Issues

Bam: P8B budget for college tuition, good sign for free higher ed law

The additional P8 billion budget for free tuition in colleges and universities is a good sign that we will pass the Free Higher Education for All bill, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

  “The Senate initiative to make colleges and universities tuition-free is a major reform that will greatly benefit Filipino families and the approved 8-billion peso budget for SUCs is a good sign that our bill will pass,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

During Tuesday’s bicameral conference committee, lawmakers approved the additional P8 billion budget to be distributed to different SUCs in 2017.

As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam expressed confidence that the measure will be enacted into law next year due to the Senate’s overwhelming support for its passage.

 “Mahalaga na mabigyan ng tulong ang ating mahihirap na estudyante at pati ang kanilang mga magulang. Marami sa amin ang talagang tinutulak ito,” said Sen. Bam.

 During a recent hearing, several sectors pushed different methods to implement the measure. Some groups want to focus on specific courses while others believe that it should be based on the student’s capacity to pay.

 Different groups also raised the possibility of expanding the measure’s coverage by providing poor students with miscellaneous expenses, transportation expenses and living expenses, in addition to a free tuition fee.

 Aside from improving access to tertiary education, Sen. Bam said he will also work to improve the quality of public education in the Philippines and address underemployment and jobs mismatch through Trabaho Centers.

 

Bam: Strengthen justice system instead of death penalty

Instead of reviving the death penalty, shouldn’t we fix and strengthen the country’s justice system? This question was posed by Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Alam naman natin na may problema ang ating justice system at dehado dito ang mga mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam during a media interview in Naga City.

“Hindi ba dapat prioridad na ayusin ang ating sistemang panghustisya imbis na bigyan ng kapangyarihang magpataw ng death penalty,” he added.

Most of the time, Sen. Bam said poor people emerge as casualties of the weak justice system because they cannot afford the services of a lawyer who can defend them in court.

“Dahil sa kawalan ng kakayahang kumuha ng abogado, ang mga kababayan nating mahihirap ang nagiging biktima ng mahinang sistema ng hustisya sa bansa. Pero kung drug dealer ka gaya ni Espinosa, naka-life imprisonment ka, pero makakalabas dahil sa technicality,” Sen. Bam stressed.

With the gravity of the issue, Sen. Bam assured the public that the Senate will look into the death penalty proposal with due diligence.

“Buhay ang nakataya rito kaya hindi ito puwedeng madaliin. Kailangan talaga itong pag-usapan at pagdebatihan ang mga mahahalagang isyu rito,” said Sen. Bam.

“Isa ito sa mga bagay-bagay na dapat iniiwan na lang sa konsiyensiya ng bawat senador o bawat mambabatas. Hindi ho basta-basta ang pagbabalik ho ng death penalty sa ating bansa,” he added.

The lawmaker also wants to give the public – where for or against death penalty — a chance to speak on the matter, whether in schools, church and other venues.

“Kailangan nating makuha ang pulso at pananaw ng taumbayan ukol dito para magabayan tayo sa ating mga susunod na hakbang,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Bam calls on local and int’l players to work with the DICT for better Internet

Sen. Bam calls on Internet companies here and abroad to work with the DICT to improve the quality of internet services in the Philippines.

“The success of our National Broadband Plan to improve Internet services lies in strong partnerships between government and the private sector,” said Sen. Bam after leading the Committee on Science and Technology’s hearing that looked into the initial details of the government’s national broadband plan Tuesday.

During the hearing, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) revealed initial details of its P75-billion national broadband plan, which is implementable in about 2 to 3 years.

The DICT stated that their preferred option is to invest in Internet infrastructure, like fiber optic cables, especially in underserved and hard-to-reach areas.

Under this option, the government will also use the existing infrastructure of current players while encouraging new entrants to develop new Internet infrastructure.

According to Sen. Bam, the DICT will come out with a final national broadband plan by the 2nd quarter of 2017.

 “Kapag maayos ang pagkagawa ng plano at siguraduhin na maayos ang pag-implement nito, magkakaroon tayo ng sapat na imprastraktura para tumaas ang kalidad ng internet at bumaba pa ang presyo nito,” said Sen. Bam.

 On top of the national broadband plan, Sen. Bam said the recently passed Philippine Competition Act will help create a climate that will attract foreign players to partner with Filipino companies, while the Free Internet Access in Public Spaces bill includes a provision to cut red tape for permits.

  “The policies we’re working on will also create a more competitive environment and promote ease of doing business to make it easier for new players to come,” added Sen. Bam.

Bam backs PNP’s efforts to clean ranks of scalawags

Sen. Bam Aquino expressed support behind the efforts of the current Philippine National Philippine (PNP) leadership in cleaning its ranks from corrupt policemen, particularly those involved in illegal drugs.

“Napakahalaga talaga ng ating paglilinis sa ating hanay kasi kayo ang frontline at importanteng may tiwala ang tao sa ating frontliners. Kapag nakita ang PNP dapat alam nila mapagkakatiwalaan,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs joint with Justice and Human Rights on the killing of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr.

According to PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa around 1-2 percent of policemen are involved in illegal activities, most especially in the proliferation of prohibited drugs and the campaign to clean the PNP of scalawags within its ranks is on-going

“Progressive ang pagpasok ng information kaya dahan-dahan din ang pagpasok ng information,” said dela Rosa.

Sen. Bam also assured the PNP chief that the Senate will help the PNP’s efforts to get rid of bad eggs in the organization through legislation.

 “Ano ang kailangan niyo mula sa Senado upang malinis niyo ang mga ranggo,” asked Sen. Bam.

 Dela Rosa urged the Senate to restore the PNP’s control over training institutions of policemen.

“Nakikita ko very crucial iyong development ng pagpasok ng pulis lalo na sa kanyang moral foundation,” said dela Rosa.

 “Kami lang ang police organization sa buong mundo na iyong police, hindi PNP naghahawak ng training. Paano namin ma-inculcate ang values at discipline na gusto naming mangyari,” he added.

Dela Rosa also wants the authority to appoint chief of police or provincial director be given to the PNP, eliminate the use of prepaid cellphones and implementation of national ID system.

“Dapat postpaid na lahat para registered kung sino iyong gumagamit ng cellphone dahil iyan ginagamit sa krimen,” said dela Rosa, making it easier for police to identify and arrest criminals.

Bam to DepEd: Ensure payment of teachers before Christmas

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure that it will be a merry Christmas for thousands of public school teachers by expediting the release of their unpaid salaries and other benefits.
 
“Nais ko pong ipakiusap na madaliin sana ang paglabas ng suweldo, bonus at iba pang benepisyo na nakalaan para sa ating mga guro upang maging maligaya ang pagdiriwang nila ng Pasko, kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, in his letter to DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones dated December 2, 2016.
 
The senator made the move after receiving information that some teachers have yet to receive their salaries and bonuses. 
 
“Batid ko na ang iba ay kulang pa ng requirements ngunit marami sa kanila ay kumpleto na ang mga dokumento at naghihintay na lang sa paglabas ng suweldo,” said Sen. Bam, whose office has already helped some teachers obtain their salaries and bonuses.
 
“Lahat tayo ay naghahangad ng magandang Pasko para sa ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay. Wala nang gaganda pa kung maipagdiriwang natin ito nang walang anumang alalahanin sa ating isipan,” he added.
 
As chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam is pushing for the enactment of laws that will provide teachers with additional support and incentives.
 
According to Sen. Bam, these support and incentives will make teaching in public schools attractive for teachers.
 
The senator is currently working on a bill that will provide teachers relocation allowance, hazard pay and health care insurance.
 
Sen. Bam also filed Senate Bill No. 173 or the Free Education for Children of Public School Teachers Act.
 
If passed into law, free education in state universities nationwide will be given to children of public school teachers in all levels, whether they want to pursue baccalaureate degrees or short-term training course.
 
The measure will provide full subsidy program that covers 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.
 
Aside from additional benefits for teachers, Sen. Bam also wants to improve the working environment of public school teachers by addressing backlogs in classrooms, improving facilities, and giving all public schools access to the internet and online educational materials.

Bam hopes nat’l broadband plan will boost PH internet infra

Sen. Bam Aquino hopes that the government’s national broadband plan will help leapfrog the country’s current internet infrastructure.
 
Sen. Bam said newly-created Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will present its national broadband plans to the Committee on Science and Technology, which he chairs, on Dec. 6.
 
“I’m hopeful that it will be a good proposal and that we can leapfrog the current infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said in a media interview.
 
Sen. Bam expects the DICT to present different options on the national broadband plan: use the current infrastructure, put up its own system or find other methodologies to connect.
 
“We have to know how much it will cost and what are the benefits of each option. It all boils down to cost-benefit analysis,” Sen. Bam said. “I will be cautious and wait for them to present properly.”
 
“We have to work on solutions that will give the public cheaper, better quality internet for the long term,” he added.
 
According to Sen. Bam, other stakeholders will also have a chance to scrutinize and propose changes that will fine-tune the DICT’s plan.
 
“Hopefully, we will be able to come to a consensus on what we need to do to be able to improve our internet infrastructure,” Sen. Bam said.
 
Sen. Bam also invited the National Telecommunications Commission to the hearing to inquire about the status of new players that will help improve the  competitive landscape.
 
In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded several hearings on the slow and expensive Internet service in the country.
 
As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology in the 17th Congress, he has filed several bills that will improve internet quality in the Philippines.

Bam wants to prohibit ‘No Permit, No Exam’ policy

A senator seeks to prohibit the discriminatory “No permit, No exam” policy in schools by making it illegal for any educational institution to prevent a student from taking examinations due to unpaid tuition and other fees.

 “Why should the student be barred from taking their tests and completing their requirements when there’s still a chance their family can settle payment of fees later,” asked Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1235 prohibits schools from disallowing students with due and unpaid tuition and other school fees from taking examinations or providing a different schedule of exam from the rest of the student body.

The measure also bars schools from requiring a student to secure a special permit to take the examinations from the school authorities prior to the administration of examinations, according to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

A fine of P20,000 but not more than P50,000 will be imposed on any educational institution official or employee.

 This includes deans, coordinators, advisers, professors, instructors, principals, teachers and other concerned individuals found guilty of violating any of the aforementioned acts.

 However, the parents or legal guardian of the student must provide a promissory note, addressed to the school, indicating the amount and the date of payment as protection to the school’s right to fair payment.

 The measure covers private elementary schools, private secondary schools, public and private post-secondary technical-vocational institutes and public and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including local colleges and universities.

  “By penalizing this unlawful practice, Filipino families stand to gain by ensuring that students unable to settle educational fees on-time, may still benefit from the continuity of their education once outstanding balances are fully paid,” Sen. Bam said.

“Tulungan po natin ang pamilyang Pilipino na umasenso sa tulong ng edukasyon,” he added.

By protecting the welfare of students, Sen. Bam pointed out that they will have a fair opportunity to complete their education.

Bam eyes more livelihood, business opportunities for OFWs

A senator wants to integrate programs on entrepreneurship for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to help them start their own business, making it unnecessary for them to leave their families to work abroad.
 
“Mas maganda kung hindi lang tuwing Pasko o kada dalawang taon lang nabubuo ang pamilya ng OFWs. Mangyayari ito kung mayroon silang sapat na pagkakataon at kaalaman na makapagsimula ng negosyo,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
Sen. Bam has filed Senate Bill No.  648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act to boost support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.
 
If passed into law, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to equip OFWs with knowledge to start their own business.
 
“Sa pamamagitan nito, magkakaroon sila ng sapat na kaalaman para magtayo ng sarili nilang negosyo upang hindi na sila mangamba sa kanilang pagbalik sa Pilipinas,” the senator stressed.
 
In addition, Sen. Bam also encouraged families of OFWs to visit the nearest Negosyo Center to get a proper advice on what kind of business to establish while their loved ones are working abroad. 
 
“Mahalaga na pag-uwi ng ating mahal sa buhay sa Pilipinas, makikita nila ang bunga ng kanilang pinaghirapan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Aside from the livelihood aspect, Senate Bill No. 648 mandates the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a help desk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.
                                          
“It also sets effective and efficient information dissemination on labor, employment, and migration data through various mediums, including social media, to provide OFWs with credible formation” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam recognizes the immense contribution of OFWs to the Philippine economy, saying that from January to August 2015, their remittances reached $16.21 billion or P764 billion.
 
Despite this, OFWs remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers. In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success.
 
In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last September 2015, only 38.2 pecrcent of the 563 household‐respondents said that a portion of the money from OFWs are set aside for savings.
 
“This is very alarming since many OFWs come home without a plan for retirement,” Sen. Bam said.

 

Bam eyes more jobs for PWDs in govt agencies, private firms

More jobs await persons with disabilities (PWDs) in government offices and private entities if the bill submitted by Sen. Bam Aquino will be enacted into law.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1249 seeks to amend Republic Act 7277 or the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons to mandate government agencies to ensure that two percent of their employees comprise of PWDs.

 Private organizations, for their part, will be required to employ 1 percent of their workforce from PWDs.

“This bill seeks to guarantee the inclusion of PWDs in the workforce and provide commensurate compensation, benefits and employment terms for PWDs as any other qualified employee,” Sen. Bam said.

“Let’s give our PWDs more opportunities to generate livelihood,” he added.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam believes the measure will give PWDs a more meaningful and productive role in society.

“Furthermore, an increased PWD presence in the workforce aims to heighten public awareness and consideration for their rights,” Sen. Bam said.

In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam tirelessly worked for the welfare of PWDs, with the passage of Republic Act 10754 that exempts them from paying the value added tax (VAT).

The law also gives tax incentives to persons with PWD dependents, up to fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity.

Bam lauds public, private sector for success of Negosyo Centers

Senator Bam Aquino credited the success of Negosyo Centers to the continued cooperation between the legislative and executive branches of government as well as the private sector.

 “Maayos po iyong batas, nakapondo po ito. Ngayon po ipinasa na sa executive. In fairness to our DTI family, buong-buo ang kanilang pagtanggap sa Negosyo Center. They’ve made the Negosyo Center one of their priorities,” said Sen. Bam during the launching of the 400th Negosyo Center in Marikina City.

 Sen. Bam is the principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in the Senate.

Through the Negosyo Center, Sen. Bam said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) now has a frontline service organization that will cater to the needs of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.

“May 400 na sentro na pong pupuntahan ang ating mga maliliit na negosyante para makahingi ng tulong, kahit saan pa sila bansa,” Sen. Bam pointed out. 

Sen. Bam also lauded the private sector and non-government organizations for its participation in the success of the Negosyo Centers.

“In many areas, the Negosyo Center has become a focal point for support, even NGOs, microfinance groups, basta may kinalaman sa pagtulong sa maliliit na negosyante, ito na ang kanilang bahay,” the senator pointed out.

 The Go Negosyo Act, the first law passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress, mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

 The Negosyo Center will provide access to bigger markets and financing for businesses, training programs, and a simplified business registration process, thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

Sen. Bam continues to work closely with the DTI to ensure the effective implementation of the law.

According to the DTI, the number of Negosyo Centers will increase to 420 by the end of 2016.

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