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Sen. Bam: Unahin ang Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas presyo, suspindihin na ang TRAIN Law

Senator Bam Aquino asked the government to focus on the welfare of the Filipino people rather than think about revenue from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

“Hindi kayang tumbasan ng kita ng gobyerno sa TRAIN ang hirap ng taumbayan na nalulunod sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 

“Ang malala pa rito, huli na at kulang pa ang tulong ng gobyerno para sa mga mahihirap na sinasagasaan ng TRAIN Law,” added Sen. Bam, referring to the mitigating measures under the tax reform law like the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program and the Pantawid Pasada Program.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement in reaction to the government’s claim that it stands to lose P102 billion in 2019 if Sen. Bam’s measure that aims to suspend excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law is enacted into law. 

Under Sen. Bam’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be suspended and rolled back when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam also stated that the government has enough funds for its priority programs and projects as it has P390 billion in untouched budget in 2017. 

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno, aabot pa nga sa P390 bilyon ang hindi nila nagamit noong nakaraang taon. Huwag naman natin pahirapan pa ang mga pamilyang sumasaklolo sa taas-presyo,” the senator urged. 

“Suportahan sana ng administrasyon ang pag-roll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo at siguraduhing sususpindihin ang dagdag na buwis sa petrolyo sa 2019 dahil sa TRAIN,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam: We will not allow railroading, bastardization of Constitution

Senator Bam Aquino asserted that he and fellow senators will not allow the railroading and bastardization of the process to change the 1987 Constitution. 
 
“I doubt that any senator, opposition or administration, will allow a bastardization of the Constitutionally-mandated process,” Sen. Bam stressed. 
 
Sen. Bam made his pronouncement amid reports that the joint session for the State of the Nation Address might be used to convene a constituent assembly that will revise the 1987 Charter. 
 
According to Sen. Bam, the Senate agreed that it will not allow any change in the Charter to be railroaded. 
 
Instead of pushing for Charter change, Sen. Bam urged the government to focus on addressing the high prices of goods due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 
 
“Nakakahiya naman sa taumbayan na habang nalulunod sila sa taas presyo ay Cha Cha at No-El ang pinag-uusapan ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program. 
 
“Hanapan na lang natin ng solusyon ang tumitinding pagtaas ng presyo, imbis na pilitin ang Cha-Cha,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
Sen. Bam also called on the government to put premium on the welfare of Filipinos, and not on the personal interest of politicians.

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Tulungan ang manggagawang nawalan ng trabaho sa Boracay

Senator Bam Aquino urged concerned government agencies to give sufficient assistance to displaced workers in Boracay until the tourist destination resumes operation on October 26. 
 
“Ang kinikita ng mga manggagawa kada buwan ay dapat tumbasan ng ibibigay na tulong ng pamahalaan. We owe it to the displaced workers,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Tourism hearing on the Boracay island’s closure, which started in April. 
 
However, government agencies working on the Boracay rehabilitation admitted that their financial assistance programs are limited. DOLE’s emergency employment program for informal sector workers is only good for 30 days and beneficiaries cannot re-apply to the program.
 
“Kaya ba nating dagdagan ang tulong sa ating manggagawa to at least match the minimum wage? Pagdating ng Agosto, ayaw din naming marinig na wala nang natatanggap na tulong ang mga tao roon,” Sen. Bam insisted. 
 
According to different government agencies, the Boracay closure affected around 21,286 formal workers and 4,764 informal workers. However, Malay Mayor Cecito Cawaling declared that there are around 18,000 informal workers in Boracay. 
 
Sen. Bam urged concerned government agencies to ensure sufficient funds to cover all financial assistance given to formal and informal workers. 
 
The senator also slammed the government for hastily closing Boracay without any clear and concrete plan on how go by its rehabilitation and how to help displaced workers. 
 
Sen. Bam issued this pronouncement after the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) admitted that it will take more than six months, or until the end of 2019, before the drainage problem is finished. 
 
“Bakit pa natin sinara ang Boracay at pinahirapan ang 26 thousand na mga manggagawa?” Sen. Bam asked. 
 
“Ginawa ang pagsara na walang malasakit sa mga manggagawa. Ginawa ito na walang plano, at ngayon naghahabol ang mga ahensya sa man-made disaster na ito,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the hearing, Mayor Cawaling also criticized the government’s lack of clear plan on the rehabilitation of Boracay.

Sen. Bam: Food inflation up to 6.1%, suspend TRAIN now

Senator Bam Aquino warned that the continuing increase in the prices of goods will lead more Filipinos to hunger even as he renewed his call for the suspension of the government’s tax reform program.

Sen. Bam made this pronouncement as he noted that food inflation for June increased to 6.1 percent from 5.7 percent in May, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“Lalong nalulunod sa taas-presyo ang taumbayan dahil sa totoo lang, mas nagmahal talaga ang pagkain nitong nakaraang buwan ayon sa sariling datos ng gobyerno,” said Sen. Bam, who has been consulting with families and communities on pressing issues, like rising prices.

“Sabi ng mga tindera ng isda na nakausap ko, matumal ang bili sa kanila kasi wala nang pera ang mga suki. Instant noodles at sardinas na lang ang mabili,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam said government data backs up the claim of many Filipinos that prices of goods and services have increased drastically since the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 “Kung patuloy pong aakyat ang presyo ng pagkain, paano na kakain ng tatlong beses isang araw ang mahihirap nating kababayan?” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam said the government should act now and suspend the TRAIN Law so as to alleviate the plight of poor Filipinos, who are already burdened by the government’s tax reform program.

“Gutom po ang dulot nitong TRAIN sa mga mahirap nating kababayan kaya kailangan na talaga isuspinde ito agad,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of fuel and goods at the same time.

The senator has submitted a measure seeking to stop and rollback the excise tax on fuel when average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam: Drop in President’s approval signals cry for help from high prices, poverty

The 11-point drop in President Duterte’s approval rating is a cry for help from the Filipino people amid the rising prices of goods due to the government’s tax reform program, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Paalala po ito sa ating pangulo mula sa ating mga kababayan na nalulunod sa taas presyo na pakinggan ang kanilang hiling na ipreno na ang TRAIN,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

“Senyales ito na lalo nang nahihirapan sa buhay ang mga Pilipino. Bigyan natin sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after Duterte’s net approval rating dropped by 11 points from a “very good” 56 percent to a personal-low 45 percent, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Sen. Bam is hoping that President Duterte will tackle the issue of TRAIN Law and high prices of goods in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Umaasa kami na pupunan ng pansin sa SONA ang isyu ng pagtaas ng presyo. Sana suportahan ng Pangulo ang pagroll-back sa excise tax sa petrolyo,” added Sen. Bam, referring to his measure that aims to suspend and roll back the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law.

Under Sen. Bam’s measure, the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law will be suspended and rolled back once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam Aquino on VP Leni Robredo’s competence

Wala pa sa gobyerno si VP Leni napatunayan na niya ang malasakit sa mga kababayan nating mahihirap at inaapi. 
 
Sa akin po ang tunay na pamantayan ng kakayanan ng isang lider ay paghanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng taumbayan. 
 
Iyong mga pamayanang natulungan ni VP Leni ang patunay ng kanyang kakayahan.

Sen. Bam: Pahirap ang TRAIN Law, hindi perpekto

How can you call a law perfect if it burdens the poor?

This was Sen. Bam Aquino’s reaction to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s pronouncement that the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law is a perfect law.

“Paano magiging perpekto ang batas na sumasagasa sa mahihirap na Pilipino?” asked Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Konting malasakit naman po para sa mahihirap,” Sen. Bam stressed, adding that the government should not ignore the suffering of Filipinos, especially the poor, from high prices of goods.

“Huwag naman ninyong maliitin ang paghihirap ng mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Tinitiyak ko po sa inyo totoong mabigat ang pinapasan ng taumbayan dahil sa taas presyo na dulot ng TRAIN,” the senator added.

Sen. Bam renewed his call to the President to listen to the cry of Filipinos, who are already burdened by the high prices of goods due to the government’s tax reform program.

“Sana lang marinig ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng mga pamilyang pilipinong nalulunod na sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, adding that he expects the Chief Executive to address the issue during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Earlier, Sen. Bam said the government should join hands with the legislative in finding ways to solve the problem to alleviate the plight of Filipinos.

As part of his effort to alleviate the suffering of the Filipinos, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam Aquino, lone opposition standing in winning circle

Senator Bam Aquino remained as the lone opposition in the winning circle for the 2019 senatorial elections, according to the latest survey by Pulse Asia.  

In the Pulse Asia survey conducted from June 15 to 21, 2018, participated in by 1,800 respondents, Sen. Bam was among the probable winners. 

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa patuloy na suporta ng mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, “Pero kailangan pa nating patibayin ang boses ng oposisyon sa Senado.” 

“Mahalaga na mayroong handang tumutol at handang lumaban sa administrasyon tuwing may programa na sasagasa sa mahihirap na Pilipino,” Sen. Bam added, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law. 

As one of four senators who voted against its ratification, Sen. Bam has been aggressively pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax under the TRAIN Law. 

Sen. Bam believes that suspending the excise tax under the TRAIN law can help ease the burden on Filipinos who are bearing the brunt of the increase in prices of goods and services due to the government’s tax reform program. 

 “Kailangan pa ng mga pinunong handang tumutol at handang magpatupad ng mga solusyon sa mga nagpapahirap sa taumbayan, tulad ng pagtaas ng presyo,” the senator added. 

 “Kapag mayroong programang makakatulong, all-out dapat ang suporta. Ngunit kapag hindi ito nakabubuti sa pamilyang Pilipino, handa rin dapat kumontra,” Sen. Bam asserted. 

Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period. 

Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam: Tama na ang palusot sa taas-presyo, umaksyon para sa mahihirap na Pilipino

Senator Bam Aquino advised the government to squarely face the issues emanating from the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, such as high prices of goods, instead of being in a state of denial about it.

“Panahon na para tanggapin ng administrasyon na may malaki tayong problema, na nalulunod ang taumbayan sa taas presyo,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

While the government continues its inaction on the matter, Filipinos, especially the poor, continue to bear the brunt of the high prices of goods as they struggle to make ends meet.

“Sa bawat araw na nagdadaan, lumalala ang problema ng taas presyo na nagpapahirap sa pamilyang Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

“Hindi po nakakabawas ang mga palusot at paliwanag sa paghihirap ng mga kababayan natin,” he added.

Instead of evading the issue, Sen. Bam said the government should join hands with the legislative in finding ways to solve the problem to alleviate the plight of Filipinos.

“Harapin na po natin ang problema ng taas presyo, pagtulungan nating hanapan ng solusyon para gumaan ang buhay ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the ideal way is to suspend the TRAIN Law immediately.

“Gawin po natin ito para sa mga kababayan nating pinapahirapan ng tumitinding taas presyo araw-araw,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

For his part, Sen. Bam has filed a measure seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.

Sen. Bam also is pushing for the full implementation of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam: Be vigilant of Cha-cha moves, protect right to vote

Senator Bam Aquino urged the public to be vigilant about the government’s Charter change move, stressing that it could deprive people of the right to choose their next leaders.

“Nangangamba ako na dahil sa Charter change na isinusulong ng pamahalaang ito, mawawala ang kapangyarihan ng mamamayan na pumili at magdesisyon,” said Sen. Bam.

“Boto na nga lang ang natitirang boses ng ilang Pilipinong hindi napakikinggan ng gobyerno, ipagkakait pa ito sa kanila” added Sen. Bam.

 According to Sen. Bam, the Filipino people will be at the losing end if the administration insists on postponing the 2019 elections.

 “Agrabyado talaga ang sambayanan kapag hindi itutuloy ang eleksyon sa isang taon dahil mapagkakaitan ng boses sa pagpapasya ang mga kababayan natin,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

“Huwag naman po sanang tanggalan ng karapatan ang taumbayan na pumili at bumoto ng mga lider natin,” the senator added.

 Sen. Bam assured the public that the opposition will keep a close watch on the government’s effort to change the 1987 Constitution to ensure that the Filipino people’s interest will be protected.

“Kailangan po nating bantayan na interes ng taumbayan ang mamayani sa gitna ng planong Cha-Cha. Hindi natin hahayaang maagrabyado ang taumbayan sa isinusulong na ito ng gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam.

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