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Sen. Bam: Poor Filipinos are collateral damage of TRAIN and Build-Build-Build

Senator Bam Aquino urged the government to put the welfare of poor Filipinos first, instead of letting them become collateral damage of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

”Hindi puwedeng collateral damage ang ating mga kababayan sa hangarin na magkaroon ng maraming tulay at kalsada sa bansa. Habang mahalaga ang infrastructure projects, huwag nating hayaang magdusa ang mahihirap na kababayan natin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Act.

Sen. Bam was reacting to Department of Finance’s claim that funds for free college education and salary hike of uniformed personnel will be affected if the TRAIN Act is suspended.

The senator said the government should balance statistics with the welfare of Filipino families carrying the burden of high prices of goods and services due to the TRAIN Law.

“Ang problema, kapag puro numero ang tinitingnan, nakakalimutan ang mamamayan. Pakinggan naman natin ang hinaing ng mga nasasagasaan ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, also the principal sponsor of the free college law in the Senate.

“Napakatindi na ng pag-aray ng ating mga kababayan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” he added.

Sen. Bam said the DOF’s pronouncement was baseless since the government has an unobligated appropriations amounting to P390 billion in the 2017 national budget.

“Malinaw na may pera ang pamahalaan kaya maling sabihin na hindi mapopondohan ang libreng kolehiyo. Huwag ipagkait sa mga estudyante ang libreng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam recently filed a measure seeking to suspend the TRAIN Law, particularly the excise tax on fuel, once inflation rate breaches the prescribed “target range.”

In Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

During the TRAIN’s deliberation, senators approved Sen. Bam’s amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once inflation rate breaches the “target range.”

However, the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

Sen. Bam on CJ Sereno’s removal

Talo na naman ang taumbayan.

Ano pa ang laban ng karaniwang Pilipino kung ang Chief Justice ay kayang tanggalin nang basta-basta at hindi batay sa tamang proseso?

Patuloy akong naninindigan na ang tamang proseso sa pagtanggal ng isang impeachable official ay sa pamamagitan ng impeachment court sa Senado.

Binalewala ang prosesong nakasaad sa Saligang Batas.

Natanggalan ang publiko ng karapatang malaman ang totoo at suriin ang kaso.

Tila ang may kapangyarihan na lang ang magdidikta ng hustisya. Talo na naman ang mga Pilipinong walang kalaban-laban.

Sen. Bam to govt: Care for poor families, support TRAIN suspension

Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to prioritize poor Filipinos and support the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act, particularly the excise tax on fuel. 
 
Sen. Bam made this pronouncement as he filed Senate Bill No. 1798 that seeks to amend the controversial tax reform program that will suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the prescribed “target range.” 
 
“We must protect Filipinos from the rising prices of goods and services,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the TRAIN law’s ratification. 
 
“Milyon-milyon ang mga pamilyang nababalisa tuwing tumataas ang presyo ng bilihin tulad ng bigas, sardinas, kuryente at pamasahe,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the government needs to play an active role in managing inflation and ensure that our countrymen can survive the rise in prices. 
 
“Kakaunti na lang ang nabibili ng pera ng pamilyang Pilipino dahil sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin na dulot ng TRAIN,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
In his measure, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 
 
“It is our responsibility to be flexible and responsive when the weight of inflation becomes too heavy for the poor Filipino families to bear,” said Sen. Bam. 
 
During the TRAIN’s deliberation, senators approved Sen. Bam’s amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once inflation rate breaches the “target range.” 
 
However, the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure.

Sen. Bam to hit the brakes on TRAIN Law

Senator Bam Aquino will file a measure that will restore his earlier proposal to stop the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law once the inflation rate breaches “target range.”

“Importanteng may mga safeguards ang TRAIN para mai-preno ang pagpataw buwis kapag sumobra ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Economic Affairs on TRAIN Law. 

“We pushed for these safeguards even before the TRAIN Law was passed, but they were disregarded. Siguro ngayong nakikita nilang nahihirapan na ang taumbayan, susuportahan na nila ang amyenda kong ito,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 

During the TRAIN deliberations, the Senate approved Sen. Bam’s amendment to include a safeguard where the implementation of TRAIN Law will be stopped once it breached the “target range.” 

However, Sen. Bam said the provision was not included in the bicameral conference committee and the approved version of the measure. 

“Kung hindi inalis ang safeguard na ito, napatigil na sana natin ang TRAIN Law ngayong napakataas na ng presyo ng mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam. 

Earlier, Sen. Bam warned the country’s economic managers, led by the Department of Finance (DOF), that will country’s inflation rate will surpass the four-percent mark due to the TRAIN Law. 

“Noon pa tayo nagbabala sa pamahalaan na ang mahihirap ang masasagasaan ng TRAIN, kaya tayo kumontra sa pagpasa nito. Kailangan nating banggain ang mga repormang lalong nagpapahirap sa taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Stop recycling of corrupt officials

The President is sending mixed messages again, this time on the issue of corruption. 
 
May malinaw na double standard sa patuloy na pag recycle sa mga opisyal na nasasangkot sa anomalya gaya nina Nicanor Faeldon, Jason Aquino at iba pa. 
 
Kung seryoso tayo sa pagpapatupad ng mga hangarin laban sa korapsyon, hindi na ibabalik ang mga opisyal na nasangkot sa korupsyon at kakasuhan ang mga ito.

Sen. Bam on China’s deployment of missile systems on 3 PH-claimed reefs

Ang paglalagay ng missile sa pinag-aagawang teritoryo ay siyang sukdulan ng ilang buwang pagpapabaya at pagbalewala ng pamahalaan sa isyu ng China.
 
Hindi pinahalagahan ng Malacañang ang kasarinlan ng ating bansa kaya naisantabi na rin ang kaligtasan nating mga mamamayan.
 
Muli nating hinihiling na maging bukas na ang administrasyon sa mga kasunduan nito sa China upang patunayan na hindi natin isinuko ang ating teritoryo at iba pang yaman sa pagkakaibigang ito.

Sen. Bam backs teachers, calls for waiving of tax on honoraria

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to spare from withholding tax the honoraria of teachers who will render poll duties in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.

“Nang isulong natin ang Election Service Reform Act, layunin natin ang bigyan ng karampatang pabuya ang mga volunteers sa eleksiyon, tulad ng mga teachers. Hindi intensiyon ng batas na buwisan pa ang bayad dito,” said Sen. Bam, principal author of Republic Act 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA).

“Pataas na nga ng pataas ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sa tax reform, kakaltasan pa muli ang honoraria ng mga guro. Bigyan naman natin sila na kakaunting ginhawa sa dami ng buwis,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pushed for the law’s passage in the 16th Congress to increase the election service benefits for public school teachers and make election service optional for public school teachers.

In addition, the law also increases honoraria for board of election inspector (BEI) and their support staff.

Under the law, 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, 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.

All government officials and employees serving as members of the electoral boards, DepEd supervisor/official and support staff will be given five days of service credit. 

The ESRA also increases 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.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Protect Filipinos from killer combo of rising prices and unemployment

Senator Bam Aquino called the increase in prices of goods and the rising unemployment a killer combo that needs to be addressed immediately.

“Huwag natin i-knockout ang pamilyang Pilipino sa combo na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at kawalan ng trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, one of only four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

A recent Pulse Asia survey indicated that 98 percent of respondents claimed the prices of basic goods they usually purchase have increased due to the tax reform law, and around 86 percent said they were strongly affected by the prices increases.

In addition, a latest survey by SWS showed that the number of unemployment Filipinos rose to 10.9 million, the highest since 2016.

“Hindi na biro ang epekto ng TRAIN sa mga Pilipino, kaya tayo tumutol dito. Ngayon na mas malala pa pala ang kinalabasan nito, dapat lang na pag-aralan at solusyunan ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said he will present stories of Filipinos affected by the TRAIN Act from the series of community dialogues that he conducted in different parts of the country when the Senate conducts a hearing on the tax reform program on May 9 (Wednesday).

“Mahalagang mailabas natin ang bigat na ibinibigay ng TRAIN upang ito’y marepaso at nang maibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga kababayan,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also urged Congress not to move forward with TRAIN 2, as it may exacerbate the problem of unemployment by removing incentives for certain businesses.

 Sen. Bam has filed Proposed Senate (PS) Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Act, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, mostly the poor.

Sen. Bam: Working Filipinos should be supported, not burdened further

In commemoration of Labor Day, Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to prioritize the welfare of Filipino workers and protect their livelihood through sound policies and actions.

 “Dapat isipin ng pamahalaan sa bawat desisyon at reporma ang kapakanan ng mga Pilipinong nagtatrabaho tulad ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at OFWs. Subalit sila ngayon ang binibigo ng administrasyon,” said Sen. Bam, one of four who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

Sen. Bam insisted that the recent tax reform packages proposed by the government only burden the working class with increasing prices of goods and potential loss of livelihood.

 The administration’s push to enact the second tax reform package, which will remove incentives for companies, could lead to loss of jobs for many Filipinos.

“Nagdurusa na nga ang marami nating mga kababayan sa mataas na presyo ng bilihin sa unang bugso ng tax reform ng gobyerno, ngayon naman aalisan natin sila ng ikabubuhay,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the TRAIN Act.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 704, calling for a review of the TRAIN Law, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, especially ordinary workers.

Sen. Bam also submitted Senate Resolution No. 597, urging the appropriate Senate committee to scrutinize the implementation of the unconditional cash transfer to ensure that it is sufficient to cover the increase in prices of goods and other services.

 In addition, Sen. Bam pointed out that the government’s decision to remove restriction on rice importation could be detrimental to the work of Filipino farmers, who rely heavily on their harvest for their livelihood.

“Posibleng makasama pa sa ating mga magsasaka ang ura-uradang desisyon ng deregulasyon ng rice imports. Hindi quota ang problema natin kundi ang kakayahan nga NFA na gawin ang kanilang trabaho,” said Sen. Bam.

 In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam has filed several measures that focus on the welfare of Filipino workers, includingg overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), freelancers and reservists.

Sen. Bam: Jobs of Filipinos are on the line, stop TRAIN 2

A senator warned that employment of many Filipinos will be on the line once the government pushes the enactment of the second tax reform package, which aims to remove the tax incentives being enjoyed by certain firms.

“After the increase in prices of goods and services, the government will put the jobs of many Filipinos in peril by removing incentives to some businesses,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Kaliwa’t kanang suntok ang ibibigay ng pamahalaan sa taumbayan. Tumaas na nga ang presyo ng bilihin, ngayon naman, maraming kababayan natin ang posibleng mawalan ng trabaho,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam stressed that if the tax incentives being given to PEZA-accredited firms are removed, many companies would be forced to close shop, affecting the employment of many Filipinos.

Also, Sen. Bam said investors eyeing to put up shops in economic zones will shelve their plan once the second part of the government’s tax package is enacted.

The senator called on the government to further study the impact of the second tax package to Filipinos, saying the effects of the initial package have burdened the public with high prices of goods and services.

In a latest survey by Pulse Asia, 98 percent of 1,200 respondents claimed the prices of basic goods they usually purchase have increased since January of this year due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

Around 86 percent of respondents said they were strongly affected by the increase in prices of goods, 13 percent were “somewhat affected,” and only one percent said they were not affected at all.

“The government should first consider reviewing the TRAIN Law before inflicting additional burden with the passage of the second package,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 704, calling on the appropriate Senate Committees to conduct a review of the TRAIN Law, claiming it greatly contributes to the increase in prices of goods and services that burdens Filipinos, especially the poor.

Sen. Bam also filed Senate Resolution No. 597, urging the appropriate Senate committee to scrutinize the implementation of the unconditional cash transfer to ensure that it is sufficient to cover the increase in prices of goods and other services.

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(Photo taken from GMA News)

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