Legislation

SBN-2150: Electric, Hybrid and Other Alternative Fuel Vehicles Promotions Act of 2014

In a country that ranks among the world’s Top 10 most vulnerable countries to climage change” it is important to mainstream programs that mitigate climate change risks while incentivizing climate change adaptation among the private sector, communities, and individuals.

The use of electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) among individuals and organizations presents such an opportunity. At present, the Department of Energy (DOE) aims to put. 100,000 electric tricycles on the road by 2017, while the Electric Vehicles Association of the Philippines (EVAP) hopes to mainstream 1 million electric vehicles by 2020.

In a study released by international consulting firm Grant Thornton in 2012, “Asia is currently the largest market for hybirds/electrics (56%).'” Further: “The trend toward alternative fuels is visible in global sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs), projected to reach 5.4 million vehicles by 2021 (more than 6% of the automotive market), up from 810,000 vehicles in 2010 (approximately 2% of market share).”

The same report states that, “Around a quarter of global companies (24%) have introduced or are considering vehicles that run on alternative fuels for their businesses … Companies in the ASEAN region (31%) were most likely to use or consider alternative-fuel vehicles.'”

Among the top reasons cited for ASEAN users to consider switching to AFVs are the following: the “price of oil” (88%); “saving the planet” (88%), “cost management” (81%), and “tax relief’ (77%).

The study summarizes its findings this way: Rising oil prices and increasing awareness of the environmental impact of traditional fuels make alternative-fuel vehicles attractive to owners of commercial/business fleets. Government incentives and regulations are also pushing executives to explore alternative fuels. Indeed, many countries and states/provinces already offer significant incentives for buying or converting to alternative-fuel vehicles; in some regions regulations will eventually force the use of alternative fuels.”6 In the 15th Congress, both the Upper and Lower Houses of Congress passed on Third Reading . similar measures entitled, “An Act Providing Incentives For The Manufacture, Assembly, Conversion And Importation Of Electric, Hybrid And Other Alternative Fuel Vehicles, And For Other Purposes.” Clearly, Congress recognizes that the emerging industry of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) can significantly contribute to investment generation, job creation, poverty reduction, and climate change mitigation.

To follow through on this, this representation proposes stronger policy support in order to promote adoption of and drive consumer demand for electric, hybrid, and other alternative fuel vehicles, In this regard, this Act provides non-fiscal incentives to drive consumer demand, including the following:

a. Priority in registration and issuance of plate number;
b. Priority in franchise application;
c. Exemption from Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or Number-Coding Scheme; and
d. Provision for free parking spaces in new establishments

It is recognized that while the costs of electric and hybrid vehicles are higher compared to those of regular vehicles, these non-fiscal incentives will make the acquisition and conversion of vehicles more attractive to consumers and manufacturers alike. As the world braces itself for stronger impacts of climate change while adapting to swift changes in technology, it is imperative that Filipinos are not left behind in the waves of change. Early adaptation to and promotion of AFVs will help the country mitigate the risks associated with climate change, while opening up potential investment and job opportunities that will ultimately benefit more Filipinos.

In view of the foregoing, the passage and enactment of this bill is earnestly sought.

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SBN-2364: Amending Sec. 11009, Tariff and Customs Code (Carriage of Container Vans)

As a response to the call of the President and key stakeholders, this measure seeks to amend Section 1009 of the Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 to introduce reform in the shipping industry.

Given that the Philippines is an archipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands, the transport of goods relies heavily on sea routes interconnecting the islands. Shipping is the means of transporting goods between islands and even in and out of the country. Shipping cost impacts the movement and price of traded goods.

Facilitating inter-island trade in the country has become costly and cumbersome for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Currently, inter-island shipping is exclusively reserved for ships bearing the Philippine flag. While this helps the domestic shipping industry, the cost of shipping is hampering trade especially for the MSMEs.

This measure seeks to allow foreign ships to call in multiple ports provided that their cargoes are intended for import or export and duly cleared by the Commissioner of Customs. This would allow importers and exporters to co-load in foreign ships going in or out of the Philippine jurisdiction.

Moreover, this bill gives clarification on the definition of common carriers and public service in the shipping industry. With this bill, foreign cargoes shall not be subjected to the law concerning common carriers and public services as defined in the Civil Code and the Domestic Shipping Development Act, respectively.

MSMEs who are importing or exporting goods will be able to access a cheaper alternative in transporting their goods through co-loading in foreign ships. Ultimately, this leads to lower prices of goods for the Filipino public.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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SBN-2369: Students’ Rights and Welfare Act of 2014

As education plays a vital role in shaping any nation, it provides young citizens the key knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to participate and contribute meaningfully to the growth of society.

While there is an effort to improve the technical content and curriculum, and the delivery and instruction, there is also a need to reform the non-academic side of education.

This bill proposes to broaden the focus of education institutions towards a more holistic formation of students. By providing a national framework for students’ rights and welfare, this measure seeks to create a conducive atmosphere to maximize their learning and growth.

Service-learning modules provide the chance for students to learn about empathy and compassion; volunteer organizations present the world outside the four walls of the classroom and show the faces of poverty and injustice.

Student-governments and campus publications are spaces where students are able to strengthen values of leadership, integrity, transparency and accountability. Dialogues and consultations with school administrations further enhance the value for respect and critical thinking among future leaders of the country.

Students are no longer just the future of the country. We count on them to be leaders in tneir communities in the here and now.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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SBN-2713: Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities

Filipino Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have been actively participating in shaping our history and contributing to the advancement of good governance.

We go back to as early as the 1896 Spanish Revolution era, where Apolinario Mabini, a sublime paralytic, wrote subversive manifestos against Spain and became the brains of the revolution1 . Moreover, he eventually drafted the framework of the revolutionary government in 1899.

In recent history, Art Borjal, who moved with leg braces and crutches, was a popular columnist and worked for the rights of the PWDs in the early 1990s2 , while polio-survivor Grace Padaca, a former Isabela governor and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, is a staunch advocate of governance and election reforms todal.

Furthermore, the National Federation of Cooperatives of Persons with Disability (NFCPWD) has worked with the Department of Education (DepEd) in producing public school chairs4. The organization has generated P80 million in the past twelve years for workers and staff with disabilities.

Still, our country’s challenge is to be truly inclusive to serve the needs of the marginalized, particularly the PWD sector. PWDs have found it difficult to gain employment and earn income for themselves and for their families. Families with PWDs have also had to worry about their daily expenses for medicine and rehabilitation.

Hence, the PWDs Tax Exemption Act of 2015 seeks to give reprieve to the plight of our PWDs and their families and be able to support them in their daily challenges.

This measure proposes for families with PWD dependents to have a yearly uniform P25,OOO tax exemption, in addition to the regular personal deductions, in order to augment their expenses – wheelchairs, hearing aids, nurses and caregivers, and learning disability tutors, among others. In addition, the act seeks to exempt PWDs from value add taxes (VAT).

Such accommodation for our PWD sector is part of our larger reform efforts in pushing for a society that is inclusive for the poor and most vulnerable sectors. It is one of our courses in our journey towards achieving a fully-abled nation.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly south.
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SBN-2729: Ameding Sec. 150, NIRC (Non-essential Goods)

Whether young or old, ingrained in the Filipino psyche and in our daily hygiene is the use of baby cologne.

In a survey of Filipino consumers, baby colognes ranked second only to shampoo in regular usage, placing it above powder, lotion, and hand sanitizers.

Further, 98% of the splash cologne consumers are from the economic classes C, D, and E with Class D taking up 54% of the market share.

This Act aims to recognize splash cologne as an essential good, setting it apart from perfumes and other luxury fragrances by ascertaining the concentration of the essential oils or perfume in the product.

The proposed amendment is in line with the legal definition already set by Revenue Regulations No.8 to 84.

By aligning and streamlining the definition for baby cologne or “toilet water” and recognizing such as an essential good and taxing them accordingly, we will be able to protect our low-income households from unnecessary surges in prices of their inexpensive, but fragrant cologne, and at the same time, provide appropriate support to the baby cologne industry.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2730: Amending Secs. 32 & 33, Magna Carta for Persons with Disabilities

Filipino Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have been actively participating in shaping our history and contributing to the advancement of good governance.

We go back to as early as the 1896 Spanish Revolution era, where Apolinario Mabini, a sublime paralytic, wrote subversive manifestos against Spain and became the brains of the revolution’. Moreover, he eventually drafted the framework of the revolutionary government in 1899.

In recent history, Art Borjal, who moved with leg braces and crutches, was a popular columnist and worked for the rights of the PWDs in the early 1990’s, while polio-survivor Grace Padaca, a former Isabela governor and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, is a staunch advocate of governance and election reforms todal.
Furthermore, the National Federation of Cooperatives of Persons with Disability (NFCPWD) has worked with the Department of Education (DepEd) in producing public school chairs”. The organization has generated P80 million in the past twelve years for workers and staff with disabilities5

Still, our country’s challenge is to be truly inclusive to serve the needs of the marginalized, particularly the PWD sector. PWDs have found it difficult to gain employment and earn income for themselves and for their families. Families with PWDs have also had to worry about their daily expenses for medicine and rehabilitation.

Hence, the PWDs Tax Exemption Act of 2015 seeks to give reprieve to the plight of our PWDs and their families and be able to support them in their daily challenges.

This measure proposes for families with PWD dependents to have a yearly uniform P25,OOO tax exemption, in addition to the regular personal deductions, in order to augment their expenses – wheelchairs, hearing aids, nurses and caregivers, and learning disability tutors, among others. In addition, the act seeks to exempt PWDs from value add taxes (VAT). Such accommodation for our PWD sector is part of our larger reform efforts in pushing for a society that is inclusive for the poor and most vulnerable sectors. It is one of our courses in our journey towards achieving a fully abled nation.

In view of the foregoing, the approval ofthis bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2744: Tarlac Agricultural University

As we move forward into the future, the challenge for all humanity is how to feed over seven billion people in the world, It is a local and global issue for the Philippines, as an agricultural country with rich and fertile land, and apt climate for farming.

It is no wonder that advancements in agriculture and farming technology have modernized the industry and resulted in new ways to increase production, maximize yield, and efficiently and sustainably utilize land and other resources.

Equipment and other tools are constantly being fine-tuned and improved while strategies in efficient farming are also being studied and developed in research facilities and universities around the world.

The country still has immense room for growth and development in the agricultural sector. There is still a long way for us to go in terms of modernizing and streamlining our agricultural sector.

Taking into account that Filipino farmers have an average age of 57 years, just 3 years shy of retirement, there is a pressing need to involve the youth in improving farming and agriculture in the Philippines.

The Tarlac Agricultural University Bill of 2015 seeks to do just that through advanced, technology-driven education, innovative training, and useful & practical research.

The proposed measure aims to transform the Tarlac College of Agriculture into a state university to cater to the region’s needs and potential for agricultural growth.

The University will seek to offer advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in the fields of agriculture, science & technology, teacher education, engineering, agribusiness management, nontraditional courses and other relevant fields of study.

It will strive to also undertake research, extension services and production activities in support of the development of the Province of Tarlac, and of Central Luzon, an agricultural region, and provide progressive leadership in its areas of specialization.

Considering the unprecedented and growing demands of the community and the labor market for more specialized and expanded services in agricultural education and other related fields, it is high time to have an agricultural university in the region.

Once converted, the institution will become a potential avenue for intensified collaborative researches as well as technology promotion and commercialization, thereby attracting more young Filipinos, and probably other Southeast Asian students as well, to take on agro-development courses to advance our food security efforts in the region. In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2746: Working Poor Protection Act of 2015

For six decades now, the Social Security System (SSS) has provided social protection to Filipinos against likelihoods and eventualities such as disability and injury, Sickness, maternity, old age, and death.

Our contributions to SSS translate to investments into our future and the future of our family. Contributions give citizens access to benefits such as disability aid, retirement relief, and life insurance. SSS also offers loans at reasonable rates that can be used for various purposes like putting a child through school or engaging in a small business.

These benefits can make a difference to fellow Filipinos living at subsistence level. As they earn below P100,ooo.oo annually, their contributions, unfortunately, are not regular.

While the poorest of the poor are covered by our social protection programs, only 6.5% of the 12 million self-employed Filipinos are paying their SSS contributions.

It is a lost opportunity for our countrymen that we consider the working poor, our farmers, fishermen, market and street vendors, tricycle drivers and the millions of who have micro businesses across the country.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
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SBN-2764: Amending R.A.No. 7227 (BCDA) Further Amended by R.A.No. 9400 (Subic Special Economic Zone)

With the country experiencing sustained economic growth, we are flooded with opportunities for development in different industries and across a number of geographical areas in the country. Subic Bay in Central Luzon is one such region with immense potential for foreign investment and overall economic development. This economic development in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) translates to job opportunities and business opportunities for our countrymen.

With this in mind, the Republic Act No. 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, was passed to assign Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) the responsibility to build a prosperous and self-sustaining Freeport in Subic Bay.

SBMA is tasked to promote both economic and social development in Subic Bay, creating a model for economic success and inclusive growth in the region and in the Philippines. We are now in a position to clarify provisions of the decade-old legislation and apply revisions based on what we have learned in the past years, improving the policy and making SBMA a more effective and impactful governing body.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Reform Bill seeks to update the powers and responsibilities of SBMA in the hope that SBFZ can reach its full potential- attracting more foreign direct investments, supporting growth of local business, providing jobs, livelihood, and a wealth of opportunities for more Filipinos in Central Luzon and in the country as well.

Grow, Subic, grow!

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought .
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SRN-620: Impact of Slow and Expensive Internet Connection

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON TRADE, COMMERCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE IMPACT OF SLOW AND EXPENSIVE INTERNET CONNECTION PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WHICH ADVERSELY AFFECTS EASE OF DOING BUSINESS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ADVANCEMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY

 

Whereas, Sections 13 and 19 of Article XII on National Economy and Patrimony of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provide that the State shall pursue a trade policy that serves the general welfare and utilizes all forms and arrangements of exchange on the basis of equality and reciprocity and shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires;

Whereas, the State recognizes the vital role of communications in nation building and it has become the objective of government to promote advancement in the field of telecommunications and the expansion of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the Philippines. Executive Order No. 59 (s 1993) required mandatory interconnection for other telecommunications firms and thereby encouraged investment in telecommunications infrastructure by service providers duly authorized by the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC);

Whereas, based on the State of the Internet report made by Massachusettsbased Akamai Technologies Inc., the Philippines had an average peak Internet connection speed of 32.6 megabits per second (Mbps) in the 4th quarter of 2013, representing a 103% quarter-on-quarter growth and a 144% rise from the same period in 2012. According to news reports, the Philippines’ average peak Internet connection speed is faster than that of China and several countries in the AsiaPacific region but its low use of broadband technology as well as high costs for Internet users compared to other countries mean slow average connection speeds for consumers. Reports showed that the Philippines had the slowest Internet connection among members of the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN);

Whereas, there is a need to ensure that all users of Internet services shall have access to it wherever they may be within the Philippines at an acceptable standard of service and at a reasonable cost. According to the “ASEAN Average Internet Speed Index 2014” report by the ASEAN DNA, the Philippines is at the bottom of the list of ASEAN countries (3.6 Mbps), way below the ASEAN average of 12.4 Mbps;

Whereas, Filipino consumers spend around One Thousand Pesos (Php 1,000.00) per month for Internet services with speed up to two (2) Mbps while some telecommunication companies offer speed up to five (5) Mbps at around Two Thousand Pesos (Php 2,000.00). Comparing the prices of Internet services among Southeast Asian countries, the cost to Filipino consumers is more expensive than Internet costs in Singapore and Thailand, which have the fastest Internet connections globally;

Whereas, in this era of advanced technology, improving Internet connection in the Philippines is crucial to the ASEAN Economic Integration (AEC) in 2015, which aims to transform the region into a single market and production base, and a highly competitive region. To maximize benefits from the AEC for the Filipino people, there is a need to promote an efficient and balanced flow of information into, out of and across the country by providing an environment for the emergence of communications structures that will benefit the vast majority of consumers in the country, which has broad economic growth spurred by increasing competition;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the impact of’ slow and expensive Internet connection provided to consumers which adversely affects ease of doing business in the Philippines and advancement of telecommunication services and facilities in all areas of the country.

 

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