Other Issues

Sen. Bam files bill to empower OFWs to start businesses in the PH

Sen. Bam Aquino filed a bill to provide incentives and benefits to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who wish to start a business in the Philippines, following the suggestion of an OFW from Batangas City during a local consultation session.

“Ito’y isang reporma na hiniling mismo ng ating mga OFW. Marami sa kanila ay nais magkaroon ng kabuhayan sa Pilipinas at makapiling ang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam in his Senate Bill No. 2101 or the “Business Incentives for OFWs Act.”

“Isa sa mga pagkukunan ng kabuhayan ng ating OFWs ay ang pagkakaroon ng matagumpay na negosyo. Bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng kabuhayan sa Pilipinas upang makasama nila ang kanilang pamilya at makitang lumaki ang kanilang mga anak,” added Sen. Bam.

If enacted into law, OFW-owned enterprises will be given benefits and incentives once they decide to invest their hard-earned money in the Philippines, including exemption from payment of income tax for five years following registration.

Other benefits for an OFW-owned business enterprise include 50-percent reduction on real property taxes and tax and duty free importation of raw materials, capital equipment, machineries and spare parts exclusively used in the operation.

Enterprises owned by OFWs will also receive preferential access to financing from government financial institutions at rates below the market rates for five years following registration.

In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam has filed several measures concerning the welfare of Filipino workers, including OFWs.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 648 or the Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipino Assistance Act to boost support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

If passed into law, the measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies to equip OFWs with knowledge to start their own business.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law and the Go Negosyo Act, which has now established almost 1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country.

He has been a fierce advocate for entrepreneurship as a means to overcome poverty and provide livelihood to Filipino families.

Sen. Bam: Improve employability, address underemployment by passing job placement bill

As way of providing livelihood for Filipinos amid the high prices of food and other goods, Sen. Bam Aquino has renewed his push for the enactment of his measure that seeks to establish job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Dubbed as Trabaho Center in Schools Act, Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1278 aims to establish a job placement office in every public high school, college and university in the country.

“Ang diploma hindi pwedeng nakasabit lang sa dingding, dapat nagiging trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law granting free college.

“Kailangan ang panukalang ito para makatulong sa pamilyang Pilipino na nalulunod sa taas presyo. Kailangan madagdagan ang budget ng pamilya na panggastos sa araw-araw,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam added that the measure, if passed into law, will help address unemployment and underemployment, which currently stands at 2.36 million and 9.8 million Filipinos, respectively.

Under the measure, a job placement office must provide industry matching, career counseling, and employment facilitation, according to Sen. Bam.

They will also address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

Sen. Bam on Sen. Honasan’s appointment as DICT Secretary

We’ll miss Sen. Honasan in the Senate. We wish him the best in his new position as DICT Secretary. 
 
We look forward to working with him to strengthen the ICT sector in the Philippines and improve access to quality and affordable internet services for more Filipinos. 
 
As chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, we hope to get Sen. Honasan’s support in enabling more internet service providers and players in the industry, the upgrading of laws for our digital age, and in ensuring the effective implementation of the free internet in public places law. 
 
Itutuloy po natin ang trabaho para bumilis at maging abot-kaya ang internet sa bansa na matagal nang dinadaing ng ating mga kababayan.

Sen. Bam joins DA in equipping farmers, fishermen with machinery and vehicles

CASIGURAN, Aurora — Sen. Bam Aquino was invited by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to join the turnover of around P40 million worth of machinery, equipment and vehicles to farmers, fishermen and women’s organizations for the improvement of their livelihood.

“Malaki ang maitutulong ng mga kagamitang ito para mapalago ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda at kababaihan dito sa Casiguran,” said Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.

As vice chairman of the Committee on Finance in the Senate, Sen Aquino included in the 2018 National Budget (General Appropriations Act) P40 million to support livelihood projects for farmers and fisher folks in Casiguran.

Sen. Bam witnessed the turnover of machinery and equipment to their respective organizations in Thursday’s mass awarding together with Mayor Ricardo Bitong, DA Regional Executive Director Roy Abaya, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Regional Director Lilian Garcia and other local officials.

Among those distributed by DA to farmers were two hand tractors with trailers and implements, two rice combine harvesters with heavy duty transport trailers, two floating tillers, two rice/paddy transplanters, four mini-four wheel tractor with heavy duty trailer, five shallow tube wells, one multi-crop thresher and one multi-purpose shredder.

Fishermen, for their part, received one commercial fishing vessel, 14 payaw and one 10-wheeler refrigerated van and two light boats, while livestock raisers and indigenous people received 80 cattles.

Organic farmers and indigenous people received 72 kilos of vermiworms, two units of vermin beds and multiplier farm with 22 goats, 22 sheep and 17 native pigs. The PIGLASCA Women’s Association and Rural Improvement Club received food processing equipment, freezer and refrigerator for food product manufacturing.

Sen. Bam hopes this will boost their livelihood amid the high prices of goods, fuel and farm inputs, such as fertilizer.

“Sa pag-iikot natin, marami tayong narinig na daing mula sa ating magsasaka’t mangingisda tungkol sa mataas na presyo ng fertilizer, na dati’y P800 lang pero ngayon P1,200 na, pati na ng krudo para sa kanilang mga makinarya at bangkang pangisda” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May to remove taxes on petroleum products amid high prices of goods.

Sen. Bam’s law for free college also eases the financial burden of Filipino families by granting free tuition and miscellaneous fees in public universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam: Pass Bawas Presyo Bill, fix TRAIN Law on top of wage increase

The P25 salary increase for National Capital Region (NCR) cannot stand alone and should be coupled with efforts to lower prices of goods, including the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, according to Sen. Bam Aquino. 
 
“Parehong dagdag kita at bawas presyo ang kailangan ng ating mga kababayan. Bigyan natin ng sapat na ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain, bigas at iba pang bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law. 
 
“Gawing prayoridad na sana ng Kongreso ang pagpasa sa Bawas Presyo Bill para maayos naman kahit kaunti ang TRAIN Law at mabawasan ang pasan ng Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who is the only senator to file a measure seeking to amend the TRAIN Law. 
 
Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to add a safeguard to the TRAIN Law that allows for the suspension in the collection of excise tax on fuel should the inflation rate surpass the country’s predicted target for three consecutive months. 
 
“Kung ipasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill at tanggalin ang excise tax sa petrolyo sa TRAIN Law, hanggang P87 kada araw ang dagdag sa kita ng ating mga jeepney driver,” said Sen. Bam, adding that this would be enough for PUV drivers to buy two kilos of rice per day for their families. 
 
Sen. Bam also said that reducing the cost of petroleum products would not only affect fare prices but would also have an indirect effect on the prices of food and other goods in the market. 
 
“Magandang regalo ngayong Pasko ang tulong sa pagbababa ng presyo ng bilihin. Kaya itutuloy ko sa Senado ang paninindigan para sa Bawas Presyo Bill upang ayusin ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who continues to stand by his no-vote on the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam still eager to help Filipino families after free college law and 30-plus laws passed

TARLAC CITY — Sen. Bam Aquino visited his hometown of Tarlac on Monday, days after filing his certificate of candidacy for a second term in the 2019 elections, to attend the flag ceremony with Tarlac City officials, led by mayor Cristy Angeles.

In his visit, Sen. Bam reiterated that he’s still eager to help his countrymen and serve the country while making his fellow Tarlaqueños proud. 

“Doon po sa Senado isa po sa pinaka-proud moments ko, kapag tinatawag po akong Senator Aquino the Gentleman from Tarlac. Ginaganahan ako magtrabaho para maging proud din po kayo sa amin at sa aming nagagawa sa Senado,” said Sen. Bam, who hails from Concepcion. 

Sen. Bam has passed over thirty laws in his first term in the Senate, including the law granting free tuition and miscellaneous fees in public universities and colleges. With the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, students from state universities and colleges in Tarlac will save anywhere from P10,000 to P15,000 every year. 

Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of the free college law and defended the measure in the Senate. He also worked to upgrade the Tarlac College of Agriculture to the Tarlac Agricultural University, so they may offer even better quality education with improved facilities as a state university. 

Sen. Bam is currently pushing to pass the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill to remove the excise tax on fuel products from the TRAIN Law. He hopes this will ease the burden of high prices, especially for jeepney and tricycle drivers. 

“Marami pa rin po akong nakikilalang Pilipino na nangangailangan ng tulong. Kaya gusto ko pang magserbisyo para sa inyo at sa ating bansa,” said Sen. Bam. 

Sen. Bam also lauded the unity and cooperation between local government units (LGUs) in Tarlac, earning it the identity as one of the model provinces in the country. 

He was scheduled to meet with municipal, barangay officials and non-government organizations from the 1stDistrict of Tarlac in a gathering organized by Cong. Charlie Cojuangco.

Beneficiaries of Sen. Bam’s reforms celebrate his filing for Senate candidacy

Over 250 supporters of Sen. Bam Aquino flocked to Intramuros to celebrate his accomplishments and express full support behind his bid for a second term in the 2019 elections.

Among those who expressed backing for Sen. Bam’s candidacy were Vincent Penaflor and Giovani Valdez, who are currently enjoying free tuition and miscellaneous fees in their respective colleges thanks to the law pushed by Sen. Bam as principal sponsor in the Senate

“Ni piso wala na ako ang babayarang tuition fee na aabot dapat sa P13,000 dahil sa batas na libreng kolehiyo ni Sen. Bam. Kaya ngayon ako naman ang tutulong sa kanya na makabalik sa Senado,” said Penaflor, a student of Batangas State University, during a short program while the senator was filing his certificate of candidacy.

“Sa halip na ipambayad ko ang P6,000 sa tuition and miscellaneous, ilalaan ko na lang iyon para sa pang-araw-araw na gastusin sa eskuwelahan at pamilya,” said Valdez, a student of Northern Luzon Philippine State College.

Amid cheers from fellow supporters, others shared their personal stories of how Sen. Bam helped change their lives through his work and over 30 of his laws.

Mary Jane Enciso, a beneficiary of Sen. Bam’s Hapinoy Program from Camarines Sur, said she received free business training in 2009 on how to start her own sari-sari store.

“Sa tulong ni Sen. Bam, dati nakatira lang ako sa paanan ng bundok. Ngayon, mayroon na akong sariling kabuhayan,” said Enciso.

Aside from supporters, Sen. Bam’s family was also in full force, led by his wife Timi and her daughters Rory and Coco. 

After the filing, Sen. Bam thanked his family, friends and supporters who joined him in the beginning of his next chapter as public servant.

Knowing that it will be an uphill climb, Sen. Bam said good fights need to be fought, no matter the risk and high costs.

Sen. Bam: January excise tax suspension is small victory against price crisis, a win for Filipinos

Panalo ang pamilyang Pilipino sa pagsuspindi ng dagdag buwis sa gasolina, diesel at iba pang produktong petrolyo sa Enero. 
 
Ituloy natin ang pagtutulungan at pagtrabaho sa mga solusyon sa krisis na ito para sa mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa matinding pagtaas ng presyo. 
 
Magandang unang hakbang ito sa ating hangaring tuluyang alisin ang buong excise tax sa petrolyo na pinataw ng TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam, pasok sa Magic 12!

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino made it to the top 12 of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in time for the filing of certificate of candidacy for the 2019 elections.

The September 15-23 SWS survey, commissioned by a certain Alde Pagulayan, deputy secretary general of Lakas-CMD, showed that Sen. Bam is tied for 10th to 12th spots with 22 percent. SWS reportedly used face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide.

 “Lubos ang pasasalamat natin sa mga patuloy na sumusuporta sa atin. Asahan niyong lubos din ang aking pagtrabaho para tulungan kayo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Laban lang! Basta sama-sama tayo’t nagtutulungan, naniniwala akong marami pa tayong magagawa sa Senado para sa kapwa nating Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has over 30 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law that provides free education to Filipinos in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and TESDA-run technical-vocational institutions.

Sen. Bam’s first law, the Go Negosyo Act, resulted in the establishment of over 900 Negosyo Centers, which cater to the needs of Filipinos who want to start or expand their own business.

 Currently, Sen. Bam is pushing for the passage of the Senate Bill No. 1798 or the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in an effort to lower prices of petroleum products, which in turn would lead to lower prices of food and other goods.

 Filed last May 10, 2018, the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill seeks to suspend the collection of excise tax on fuel once inflation rate breaches the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam pursigidong magtrabaho kahit target ng fake news

Even with the upsurge of fake quotes and disinformation against Sen. Bam Aquino, the senator remains unfazed and continues to work on reforms to uplift Filipino families. 

“Hindi naman nawawala ang fake news sa akin, at titindi pa ang pagbaha ng paninira ngayong palapit na ang halalan. Ngunit may mga mas mahalgang isyu ang mga Pilipino na kailangan pang solusyunan, tulad ng matinding pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, who filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo bill as early as May this year. 

“Gusto ko lang magtrabaho at magsulong ng mga reporma na makakatulong sa pamilyang Pilipino,” added Sen. Bam, who has already passed 27 laws in his first term as senator, including the law granting free college education to which he is principal sponsor. 

Recently, several Facebook groups have posted fake quotes and misinformation about Sen. Bam. The fake quotes were designed to deceive the public as they were placed beside logos of legitimate news organizations. These legitimate news organizations have already called out the quotes and photos as fake. 

“Baka sa 80 percent na fake news na nakikita ng mga Pilipino, malaki ang porsyento diyan tungkol sa akin,” the senator joked.

“Maging mapagbantay tayo sa pekeng balita at paglilinlang sa social media. Ang maaasahan niyo naman sa akin ay ang patuloy kong pagtrabaho sa mga reporma natin sa Senado, lalo na sa edukasyon,” Sen. Bam said. 

 Recently, a Pulse Asia survey showed that 88 percent of Filipinos are aware of the proliferation of fake news on social media.

During his stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam conducted a hearing on the responsible use of social media in schools to fight spread of fake news on social media. 

In the said hearing, Sen. Bam urged different stakeholders, led by the Department of Education (DepEd), to join forces in combating rampant trolling, hate speech and spread of misinformation online. 

 In another Senate hearing, Sen. Bam called on the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) to seriously tackle the problem of online disinformation and fake news sites.

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