Issues

Bam Eyes Heavier Fines, Penalties Against Erring Telcos

As part of his advocacy for better Internet speed in the country, a senator wants to impose heavier fines and penalties on telecommunication entities that will violate all forms of directives from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 3208 eyes to amend outdated provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 146 or the Public Service Law to make it attuned to present times, giving NTC more teeth in dealing with erring telecommunication companies.

In his measure, Sen. Bam wants erring telecom firms fined between P300,000 to P5 million for every day, per violation of any certificate,  authority, resolution or regulation of the NTC.

The bill also empowers NTC to increase amount of fine every five years, subject to a certification from the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Previously, the law imposes a measly fine of P200 per day for erring telecommunication companies.

Also, the measure also empowers NTC to impose a P300-million fine on public telecommunication entities that will perform any forbidden action or neglect or fail to perform required act.

“With heavier penalties, NTC can expect greater compliance from Internet providers to standards and regulations that have been set to advance Internet quality in the Philippines,” Sen. Bam said.

If enacted into law, Sen. Bam sees the measure will help improve the country’s slow and expensive Internet, which leaves millions of Filipinos collectively frustrated.

“Being the fastest growing economy in the ASEAN, this is clearly unacceptable and measures to improve our Internet quality while driving down is cost must be prioritized,” said Sen.Bam.

Sen. Bam also called on stakeholders to band together to create a framework for the constant improvement of the country’s Internet system for the benefit of all Filipinos, especially those engaged in commerce.

“When it comes to public services, we must do more than just keep up with the development of our neighbors, but exceed them. Let us band together to significantly improve Internet service in the Philippines,” said Sen. Bam.

For two years, Sen. Bam has been pushing for faster and cheaper Internet service, as he believes it will create jobs and livelihood and make the country more competitive.

 

READ MORE ABOUT SBN 3208

 

Bam: Increased Benefits for Public School Teachers During Elections Nears Law

Election service benefits will soon increase for public school teachers once the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA) principally authored by Sen. Bam Aquino is signed into law.

In last week’s bicameral conference committee, the House has adopted the Senate version of the measure, which will now be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino’s signature.

The measure makes election service optional for public school teachers and increases honoraria for board of election inspector (BEI) and their support staff that will take effect in this year’s elections.

Sen. Bam said compensation for BEI chairman will be increased to P6,000 from P3,000 while BEI members will receive P5,000 from P3,000.

From P3,000, Department of Education (DepEd) supervisor/official will earn P4,000 while support staff will receive P2,000 from P1,500.

The teachers and all persons who rendered election service would also be entitled to a travel allowance of P1,000 each.

Sen. Bam said any person who causes the delay in the payment due to the BEI members beyond the prescribed period of 15 days from the election date will be liable for an election offense.

The measure also gives five days of service credit instead of three to all government officials and employees serving as members of the electoral boards, DepEd supervisor/official and support staff.

The ESRA also seeks to increase the death benefits from P200,000 to P500,000 and the medical assistance in such amount as may be “sufficient to cover for medical and hospitalization expenses until recovery” of injuries sustained while in the performance of election duties.

In case of lack of personnel, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may appoint any registered voter to the BEI in the following order of preference: private school teachers, national government employees (DepEd non-teaching personnel), other national government officials and employees holding regular or permanent positions, excluding uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

 Members of Comelec-accredited citizen’s arms and other civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations can also do election duties in lieu of public school teachers who opt not to participate in the electoral process.

Bam: Senate OKs Bill Protecting Children Against Disasters

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill creating a national program that will provide protection and assistance to Filipino children affected by disasters, calamities and armed conflicts.

According to Sen. Bam Aquino, a co-author of Senate Bill No. 3034 or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act, children will be given utmost priority during and after every disaster.

“We will continue to work in protecting our Filipino children during disasters, calamities, or armed conflict, but also to reduce trauma and build their resistance to these threats,” Sen. Bam said.

As an archipelago lying along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Sen. Bam stressed that the country is one of the most vulnerable to the threat of climate change.

“While we have already made big improvements in the field of disaster risk reduction on a national and local level, now we have the opportunity to target our Filipino children, one of the most vulnerable sectors during times of calamity,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Youth.

In filing the measure, Sen. Bam underscored the need to focus on Filipino children as they are the most vulnerable and are worst affected during disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flash floods.

During the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, Aquino said an estimated six million children were affected, according to data from Save the Children. 

If enacted into law, existing policies will be reviewed to give better support to Filipino children, especially during disasters, calamities or in armed conflict to help lessen trauma, restore normalcy quickly and build their resilience better.

“A national program is crucial in the most vulnerable areas of the country, where the experience of prolonged displacement would have a profound impact on the children’s sense of security, physical and emotional well being,” Sen. Bam said.

The measure also pushes for child-centered training to disaster first responders, teachers, psychologists and other volunteers in disaster recovery, relief and rehabilitation, with special modules for different stages of children and youth development.

“Providing the targeted needs of the Filipino children, specifically during times of distress, ensures the long-term security and health of our nation,” Aquino stressed.

 

 

Bam Seeks to Strengthen Islamic Banking in PH

Habang wala pa ang BBL, tuloy ang pagtulong natin sa ating mga kapatid na Muslim.
 
A senator has filed a measure to strengthen the country’s Islamic banking system to give Filipino-Muslim entrepreneurs access to financing and other services that are compliant with the principles Shari’ah or Islamic law, while the much debated Bangsamoro Basic Law is still being deliberated.
 
Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 3150 or the Philippine Islamic Financing Act of 2016 seeks to amend the charter of the Al-Amanah Islamic Investment Bank of the Philippines, the only Islamic Bank in the country established in 1973.
 
“It seeks to strengthen the Al-Amanah Bank to provide a broader market, while promoting both the establishment of other Islamic banks and engagement in Islamic banking arrangements by conventional banks under the supervision and regulation of the BSP,” Sen. Bam said.
 
At present, Sen. Bam said Muslim banking and finance applies principles based on the Shari’ah Law, where the kind of banking and financing operations is characterized by risk-sharing and equitable distribution of wealth.
 
“Undertaking or financing of anti-social and unethical business, and the setting of interest or a fixed pre-determined rate of return are prohibited,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
 
With this, Islamic banking and finance in the Philippines is limited by three major challenges, such as lack of clear and regulatory framework, lack or scarcity of experts on Islamic banking and finance, and lack or very low investor awareness and acceptance of Islamic banking and finance.
 
These challenges prevent the country from enjoying the vast growth of Islamic banking worldwide, which increases by 21 percent despite the existing global context.
 
“Currently, there are more than 600 Islamic financial institutions operating in more than 75 countries and almost all major multinational banks offer Islamic financial institutions,” Sen. Bam said.
 
Sen. Bam said the measure will help address these challenges and provide Muslim entrepreneurs an environment where they can thrive and prosper through his measure.
 
“Accompanied by other critical inclusive financial reforms and innovations, this bill seeks to ensure the development of MSMEs not only in our major urban centers but also in the poorest and hardest to reach areas,” the senator said.
 
“It also seeks to ensure that every Filipino, regardless of status, identity or religion has access to critical services to enable them to seize economic opportunities and be part of the country’s progress,” he added.
 
The bill amends the charter of the Al-Amanah Bank, providing for the organization and regulation of an expanded Islamic banking system in the Philippines.
 
The proposed measure further mandates government to provide programs for increased consumer awareness and capacity building required by the expanded Islamic banking system.

Bam: Open Gov’t Offices to all Filipinos

Government shouldn’t discriminate. Its doors should be open to all Filipinos, rich or poor.
 
A senator wants all government agencies to eliminate dress code to allow more Filipinos to avail of services and allow them to participate in assemblies concerning their welfare, especially in legislative hearings and sessions.
 
In his Senate Bill No. 3089 or the Philippine Government Agency Open Door Act of 2015, Sen. Bam Aquino stressed that every Filipino should be permitted to participate in assemblies that affect them and their community, particularly legislative hearings and sessions.
 
“All Filipinos must be granted access to frontline services, especially from public offices,” he said.
 
However, needless dress code policies serve as barriers to many of our marginalized Filipinos and those from indigenous groups as they seek to become more participative and rightfully demand services.
 
“How can they raise their voice when they’re standing in the heat and behind cold walls? These are the countrymen we are called to serve,” said Sen. Bam, adding that it’s time to open government offices and be more considerate of our policies for all Filipinos, regardless of economic status.
 
The Philippine Government Agency Open Door Act of 2015 aims to mandate all government offices to accept entry to all Filipinos and to eliminate the dress code some agencies that are following.
 
“We are called to open the doors to those that have the least in our society, those we have the most to learn from, and those that we desperately need to hear,” Sen. Bam stressed.
 
“We have the opportunity and a duty to generate policies that contribute to a nation that is fair, just, and inclusive. We have a responsibility to create a Philippines where all Filipinos, even minorities and marginalized sectors can live free from discrimination,” he added.
 
Sen. Bam worked with poor communities on business projects as a social entrepreneur before becoming a senator in 2013.

Sen. Bam urges youth to be agents of change in May elections

Sen. Bam Aquino called on the Filipino youth to be agents of change as the country selects its next set of leaders in May 2016.
 
The senator made this call during the 13th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) awarding ceremony at Malacañan Palace Thursday.
 
“Once again, we have the opportunity to place our vote on Filipinos we believe will lift the country to greater heights, not just for ourselves, not just for a chosen few, but for each and every Filipino – especially those that are living in poverty and isolation,” said Sen. Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth
 
Sen. Bam stressed that the vote of the Filipino youth is critical, with 40 percent of total voters falling within the age of 18 and 30 years old.
 
“Sadly, many have low expectations of young Filipinos, believing that they would be easily swayed by propaganda, entertaining memes, and catchy jingles,” the senator said.
 
TAYO 13 winners

TAYO 13 winners

 
Sen. Bam also encouraged the youth to erase this notion and silence doubters by “choosing wisely, choosing selflessly, and choosing with the Philippines at heart.
 
At the same time, Sen. Bam hailed the 19 TAYO finalists, calling them “exemplars of Filipino youth”.
 
“You, all of you, are the reason I can say to all these detractors… that young men and women from across the Philippines can and will make better decisions for our country, for our future,” Sen. Bam said.
 
This year’s TAYO 13 winners are the School of Law Advocacy and Community Enrichment of University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City, I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference), Inc. from Mandaluyong City, Tanay Mountaineers from Rizal, Kanlaon Theater Guild from Bacolod City;
 
Environment and Climate Change Research Institute of De La Salle Araneta University in Malabon City, Keep Hope Alive Mansalay from Oriental Mindoro, Youth Sports Advocacy from Quezon City, Bayugan National Comprehensive High School of YECS Bayugan City, Tobog Youth Organization from Oas, Albay and UP ALCHEMES (Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students) from Quezon City.
 
TAYO 13 finalists
 
The winners of the TAYO People’s Choice Awards are I am M.A.D. (Making A Difference), Inc. for Culture and the Arts, Peace and Human Development,  UP ALCHEMES (Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students) for Education and Technology, TUP Instrumentation and Controls Students’ Society (City of Manila) for Environment, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Youth Sports Advocacy (Quezon City) for Health, Nutrition and Well-being and  Philippine Junior Jaycees – Tacloban Sinirangan Chapter for Livelihood and Entrepreneurship.
 
 

Statement of Bam Aquino on the Rappler Article about the Balay Banning

While I admit that some members of the LP were surprised by my SET vote, nais kong idiin na ginalang naman nila ang naging desisyon natin at walang sinuman sa partido ang sumubok na impluwensiyahan ako sa kaso.
 
Ngayon, abala tayo sa pagtiyak na mananalo sina Mar Roxas, Leni Robredo at ang buong LP Senate slate sa 2016 elections.
 
Ang mga balita-balitang mga ganito ay mga tangka lamang na ilihis ang ating atensiyon. Tuloy-tuloy tayo sa pagpapanalo para kay Mar, Leni, at ang ating LP Senate slate!

Sen. Bam Welcomes APEC’s ‘Stamp of Approval’ on MSMEs

Sen. Bam Aquino called the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s (APEC) recognition of micro, small and medium enterprises’ role in poverty eradication as “stamp of approval” on the Senate’s work to strengthen entrepreneurship in the country.
 
In a joint communiqué at the conclusion of the APEC Summit, the 21 APEC leaders recognized the significance of MSMEs in poverty eradication and inclusive growth and committed to work for their globalization.
 
“Practically, lahat po ng tinututukan namin sa Senado, inclusive finance, support for MSMEs at E-commerce, nahagip siya sa APEC na ito. Nagkaroon siya ng stamp of approval na itong ginagawa ninyo, talagang mahalaga ito sa kapakanan ng ating bayan at APEC economies,” said Sen. Bam.
 
A former social entrepreneur and a staunch advocate of MSMEs as chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Sen. Bam said APEC’s recognition solidified his long-standing belief and advocacy that empowering MSMEs can help eradicate poverty.
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act, which provides for the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all provinces, cities and municipalities in the country to help MSMEs.
 
“Through some of our programs like the Negosyo Centers, sinisikap po natin na nandiyan ang support for our MSMEs. Sa ngayon, mayroon na tayong 116 Negosyo Centers sa buong Pilipinas,” the senator said.
 
“Nandiyan po iyan para magbigay ng training, capacity building, market linkage at financing sa ating MSMEs,” he added.
 
Aside from the Go Negosyo Law, Sen. Bam also worked for the passage of other laws that support MSMEs in the country.
 
Among them are Republic Act No. 10693 or the Microfinance NGO Act, Republic Act No. 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act, Republic Act No. 10668 or the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act and Republic Act No. 10679 or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
 

Bam on his decision on Grace Poe’s SET case

(From Status Update program)

Pag-usapan na rin po natin ang malaking balita kahapon at ito ang SET decision tungkol kay Sen. Grace Poe.

Marami ho ang nagtatanong kung bakit ako bumoto na huwag siyang i-disqualify.

Ang legal question na nasa harap ng SET kahapon ay kung iyong mga na-abandona o tinatawag na foundlings ay natural-born o hindi. 

Iyon lang talaga ang subject ng aming decision. Hindi kasama ang residency. Tungkol lang po sa foundling. Ang foundling ba ay natural born o ang foundling ba ay naturalized.

Ang ilan sa amin na nag-decide na ang foundling ay natural born, ang basehan po niyan ay dahil sa international law. Nakalagay po doon at sumasang-ayon tayo sa mga batas na iyan na ang isang bata na nahanap sa isang bansa ay mayroong presumption o mayroong pag-i-intindi na siya ay mula sa bansang iyon.

Kung ginawa po nating naturalized ang mga foundling, iyong mga karapatan at pribilehiyo na maaring maibigay sa mga foundling bilang natural born citizen ay mawawala at isa ay maituturing na naturalized citizen. 

Magiging problema po iyan sa paghahanap ng ibang propesyon, sa pagiging doctor, nurse at kung siyempre ay kung gusto nilang manungkulan sa gobyerno, magiging problema rin po iyan.

Ang desisyong ito, hindi po si Sen. Poe ang iniisip natin. Ang iniisip natin ay kung ano ang magiging implikasyon sa libu-libong bata na naabandona sa ating bansa, at ito ang naging basehan ng ilan sa amin sa SET.

Ang expectation kasi, sa pulitika, dapat pulitikal lahat ang desisyon mo. Pero paminsan-minsan naman po, kailangan nating mag-isip gamit ang prinsipyo, gamit ang konsensiya at gamit ang tiwala  na ibinigay ng taumbayan.

Ang pagiging daang matuwid ng aming partido, hindi po ito slogan lang. Ito po’y totoo, ito po’y nasa puso naming lahat at kung nasa daang matuwid ka, talagang kailangan iyong prinsipyo mo at konsensiya ang gagamitin mo. 

In fairness to my partymates, wala namang sumubok na impluwensiyahan ang aking desisyon.

Ibig sabihin nito, sa SET, hindi po madi-disqualify si Sen. Poe sa pagiging senador. Pero ang kanyang Comelec case, tuluy-tuloy pa rin.

In fact, you can expect na in the next couple of weeks, magde-decide na rin po ang Comelec kung siya’y madi-disqualify sa pagtakbo bilang presidente.

Because entrepreneurs need access to capital

For entrepreneurs, no matter how hardworking you are and how much potential your business has, one thing is for sure: you need starting capital.

Access to credit, with reasonable terms and interest rates, is a critical piece in the business development pie, whether for start-ups and micro-enterprises, small and medium enterprises, or large businesses.

When it comes to bigger, established businesses, banks often compete to offer them loans. Their solid track record for success together with assets they can sign off as collateral decreases the risk of lending to them.

But what about our micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which comprise over 900,000 registered businesses in the Philippines?

The MSME sector, a sector fundamental to our country’s inclusive growth and development, is lacking in financial support.

According to a recent study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on SMEs in Asia, the Philippines was ranked one of the lowest in terms of share of SME loans to total bank loans in 2014.

The average share of SME loans to bank loans in lower-middle income Asian countries is considered quite low, at 14.6%. But the Philippines falls shorter than this average at only 10.3%, which is just enough to meet the mandatory compliance requirement for banks provided by law.

What’s more, a closer look at the data reveals that lending to micro and small enterpise by banks was only at 5.6% in 2013 and 4.6% in 2014, both below the legally mandated 8%, which tells us that banks would rather pay penalties than take on the risk of lending to our smaller businesses.

Bridging the gap

Given the situation, the government must take a more proactive stance in bridging the gap between MSMEs and their capital needs.

With policy-mandated quotas unable to encourage banks to lend to our entrepreneurs, we must look for other ways to complete the financing spectrum for this sector.

For micro-entrepreneurs, a growing microfinance industry is a great sign. In 2013, a study released by the ADB showed that there were 2,000 microfinance institutions and 200 banks servicing over 7 million microfinance clients.

Some of them even go beyond offering loans at reasonable terms and work closely with their clients in building their businesses through training and market linkage. These are the microfinance NGOs that will benefit from our recently ratified Microfinance NGOs Act.

However, MFIs are limited to loans between P5,000 and P150,000. The largest gap in access to credit lies in loan requirements from P200,000 to P5 million, which are primarily for our small enterprises.

This break in the chain of financial inclusion hinders the growth of local enterprises and, therefore, must be addressed.

One technique to bridge this gap is to provide them the collateral that banks require – hence our Credit Surety Fund (CSF) Cooperative Act that was just finalized at a recent bicameral conference.

What this legislation does is bring the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Department of Finance, Cooperative Development Authority, and Local Government Units (LGUs) together with various cooperatives and NGOs to create funds that will serve as a guarantee or a form of collateral for members of these cooperatives.

The CSF Cooperative Act will give entrepreneurs access to loans from financing institutions by quelling the risk with a “guarantee fund.”

What not many may know is that credit surety funds are already in existence in the Philippines thanks to the 7-year program run by the BSP. There are already 40 CSFs involving 548 cooperatives across 50 LGUs.

With the ratification and signing of the CSF Cooperatives Act within the year, these guarantee funds become accessible and available to more entrepreneurs around the country.

We can hope that more Filipino entrepreneurs will get the financing they need to grow successful businesses, generate more jobs, and spread wealth and opportunities throughout the Philippines.

We can also hope to continue strengthening support for entrepreneurs and complete the range of financing products for MSMEs through policy and inclusive and innovative financing.

First published on Rappler.com

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