Issues

Bam: Charge Negligent Gov’t Employees Ormoc City Ferry Tragedy

Negligent government employees must also be held accountable for allowing the ill-fated M/B Kim Nirvana to leave port despite being overloaded, Senator Bam Aquino stressed.

“While we welcomed swift action against the captain, ship operator and crew of the ferry that capsized off Ormoc City, erring government employees must also charged for their failure to ensure the safety of passengers,” Sen. Bam said.

 “Government employees in the area are as culpable as the captain, operator and crew of M/B Kim Nirvana for the death of 61 people. They should also be held responsible for this incident,” added the senator. 

On Saturday, authorities have filed multiple murder charges against the owner Joge Bung Zarco, boat captain Warren Oliverio and 17 crew members of M/B Kim Nirvana.

The Philippine Coast Guard has already relieved two of its personnel – Fidel Blanco and John Sabado – for allowing the vessel to leave port despite being overloaded. However, the two were not charged.

“Hindi puwedeng kapitan, may-ari ng barko at mga tauhan lang ang papanagutin sa pangyayaring ito.  Dapat tiyakin na lahat ng may responsibilidad at kasalanan ang siyang mapapanagot at maparusahan,” Sen. Bam said.

Earlier, Sen. Bam reiterated his call to investigate the seaworthiness of maritime vessels in the country in the wake of this recent sea tragedy.

As early as May 2014, Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 652, calling for the investigation on the seaworthiness of maritime vessels to ensure their safe and efficient operations and avoid maritime accidents.

However, the resolution gathered dust and was never heard by the appropriate Senate committee.

In his resolution, Sen. Bam emphasized that the national government has the duty to implement positive measures that can alleviate, if not resolve, the recurring maritime accidents over the past decades.

“Magpapatuloy ang ganitong sistema kung papayagan nating makaligtas sa asunto ang mga tauhan ng pamahalaan na may tungkulin na tiyaking ligtas ang pagbiyahe ng ating mga kababayan,” he stressed.

Congress Ratifies Youth Entrepreneurship Act

Both houses of Congress have ratified the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, seen as an effective tool to address the growing number of jobless young people in the country, which currently stands at 1.32 million.

“With its imminent passage into law, the government can now meet the challenges of youth unemployment head on,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Youth, and Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

“The passage of this law only shows that the government is serious in addressing youth unemployment, which I consider as a growing epidemic that should be looked into immediately,” added the senator.

In their latest report, the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) and National Statistics Office (NSO) said that there are 1.32 million youth from ages 15 to 24 years old as of January 2015.

“This is unacceptable because we have a lot of promising youth whose talents are going down the drain because of lack of employment and entrepreneurial opportunities,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said that European countries have provided billions of Euros worth of loans for the youth to help them start their own businesses.

The measure aims to change the public school curriculum and paradigm, as it creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inclucate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.

“This Act has the potential to revolutionize our mindset as a people from wanting to be an employee of a company to being a boss of their own enterprise,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

The Act also provides would-be youth entrepreneurs access to financing, training, market linkages, and other means of support that will help them run and develop their own business.

Bam Reiterates Call to Probe Seaworthiness of Maritime Vessels

Senator Bam Aquino has renewed his call to investigate the seaworthiness of maritime vessels in the country in the wake of the recent sea tragedy that claimed the lives of 36 people in Ormoc City.

“I reiterate my call to investigate whether our maritime vessels are seaworthy. Huwag na nating hintayin maulit pa ang nangyari sa Ormoc bago tayo mag-imbestiga at gumawa ng reporma,” Sen. Bam stressed.

As early as May 2014, Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 652, calling for the investigation on the seaworthiness of maritime vessels to ensure their safe and efficient operations and avoid maritime accidents.

However, the resolution gathered dust and was never heard by the appropriate Senate committee. 

“Mahalagang malaman natin kung ligtas pa bang gamitin ng ating mga kababayan ang mga sasakyang pandagat upang wala nang magbuwis pa ng buhay sa mga ganitong uri ng insidente,” the senator stressed.

In his resolution, Sen. Bam emphasized that the national government has the duty to implement positive measures that can alleviate, if not resolve, the recurring maritime accidents over the past decades.

“It should give appropriate emphasis on the seaworthiness of our vessels and must demonstrate stronger commitment in the effective implementation of the laws in order to safeguard the safety of the public,” Sen. Bam said. 

“Dapat nating siguruhin na tinutupad ng mga may-ari ng mga sasakyang pandagat ang kanilang papel na tiyaking ligtas ang biyahe ng ating mga kababayan,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam to New BuCor Chief: Prepare for Challenges Ahead

Be prepared for the tough challenges ahead.

 Sen. Bam Aquino made this advice to newly appointed Bureau of Corrections director general Ret. Lt. Gen. Ricardo Cruz III as he congratulated him on his new post.

“General Cruz must be prepared for the tough challenges that await him in his new position. Many have failed to address these challenges, but with Cruz’s vast experience, I am sure he’s the right man for the job,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam said among the challenges that will put Cruz to the test are the VIP treatment of moneyed prisoners, congestion and the alleged operation of drug syndicates inside the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP).

“A caste-like system in our prisons is unacceptable. Justice will not fully be served if some prisoners still enjoy the perks and privileges while incarcerated while poor prisoners endure the worst,” the senator said.

“The alleged operation of drug syndicates inside the prison walls must also be addressed immediately to prevent them from destroying more lives and families,” Sen. Bam added.

The senator also urged Cruz to expedite the release of prisoners who have fully served the sentences or those eligible for pardon to decongest the country’s cramped prisons.

 “We challenge the new director to speed up the processing of the release papers of the inmates, who have served their terms dutifully.  This way, the NBP would also be decongested,” Sen. Bam stressed.

The senator also called on the government to implement thorough reform in the system in all BuCor prisons all over the country, making conditions more humane for prisoners.

“They may be behind bars for their crimes, but they are still human beings who deserve humane treatment and we must not deprive them of that right,” the senator added.

 By implementing reforms that will help reform these prisoners, Sen. Bam said they would emerge better and more productive citizens for our society.

3 out of 6 Major Bills in 2015 c/o Bam

Sen. Bam Aquino, the youngest senator of the 16th Congress, made an impact during the second regular session as he sponsored three out of the six major measures ratified during the period.

Foremost of Sen. Aquino’s bills was the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark measure seeking to level the playing field for all business, and eliminate anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the market.

The Philippine Competition Act was finally passed under Sen. Bam’s watch as chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship after 25 years of gathering dust in the legislative mill.

Sen. Bam also co-authored and sponsored the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act and the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.

 The Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act will now allow foreign ships carrying imported cargoes and cargoes to be exported out of the country to dock in multiple ports. This will reduce logistics costs and lead to lower prices for consumers.

In addition, it will also lead to more efficient port operations and a more competitive Philippines in the ASEAN integration.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Act, for its part, is seen as an effective tool to address the growing number of jobless young people in the country, which currently stands at 1.32 million.

Financial literacy and entrepreneurship courses will now be included in all levels of education to build an entrepreneurship culture among Filipinos.  A youth entrepreneurship fund shall also be made available to cater to youth entrepreneurs in the country.

Last year, Sen. Bam’s Go Negosyo Act and the Philippine Lemon Law were enacted into laws and are now awaiting for the said three bills to be signed by the President.  Once signed, Sen. Bam’s portfolio will consist of five laws in two years. 

 “Hindi mahalaga kung neophyte o beterano sa senado. Ang mahalaga ay kung makakagawa ka ng mga panukala na makakapagpabuti sa buhay ng nakararaming Pilipino,” Sen. Bam said.

Aside from these three measures, the 16th Congress also ratified measures ensuring the safety of children aboard two-wheeled motorcycles travelling along public and private roads, protecting the amateur nature of student-athletes in the country and the establishment of an open high school system in the country.

BIDA KA!: Kapital sa pagnenegosyo 2

Ito ang nagtulak sa akin para maghain ng panukalang batas na magbibigay ng tulong sa ating Microfinance NGOs.

Noong nakaraang linggo, nagtalumpati ako sa Senado kasabay ng pagpasa ng mga panukala para sa Microfinance NGOs Act.

Sa aking talumpati, binigyang diin ko ang mahalagang papel ng mga microfinance NGOs sa pagpapalago ng micro, small at medium enterprises (MSMEs) sa pagpapalakas ng ekonomiya.

***

Maliban dito, nagbigay rin ako ng dalawang kuwento ng tagumpay sa tulong ng MFI NGOs.

Mga Bida, isa sa mga natulungan na ng microfinance NGOs ay sina Aling Ester Lumbo at asawang si Mang Bartolome, na tubong-Negros Occidental. Sila ang unang nagbenta ng mga hinabing pandan bags sa merkado.

Nang sumailalim sa operasyon ang ikatlong anak sa Maynila, napilitan silang iwan ang kanilang negosyo upang tiyaking bumuti ang kalagayan ng kanilang anak.
Pagbalik nila sa kanilang bayan, naubos ang kanilang pangkabuhayan at nabaon sila sa utang.

Buti na lang at natagpuan nila ang Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), isang microfinance NGO, na siyang tumulong sa kanila na makabalik sa kanilang pagnenegosyo.

Ngayon, nakabebenta sila ng 150,000 pirasong gawa sa pandan kada-buwan. Nakapagpatayo na rin sila ng isa pang bakery. Higit sa lahat, nasustentuhan nila ang kanilang pamilya at nakapagtapos ang ang kanilang tatlong anak sa kolehiyo.

***

Natulungan din ng microfinance NGO na Alalay sa Kaunlaran, Inc. (ASKI) si Consuelo Valenzuela na mapalago ang kanyang iba’t ibang negosyo.
Maliban sa pautang, tinuruan pa ng ASKI, isang microfinance NGO, na nagturo sa kanya ng marketing at sales.

Dinala ni Aling Consuelo ang kanyang mga produkto sa mga provincial at regional trade fairs. Para kumita, binenta niya nang wholesale ang kanyang mga produkto sa labas ng kanilang probinsya.

Sa ganda ng kanyang mga ibinebenta, umabot pa sa California ang kanyang mga produkto. Dahil dito, napag-aaral niya ang mga pamangkin at nasusustentuhan ang pangangailangan ng kanyang pamilya.

***

Ngayon, panahon naman para tulungan natin ang microfinance NGOs upang mapalawak pa nila ang serbisyong ibinibigay sa ating mga kababayan.

Sa ganitong paraan, mas marami pa tayong mababasa na kuwento ng tagumpay, tulad nina Aling Ester at Consuelo!

 

First Published on Abante Online

DOJ, Private Businesses Welcome Passage of Bill Penalizing Cartels, Abuse of Dominance

Stakeholders, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), welcomed the long-awaited approval of the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark legislation that will level the playing field for all types of businesses

In a statement, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima lauded Sen. Bam Aquino and Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua for their energy and dedication to work for the passage of the bill, which gathered dust for almost 25 years in the legislative mill.

Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, was the main author and sponsor of the measure, which is expected be signed into law by President Aquino.

“The Department will continue to support legislation that will level the playing field and inject fairness and transparency in dealings and transactions specially those affecting small businesses and consumers,” De Lima said.

“This legislation actually rewards good business practices and goes against those who exploit markets or engage in abusive behavior,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, head of DOJ-Office for Competition.

 “Building a competition culture across all sectors of society is key. We are happy that we finally passed it,” added Sy.

Under the proposed law, the DOJ-Office for Competition is assigned to investigate cartels that are considered criminal actions.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expects a sustained strong economy with ratification of the Philippine Competition Act.

 “This law will push businesses to engage in a healthy rivalry so that they will gain more consumers. It gives us the incentive to be more efficient and to offer the public better quality products and services,” PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao said in a statement.

If enacted into law, Yao added that the Philippine Competition Act will encourage the entry of small firms into the market “with the expectation that rules will be applied equally to all.”

The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, for its part, expressed full support behind the passage of a national competition law, saying it would “ensure a level playing field for business, protect consumer welfare and make the Philippine economy more competitive.”

“The passage of this landmark measure materialized through the collective efforts of the Senate and House and the full support of private stakeholders,” Sen. Bam said.

 Sen. Bam added that private stakeholders, such as the PCCI and the ECCP, were consulted in the crafting of the measure to ensure that the bill would be pro-business, pro-poor and pro-consumer.

After Long Wait, Congress Ratifies Act Penalizing Cartels, Abuse of Dominant Positions

“Historic, game-changing for our economy,” Sen. Bam Aquino describes the Philippine Competition Act after its ratification.

 After three decades of waiting and 30 hours of bicameral conference hearing, Congress has finally ratified the Philippine Competition Act that penalizes bad market behavior and abuse of dominant positions.

“If enacted into law, the measure will create a level playing field, whether big or small, when it comes to market opportunities,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

For almost thirty years, the Philippines has remained one of few countries that does not have a valid competition policy that will protect its consumers and private industries.

“It has been one of the longest running bills in our history,” Sen. Bam said, as the first competition policy was filed in the 8th Congress.

After World War II, Japan passed its Original Antimonopoly Law in 1947 while the United Kingdom passed its Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act in 1948.

Other ASEAN countries have also passed their respective competition laws, starting with Indonesia and Thailand in 1999, Singapore in 2004, Vietnam in 2005, and Malaysia in 2012.

“This is primary a huge victory for millions of consumers, who, in the end, will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this measure,” added Sen. Bam, whose Senate Bill No. 1027 or the Philippine Competition Act was among the measures consolidated under Senate Bill No. 2282.

President Aquino is expected to sign the measure into law as it is one of his administration’s urgent measures.

Sen. Bam said the Philippine Competition Act is expected to eliminate cartels, and penalize anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the markets that lead to high prices of goods and services.

“In addition, the Philippine Competition Act promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs,” Sen. Bam said.

“We need more players in our markets, so that the quality of products and services increases, and prices of goods would then go down,” Sen. Bam added.

 The measure will also prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the Philippines.

“We thank the hard work of our fellow senators and our congress counterparts in coming up with a solid bill that will further help our economy down the road,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

Sen. Bam also credited the late Rep. Henry Cojuangco for actively pursuing the bill’s House version. Cojuangco died from aneurysm, hours before the bill hurdled the second reading at the House of Representatives last May 12. 

“Panalo ang taumbayan dahil sa pagpasa ng panukalang ito,” the senator highlighted.

“We would like to tell the world that with the Philippine Competition Act, our country is now open for business,” Sen. Bam happily declared.

RA 10693: Microfinance NGOS Act

Microfinance NGOs shall conduct its 19 operations in accordance with the basic principles of micro finance, which include, but are not 20 limited to the following:

a. The State recognizes Microfinance NGOs as its effective partners in promoting social welfare and development and pursuing poverty alleviation and holistic transformation and acknowledges micro finance as a viable solution to empower the poor;

b. The poor shall be given access to appropriate financial services that are convenient, flexible, and reasonably priced, including, but not limited to credit, savings, and insurance;

c. Microtinance shall be undertaken on a sustainable basis, where providers shall be able to recover all of its costs to allow sustainable operation and regular provision of financial services to the poor;

d. Microfinance NGOs shall aim to provide both financial and social protection programs to an increasing number of disadvantaged and for underprivileged people;

e. Microfinance NGOs shall abide by the Client Protection Principles, such as, but not limited to, appropriate product design and delivery, prevention of over-indebtedness, promotion of transparency, practice of responsible pricing, fair and respectful treatment of clients, privacy of client data and mechanisms for complaint resolution;

f. Microfinance NGOs shall develop financial, social, and governance performance standards that shall help define and govern the industry toward greater outreach and sustainability. 109. Mierofinance NGOs shall develop and provide the appropriate community development II projects and programs to ensure attainment of social welfare and holistic transformation 12 of the poor.

PDFicon DOWNLOAD RA 10693

Bam: Strengthen Assistance to Senior Citizens

A senator has filed a bill seeking to establish a National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC) to look after the welfare and rights of Filipino senior citizens.

“Our Filipino senior citizens have contributed immensely to the growth and progress of the country,” Senator Bam Aquino said in his Senate Bill No. 2737 or the Senior Citizen Act of 2015.

“As they reach the twilight of their lives, it is our responsibility as a society to ensure their rights and privileges, and that proper accommodation is given to them,” he emphasized.

As a national agency, Sen. Bam said the NCSC will formulate and implement policies, plans, and programs that promote senior rights and privileges or address issues plaguing the sector.

“With sectors such as the youth, women, and persons with disabilities having a specialized body catering to their constituents, it is about time that our Filipino seniors are awarded their own commission as well to ensure that no Filipino gets left behind,” added Sen. Bam.

Under the bill, Section 11 of Republic Act 7432 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010 will be amended, abolishing the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board and replacing it with NCSC.

It will be spearheaded by a chairperson and commissioners from a list submitted by senior citizens organizations and associations.

Regional commissions for senior citizens will also be established in different local government units to effectively address the needs of the elderly in the provinces.

Scroll to top