Issues

Bam asks AMLC to investigate flow of drug money in PH

As part of the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs, Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) to assign financial investigators to investigate the flow of drug money within the country.

​​“The thrust of the government now is on the drug menace. Let’s have financial investigators examine how drug money flows in the country,” Sen. Bam told officials of the AMLC during the hearing of the Committee on Banks regarding the proposed amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act.

​​Apart from physical enforcement, Sen. Bam said countries like the United States also conducts financial investigations on drug personalities.

​​These investigations provide tangible evidence against high profile criminals and drug lords, aiding in their conviction.

​​Sen. Bam urged AMLC officials to request for additional budget for the hiring of financial investigators for the drug war.

​​“As we enter the budget season, this is the time for AMLC to increase the number of investigators to help address the problem,” said Sen. Bam.

​​According to the AMLC, they are planning to hire additional 20 financial investigators to beef up its current pool of probers who are looking into more than 30,000 suspicious and questionable transactions.

​​Of this, the AMLC said around 30 cases have been filed in courts against those behind these illegal transactions.

Bam urges gov’t to clarify foreign policy direction

A senator wants the government to clarify the foreign policy direction that it plans to take, given the variety of statements issued by President Duterte and other administration officials.

 Sen. Bam Aquino said he will file a resolution to clarify the matter so that national interest will not be compromised.

 “Kailangan natin malaman kung ano ba talaga ang foreign policy ng administrasyon, particularly with regard to the US,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam saw this need for clarification after President Duterte reportedly said in a speech before newly appointed civil servants last September 12, that American troops must leave Mindanao.

On the contrary, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella maintained President Duterte’s statement was not official policy and that American troops will remain in Mindanao.

On September 13, President Duterte also announced that the Philippines would no longer engage in joint maritime patrols with the US in order to avoid hostilities.

But in September 15, Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay was reported to say that the joint patrols with the US will continue, “because this is our commitment to the United States.”

In addition, President Duterte reportedly mentioned that the Philippines is considering the procurement of military equipment from Russia and China.

But Abella later cleared this up when he said that the government would continue to honor its present agreements with the United States.

 “Given recent conflicting statements from the President and government representatives, there is a need to clarify government’s approach to foreign relations and ensure a clear and coherent foreign policy towards ensuring our national interest,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam to solve jobs mismatch through Trabaho Centers in schools

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to solve the jobs mismatch problem in the country by establishing strategic employment centers in our senior high schools and ensuring SUCs offer courses that cater to the needs of their local industries.

​“To address the jobs mismatch, we need to​ ​bridge the gap between the private sector and schools ​so we can make sure graduates are well suited for job openings in the area,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

​Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 170 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

​According to Sen. Bam, the Trabaho Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

​Sen. Bam also enjoined SUCs to reassess the courses they are offering to match the needs of the region’s private sector, thus increasing chances that college graduates will be employed in their locality.

​​In a 2014 study, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed that job skills mismatch is a major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 ​The number of jobless youth, aging from 15 to 24, accounts for 49.8 percent of all unemployed in the Philippines.

​”Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam on testimony of Edgar Matobato

Nakababahala ang mga rebelasyon ni Matobato.

 Nararapat na malaman natin kung totoo o hindi ang mga sinasabi niya at payagan ang Senado na gawin ang kanyang tungkulin.

 Madaling guluhin ang mga bagay-bagay kapag binabahiran ito ng pulitika.

 Bilang Senado na hindi nagpapaimpluwensya kanino man, tungkulin namin sa taumbayan na alamin ang katototahan nang walang kulay pulitika.

Bam: Look into state of children in conflict-torn areas

A senator has filed a resolution seeking to look into the state of the children affected by the recent military operations against the Abu Sayyaf Group in Basilan, Sulu and other conflict-areas while the country is under state of emergency.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Resolution No. 134 is aimed at ensuring the protection, safety and well-being of children, in accordance with Republic Act No. 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act.

​​“There is a need to ensure that all children in conflict-affected areas are protected from the crossfire, and that the comprehensive policies and programs envisioned in the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of children during this state of emergency,” Sen. Bam said in his resolution.

​​President Duterte signed Proclamation No. 55 last September 5, 2016, placing Mindanao under a state of emergency on account of lawless violence, following the bombing of a night market that killed 14 people in Davao City.

​​The proclamation directs the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to undertake measures to suppress all forms of lawless violence in Mindanao and prevent lawless violence from spreading elsewhere across the country.

​​Based on a report by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), that as of September 5, some 1,729 family heads with 6,218 dependents from the Basilan municipalities of Sumisip, Tuburan, Moh Ajul and Akbar, were evacuated to safer areas.

​​The agency is also assisting the affected LGUs in providing food and non-food to the families, distributing a total of 2,311 family food packs to the internally displaced persons, while the DSWD-Field Office-IX has delivered 6,000 family food packs to the province.

​​In Sulu, close to 4,000 families have been displaced from their homes because of the military’s recent intensified offensive against the bandit group.

 ​​The Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act provides for the establishment of a Comprehensive Emergency Program to protect children and support their immediate recovery in times of disaster and emergency.

​​According to Sen. Bam, the program includes the identification of safe locations as evacuation centers for children and families, and establishment of child-friendly spaces.

​​“It also provides for the immediate delivery of basic necessities, and health and educational services tailored to the needs of the affected children,” the senator added.

​​The law mandates the DSWD to engage all relevant government agencies and stakeholders for the implementation of the Comprehensive Emergency Program.

Bam: Unacceptable that only 26 percent of public schools have Internet connection

Only 26 percent of public schools in the country have Internet access, which is detrimental to students’ competitiveness, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).

 DepEd Undersecretary Alain Pascua made this revelation during the Committee on Education hearing on the status of Internet connectivity in public schools all over the country.

 According to Pascua, the data is worrisome since DepEd considers connectivity as one of the important tools in learning.

 “Nakakabahala sa akin na sa report ng Department of Education (DepEd) na 26 percent ng ating eskuwelahan ay may Internet connectivity,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “And to think, may bilyun-bilyong piso silang budget para i-connect ang ating mga eskuwelahan sa Internet, only about one-fourth lang ang may kakayahang mag-connect dahil sa kakulangan sa infrastructure at Internet signal,” Sen. Bam added.

 With this, Sen. Bam urged the DepEd, Department of Information and Communications (DICT) and telecommunication companies to map out a plan that will address the problem.

 This way, public schools and state colleges and universities will be included in the roll-out of the government’s free Wi-Fi project all over the country in the next two years.

 “Kung ang mga eskuwelahan natin hindi maka-connect sa Internet, kaagad-agad, hindi na sila competitive gaya ng ibang eskuwelahan dito at sa buong mundo,” said Sen. Bam.

 By allowing Internet connectivity in schools, Sen. Bam stressed that it will pave the way for our public educational system to be taken to the future.

 “Gusto naming makita ang roadmap kung paano ang 26 percent, magiging 100 at kung ilang taon bago ma-fulfill ang ating goal,” the senator explained.

 Sen. Bam pointed out that public schools need reliable Internet connection to support and enhance the learning capabilities of students by giving them access to learning materials and online information.

 As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, Sen. Bam also discussed several bills seeking to establish free Wi-Fi to public places in different parts of the country.

 The DICT said it is planning to put up free Wi-Fi in 12,841 public areas in different parts of the country by November 2017.

 However, the DICT and telecommunication companies difficulty in acquiring permits from local government units (LGUs) are hampering their infrastructure development efforts.

 “We want to make sure na ang mga balakid na ito, matanggal na para magkaroon tayo ng free Wi-Fi,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam lauds teachers’ contribution to nation building

As the country celebrates National Teachers’ Month, Sen. Bam Aquino lauded Filipino educators for their contribution to nation-building by imparting invaluable knowledge to future generation.

 “Teaching is a vocation and to educate is a mission. Tungkulin po ng bawat guro ang pagandahin ang kinabukasan ng bawat batang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture and Arts.

“Layunin po nilang palitawin ang husay at talino ng kabataan upang paramihin ang dakilang Pilipinong mag-aambag sa kasaganaan ng ating minamahal na bansa,” added Sen. Bam in his co-sponsorship speech of Senate Resolution No. 116, honoring and commending the Ten (10) Outstanding Teachers of 2016 awarded by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc.

 According to Sen. Bam, the teachers’ willingness to step up and strive for excellence is crucial to the reforms being pushed in the Committee on Education, under his stewardship.

 Sen. Bam has filed several measures that will support public school teachers through other means, including 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 courses.

 The subsidy program will cover 100 percent of the tuition fee and other miscellaneous expenses necessary upon the enrollment of the student in a state college or university.

Bam on Davao City bombing

We condemn in the strongest possible terms the Davao City bombing.

 Kasabay ng pagtugis natin sa mga nasa likod ng malagim na pagsabog,  mahalagang tutukan ang kapakanan ng mga biktima at kanilang pamilya.

 Dapat magkaroon ng agarang tulong sa pamilya ng mga namatay at tiyaking naibibigay ang pangangailangang medikal ng mga nasugatan.

 Nagkakaisa tayo sa pagpapahalaga sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan at kagustuhang umasenso ang Pilipinas.

 This act of terrorism is unacceptable.  We must bring to justice those responsible for the killing of innocent people and ensure that similar barbaric acts will not happen in the future.

Bam to PNP: Look into illegal drug problems in SUCs, public and private schools

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the accessibility of illegal drugs in state colleges and universities (SUCs) and public and private schools in the country.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Sen. Bam asked PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if he has information on how prevalent illegal drugs in SUCs and private schools.

 “Gaano ho ka-available ang illegal drugs sa ating mga eskuwelahan?” Sen. Bam asked Director General Dela Rosa.

 Currently, Dela Rosa said the PNP has no data but promised Sen. Bam that he will look into the matter and provide the Senate with the needed information immediately.

 As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam plans to conduct a separate hearing to determine the prevalence of illegal drugs in SUCs, public and private schools.

 Sen. Bam also plans to look into the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposal to include drug testing as a requirement for admission in colleges and universities.

 “Maganda ang layunin ng plano ngunit dapat nating timbangin ang lahat ng panig at isa-alang-alang ang karapatan ng ating mga estudyante na makakuha ng edukasyon sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam: Fast-track passage of coco levy bill

Sen. Bam Aquino urged fellow lawmakers to fast-track the passage of the Coco Levy Trust Fund Act so that three million farmers and their families can finally enjoy the fruits of their labor after decades of waiting.

“Marami sa atin, naghihintay na noong 16th Congress pa lang. We almost passed it, nabitin lang sa dulo,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Agriculture and Food

 “Let’s pass it as fast as we can,” added Sen. Bam, author of Senate Bill No. 669 or the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund Act, which seeks to creation of a trust fund from the coco levy fund to develop the coconut industry and alleviate lives of coconut farmers and their families.

 In the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 2467 but the Senate failed to pass it and other similar measures due to four contentious issues.

 “Marami po sa atin, naghihintay na noong 16th Congress pa lang,” said Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam suggested that lawmakers focus on four unsettled issues in the bill so that the measure will be passed at the soonest possible time.

 He pinpointed the four contentious issues to be the privatization of the 30 billion pesos, the composition of the trust fund members, where the fund should be invested, and how the budget should be spent.

 “More or less, iyong apat na iyon ang kailangan nilang pag-usapan. I personally feel this should have been passed already,” added Sen. Bam.

 Senate Bill No. 669 aims to create a Coconut Levy Trust Fund from the P75-billion Coco Levy Fund to spur the growth of the industry for the benefit of small coconut farmers and workers all over the country.

 The proposal includes the financing of programs for the increased productivity of coconut farms, capacity building of farmers, research and development of coconut-based enterprises, and implementation of poverty-alleviation programs.

 “The priority is our coconut farmers and their families. The goal is to give them sustainable livelihood by rehabilitating and revitalizing the industry,” said Sen. Bam.

 

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