poor Filipinos, who are currently struggling to make ends meet.
 
“Sa huli, mahihirap na Pilipino pa rin ang papasan at magdurusa sa epektong dulot ng TRAIN sa presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam, who voted against the TRAIN’s approval due to the inability of government to implement a financial assistance program in time for the increase in prices due to provisions on excise tax on fuel and sweetened beverage tax.
 
The Department of Finance (DOF) proposed a cash transfer program with a P200 monthly financial assistance on the first year and P300 monthly financial assistance for the second and third year to help cover the increase in prices of basic goods.
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the immediate implementation of the cash transfer program to help poor Filipinos absorb the expected increase in the prices of goods and services. However, Sen. Bam’s proposal was not accepted by during the period of amendments in the Senate.
 
“The government must speed up the implementation of the cash transfer program so poor people won’t be burdened by the increase in prices,” said Sen. Bam.
 
The lawmaker is also hoping that the increase in take-home pay will be enough to offset the increase in prices of goods and services.
 
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