Speeches

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Keynote Speech during the TAYO 16 Awards Ceremony

23 January 2019

 

Maraming salamat, palakpakan po natin si Pepot Vinta.

 

Alam niyo po, every year sa TAYO, para tayong nagre-reunion na mga magkakaibigan. Ang problema lang, ang mga youth leaders parang hindi tumatanda pero kaming mga organizers lang ang tumatanda. 

 

The first time that I’ve met Pepot was TAYO3. TAYO 6 was also the first year that Coke became part of the family. San Miguel became part of the family about 6-7 years ago also. Smart has also been part of our family through the years. And of course our friends from Jollibee, Ayala, and Lenovo are also here with us. 

 

Round of applause for our sponsors! Maraming maraming salamat sa inyo. Pero ang pinakamlakas na palakpakan, ibigay natin para sa ating mga TAYO finalists. 

 

Congratulations for being here and thank you for making our country better. 

 

Thank you for giving us a healthy dose of positivity and inspiration, especially this week. Lalo na ngayon na pinag-uusapan ang pagbibilanggo ng batang Pilipinong siyam na taon lamang. Thank you for providing us an alternative story for all of us today. 

 

Kayo ang paalala at pruweba na ang kapag may tamang gabay at oportunidad ang kabataan, kayo mismo ang magsisigurado na aasenso ang Pilipinas, at aasenso ang bawat Pilipino.

 

Kaya maraming salamat sa inyo! It is an honor to be here speaking to such accomplished and passionate young men and women who have done so much for our country.

 

Yung tanong ko lang… Ano pa ba ang maibabahagi namin sa inyo?

 

Sa totoo lang, lahat naman mahahanap niyo na sa internet. Ano pa ba ang laban natin sa world wide web?

 

Kung gusto natin ng pinaka-magagaling na speech, maghahanap lang tayo sa TED Talks, naroon din ang mga paburito niyong kanta at TV shows, mga lifehacks, pati photos at IG stories ng crush niyo – lahat na ay mahahanap online at sa social media.

 

But while the internet has opened up our world to so much content and possibilities, we also know that the internet and social media has a dark side.

 

Napansin siguro natin in the past few years, habang dumadami ang mga life halks, nakakatawang kuwento, at mga inspirational stories, dumadami rin ang mga nakikita nating negatibo sa internet. 

 

Actually po, namimiss ko na yung 4 to 5 years ago. Dahil 4 to 5 years ago, ang mga trolls ko noon ay mga masasayang trolls. Hindi mga galit na troll. Ang ginagawa nila dati, pinapalitan nila ang Wikipedia Page ko ng kung anu-anong nakakaaliw na kuwento.

 

One time, sinabi nilang ako’y isang Ninja Turtle. Ginawa na rin nila akong hip-hop dancer, master-twerker, at kung anu-ano pa. And honestly, we didn’t feel that bad about it kasi it was all done in good rumor. 

 

Unfortunately these days, grabe na ang social media. Grabe at dumami na rin ang fake news at paninira. Ang pinakamasama na dito ay noong tinawag akong terorista.

 

Pero sa totoo lang, hindi lang yan nangyayari sa mga taong nasa pulitika. Alam natin na ang ating mga kabataan ngayon, marami na ring hinaharap na negativity sa kanilang buhay. Nandyan ang mga nagsasabing: 

Hindi mo kaya!

Kalokohan ‘yan!

Wala kaming pake sa ginagawa mo!

 

In fact, just the other night nung nagdinner kami, I found out that a number of our finalists focus on mental health of the youth. Dahil napaka-grabe na ang sitwasyon ng marami nating kabataan pagdating sa kanilang mental health. 

 

I was so shocked to find out that in one of our finalists pools, in one batch that they were helping students in, more than 10% had actually tried to commit suicide. 

 

Itong negativity at napakasamang mga boses na umiiral sa ating buhay at sa online world ay talagang napakasama at kailangang labanan. 

 

But, dear friends, we cannot allow these voices to win. We cannot allow these voices to get even louder!

 

Kailangan nating isigaw at patunayan na “Kaya Natin!”

Para sa atin at sa ating mga pamilya, para sa bayan “Kakayanin Natin!”

 

Holding on to this voice of hope, especially through times of adversity, is what will make all the difference in our lives.

 

Which is why I want to share with you the story of Geraldine. 

 

Nakilala ko si Geraldine noong bumisita ang aming Libreng Kolehiyo Caravan sa Iloilo.

 

Si Geraldine ay pangatlo sa labing isang anak. At mahirap ang kanilang pamilya. 

Dahil dito, mababa ang tingin sa kanila ng kanilang mga kamag-anak. Hindi na daw sila aasenso.

 

Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, noong nag-graduate si Geraldine ng High School, namasukan muna siya sa kaniyang tiyahin.

 

Sabi ng tiyahin niya na papaaralin siya sa kolehiyo kaya umasa si Geraldine. Pero imbis na paaralin, pinagtrabaho lang siya.

 

Kaya umalis si Geraldine at nakahanap ng trabaho bilang mananahi ng mga bag. Sa kita niya, nakapag-enrol siya sa kolehiyo!

 

Pero noong kapos at kinailangan niyang umutang, hindi siya pinautang ng kaniyang amo at hindi rin siya pinautang ng kaniyang mga kaklase. Kaya ang ginagawa niya ay lumalabas siya sa kanyang eskwelahan, nagpupuyat, at bumabalik sa mga factory ng bag at ginagalingan upang makaipon at makabalik sa eskwelahan. 

 

Buti na lang, hindi nagpatalo si Geraldine sa mga boses na nega at nagsasabing:

Hindi mo kaya!

Kalokohan ‘yang pangarap mong makapag-college!

At wala kaming pake sa iyong sitwasyon!

 

Ngayon, 3rd year college na siya at ginagawa na nila ang kanilang thesis! Mas may oras na siya na mag-aral dahil Libre na ang Kolehiyo sa kanyang eskwelahan sa Iloilo! Ang dating 10,000 pesos per semester na kanyang kinakayod sa mga factory ng mga bag, ngayon ay libre na.

 

Kaya nakita natin kay Geraldine na hindi siya nagpatalo. Hindi nagpatinag at tuloy-tuloy niyang inabot ang kanyang pangarap. Sa tulong ng libreng kolehiyo, I am sure na by next year, g-graduate na siya at makakamit ang kanyang pangarap. 

 

Noong naging Chairman tayo ng Committee on Education, naisipan namin ng aming oposina na gawing prayoridad ang Libreng Kolehiyo at itrabaho ang pagpasa nito sa Senado.

Kahit noon, maraming nagsasabi na hindi kaya iyan:

“30 years na yan tinatrabaho sa senado, walang makapasa-pasa ng batas na yan”

“Masyado ka pang bata para makapagpasa ng napakalaking reporma.”

 

Napakaraming mga negatibong bagay ang binato sa amin. Pero hindi kami nagpatinag. Hindi kami nagpatalo. 

Hindi ko na lang po sasabihin kung sinu-sino, pero marami ang kumontra sa repormang ito. Ang pangunahin nilang sinasabi ay kapag libre na ang edukasyon, hindi na pahahalagahan ng kabataan ang kanilang edukasyon. Na alam naman naming hindi totoo dahil sa kuwento ni Geraldine at libu-libo pang mga kabataan na naghahangad na makapagtapos sa ating bayan.

 

Every step of the legislative process had a challenge. And until the last moment – kahit noong nasa Malacanang na at nagaantay ng pirma ng pangulo, may mga balita pa rin na ive-veto ito. 

 

Buti na lang malakas ang positivity! Hindi lang ng aming opisina, pero pati na rin ng milyun-milyong naghangad na maging batas ang repormang ito. 

 

Ang lagi naming sinisigaw: ‘Tuloy ang laban! Para sa bayan!”

 

Hanggang ngayon, kahit malakas ang boses ng paninira sa batas na ito, tinatrabaho pa rin namin sa Senado ang napakahalagang reporma na ito. Kaya sama-sama naming sinasabi na “Kaya natin at kakayanin pa natin to.”

 

Dear friends, when we sift through stories of revolutionaries and change-makers, we find that there were always critics and there were always naysayers. People who will say that you can’t do it. 

 

But the inner voice of optimism can triumph and shine through!

If Bill Gates gave up after his previous business ventures failed, we may never have had “a computer in every home.” If Steve Jobs gave up whenever his ideas were shot down, we wouldn’t have “a computer in every pocket.”

 

If Mahatma Gandhi gave up those countless times he was thrown in jail, we would never have known the power of non-violence.  If Cory Aquino believed those that said a housewife could never be president, who knows if we would have freedom and democracy today.

 

They had the willpower and a strong, hopeful voices that cut through the criticism and negative chatter to drive revolutions, drive reforms, and ultimately, create change that we want to see in our world.

 

Like them, we need to strengthen our inner voice that says, “Kaya natin! Kakayanin natin!”

 

Pero sa panahon natin ngayon, hindi na sapat ‘yun. It is simply not enough. With social media and all the negativity in our society these days, sometimes that voice can easily be overwhelmed. 

What’s the challenge for us today? Especially to the TAYO finalists? 

 

Kailan nating magtulungan. Kailan nating suportahan ang isa’t isa. We need to be that voice for others as well. 

In these times, it is not enough to strengthen our inner voice. We are called to be that voice for others. We are challenged to support each other, to support those who are doing well for our country amidst all of those voices that seek to bring us down. 

 

We need to be that voice of understanding for those who have known nothing but judgment.

 

And be that voice of confidence for those that have known nothing but disappointment.

 

Be that voice of inspiration for those who are paralized by their failures.

 

We are called to speak up, for them, and not remain silent. We are called to silence the hopeless and hateful voices that weigh so heavy on the shoulders of our young countrymen!

 

As we step out of this room and back into the dim world of critics, skeptics, and defeatists, let us become the loudest voices of inspiration.

 

Let’s use our stories of hope to weave a more joyful, more passionate, more productive Philippines!

 

Maraming salamat at magandang umaga para sa inyong lahat.

Sen. Bam’s Privilege Speech on China issues

Magandang araw, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, majority floor leader! Magandang, magandang  hapon po sa inyong lahat!

To quote a very popular love song, a picture paints a thousand words.

Well, this particular picture inspired a thousand memes and thousands of comments.

Several of our countrymen raised their eyebrows and voiced their confusion and outrage.

Sabi nga ho ni Defense Sec. Lorenzana “Maybe Malacañang thinks that it is correct dahil ginawa nila yun. Do not torture our minds about giving meaning to these very trivial things.”

Well, Mr. President, marami po sa mga kababayan natin, hindi naisip na trivial iyong pagkawala ng ating bandila sa pagdating ni President Xi Jinping.

Hindi naman siguro masamang tanungin kung may violation nga ba o hindi iyong ginawang pagparada sa bandila ng China, na wala po ang ating three stars and a sun.

To be honest, Mr. President, the pivot to China opened a Pandora’s Box of questions regarding the Philippines’ dealings with a powerful and more domineering neighbor.

These, dear friends, are questions and concerns that have already been raised in the past 2 years, even before the 2-day state visit of China’s president.

Hindi rin naman sigurong masamang magtanong tungkol sa sarili nating teritoryo, sa sarili po nating karagatan na mas malawak pa sa kabuuan ng ating lupain at naglalaman ng sang-katutak na isda, langis at iba pang kayamanan – kayamanang pag-aari ng ating taumbayan.

Ngayon napanalo na ng Pilipinas ang kaso laban sa China sa International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas o ITLOS at kinlaro na sa mundo ang ating exclusive economic zone sa West Philippine Sea, anu-ano ang paraan kung paano po mapoprotektahan itong sariling atin?

Just to remind everyone, based on satellite photos obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in February 2018, China appeared to be in the final stages of constructing air and naval bases in seven reefs in the Spratlys Region, including Mischief or Panganiban and Subi or Zamora Reefs, over which the Philippines has exclusive right and jurisdiction as ruled by the UN Tribunal.

Worse, last May 2018, US Intelligence reports revealed that China had installed anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles on these reefs. Again, let me clarify Mr. President, these are missiles installed within our own country – within the Philippines’ jurisdiction.

To this incident, President Duterte was quoted in saying: “In the play of politics, now, I will set aside the arbitral ruling. I will not impose anything on China.”

However, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Peter Cayetano said: “We have to put aside our territorial and sovereign rights claims but not abandon them. The preliminary agreement is based on: let’s cooperate first, and let’s talk about who owns what, and who has jurisdiction, later on.”

Clearly, Mr. President, mayroon talagang paglilinaw na dapat gawin sa ating pakikitungo sa China.

Napakahalaga rin kwestyunin ang legalidad ng militarization ng China sa West Philippine Sea.

Uulitin ko po, mayroon Chinese air and naval bases sa loob ng ating karagatan. Mayroon pong anti-ship at surface-to-air missiles ang China sa loob ng karagatan ng Pilipinas.

Ang isa sa mga tinayuan ng Chinese military base ay ang Mischief o Panganiban Reef na 250 kilometers lang ang layo sa Palawan. Ito’y kasing layo ng Baguio sa dito ngayon sa Senado – a 4-hour drive ang layo.  In fact, kung iisipin natin, 250 kilometers mayroon nang missiles at armas dito.

I will also clarify that Article XVIII, Section 25 of our 1987 Constitution it states that – and I quote – “…foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.” – end quote.

That said, is it not prohibited under the Philippine Constitution to consent to the presence of Chinese air and naval bases, now armed with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, unless a treaty is signed with China? Hindi naman siguro masamang usisain ang legalidad ng mga military base na ito.

Ito pong isyu na ito, diretso po sa tingin po namin, ang contradiction sa ating Saligang Batas. Mahalaga po na maklaro agad kung mayroon ngang violation sa ating Constitution ang pagpayag dito sa China air bases sa ating teritoryo.

This leads us to even more painful and personal questions – mga tanong tungkol sa pang-aabuso ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino, sa pananakot sa ating media at mga reporter, at sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga Tsino imbis na mga Pilipino.

Just last November 8, China stopped a Filipino TV crew from conducting interviews in the West Philippine Sea, stating that the Filipino reporters cannot proceed without the permission of China.

Ang sabi ng isang miyembro ng Chinese Coast Guard kay Jun Veneracion ng Reporters’ Notebook: “Without the permission of China, you cannot carry out the interview here.”

Earlier this year, on May 20, a video showed two men boarding the boat of a Filipino fisherman.

Sinabi po ng ating mangingisda: “Wala po silang paalam. Halungkatin nila ‘yun, basta maghalungkat sila, Sir. Kukunin nila ‘yung gusto nila. Ilagay nila sa plastic, magaganda pa ang kunin nila.” I’m assuming that he’s talking about the fish na hinuli ng ating mangingisda.

Sabi pa ni Manong Rony, na isa ring mangingisda: “Sa tingin ko po parang sila rin ang boss dito. Sila po ang nasusunod eh. Wala po kaming magagawa kung sabihin nilang aalis kami. Wala kaming power na ipaglaban ‘yung sarili namin. Batas din nila yung nasusunod dito sa Scarborough.” (Reporter’s Notebook)

Hindi naman po masamang tanungin kung tama ba itong nangyayari sa ating media, kung tama ba ang nangyayari sa ating mangingisda, sa ating mga kababayan sa sarili po nating teritoryo.

Punta rin tayo Build-Build-Build na malaki ang koneksiyon sa China.

Ilang proyekto na ang nabigyan ng go-signal?

Ilan na po ba ang nasimulan na?

Kailan po ba matatapos ang mga ito?

Anong part ng Build-Build-Build program ang uutangin sa China?

Ano ang napagkasunduang terms at interest rate?

Kasama ba sa kontrata na mga Tsino at hindi Pilipino ang magtatrabaho sa mga proyektong ito?

Ilang trabaho ba ang nakalaan talaga sa mga kababayan nating Pilipino?

So far, Mr. President, this is what we do know:

One: In 2016, the President visited China and came home with $24 Billion of Chinese loans and investment pledges for Build Build Build. So far, only 2 bridge projects worth 62.28 million U.S. dollars, and these are grants, and one irrigation project worth 62.09 million U.S. dollars are ongoing.

Second: The government’s Pipeline of Programs and Project for Official Development Assistance as of September 28, 2018 includes 16 projects that will be funded with loans from China amounting to a total of 740.45 Billion Pesos.

Three, Mr. President: Chinese loans are not only “tied” loans or loans with conditions, but they have a higher interest rate roughly anywhere up to 3% than the “untied” loans we are getting from other countries like Japan.

Isang Pandora’s Box po talaga ang nabukas dito po sa ating pagkiling natin sa China.

At mga kaibigan, kailangan talagang maklaro sa ating mga kababayan ang mga sagot sa mga tanong na ito.

Pagdating sa paglaban sa ating teritoryo, pagdating sa paglaban para sa ating mangingisda, pagdating po sa mga proyekto na posible pong pumasok sa ating bansa at narinig na rin natin ng debt trap gaya ng Sri Lanka na kung saan iyong mga bansang nabaon sa utang ay nangangailangan na magbigay o magpaubaya ng kanilang kasarinlan.

Isa pong Pandora’s Box ng mga tanong mga kaibigan, at tingin ko po ang Senado ay may kapangyarihan at mayroong tungkulin na isara ang isyung ito , na sagutin ang mga isyung ito tungkol sa China sa pamamagitan ng paghanap at paghingi ng makatotohanang mga sagot.

The Senate does not only have the power and privilege to search for these answers; we have a duty to shed light on these issues and ensure that the government is in the favor of the Filipino people and not in favor of China in its dealings.

Mr. President, let me share a short history lesson. In September of 1991, Philippine senators made history by ending years of U.S. military presence in the Philippines, even when many believed that the presence of U.S. bases was good for livelihood and for the economy, and, therefore, in the best interest of the Filipino people.

It was a difficult decision then, Mr. President. Sen. Gordon is here, my aunt President Cory Aquino was on the side of retaining the US bases. But the Senate at that time, Mr. President, made a fateful decision.  To this day, that decision is lauded as one that upheld the independence of our country.

Ngayon po, tinatawag tayo muli ang Senado na mamuno at pumanig sa kapwa nating Pilipino. We are again called to take the lead in terms of transparency, sovereignty and national security.

Umaasa po kami na kaya po ng Senado na klaruhin ang mga tanong na ito upang mapanatag naman ang kalooban ng ating mga kababayan na sa ating teritoryo, para sa ating kabuhayan, trabaho, imprastruktura, mga kontrata at mga benepisyo – sigurado po na dapat una ang Pilipino at panalo ang Pilipino dito sa sarili nating bansa at sa anumang pakikitungo sa anumang bansa dito sa ating mundo.

Umaasa ang ating mga kababayan na dito sa Pilipinas, mauuna ang Pilipino.

Let the Senate hopefully, Mr. President, take the lead and shed light on the myriad issues on China for fellow Filipinos, for our country, and, of course, for the future of our children. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. Thank you.

Sen. Bam’s privilege speech on gas prices and suspending TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products

Good afternoon, Mr. President, dear colleagues!
 
In the past few months, I’ve been meeting many of our students, tricycle drivers, fishermen, market vendors, farmers and seniors to hear their stories and how the government’s policies have affected them over the past months.
 
Sa pag-iikot ko pong ito, mas lumalim ang aking kaalaman sa mga pinagdadaanan ng ating mga kababayan at mas nakikilala ko po ang mga kababayang nating gusto nating matulungan.
 
Tulad ni Ate Lucille na nagtitinda ng gulay sa Tanauan City. Pati raw mga suki niya, nagrereklamo na sa mahal ng bilihin. Sabi pa niya: “Minsan, hindi na nabebenta at nabubulok na lang ang paninda naming gulay.”
 
Tulad po ni Mang Boyong, isang tricycle driver sa Tondo, na pinapaalala sa atin na malaking bagay sa mga tricycle driver tulad niya ang pag-angat ng dalawang piso kada litro ng gasolina.
 
Ang sabi ni Mang Boyong: “Tumataas ang presyo ng gasolina. Sa paghahanap buhay ko hindi na kami nakakaahon sa kahirapan.”
 
Tulad ni Lola Diding na isang senior citizen sa Zamboanga City na nagsabing: “Sa tanda kong ito, umuutang pa rin ako. Pero kahit ayaw na ng katawan ko, babangon at babangon pa rin ako para tulungan ang pamilya.
 
Matinding paghihirap at matindi ring pagsisikap ang dinaranas po ng ating mga kababayan. Lahat po sila, ramdam na ramdam ang matinding pagtaas ng presyo.
 
—
 
Mr. President, dear colleagues, in the past few months, I have stood before you to echo these stories and to propose solutions to this painful price crisis so that our countrymen can find some relief from our sky-high inflation.
 
In the past, I’ve mentioned three actionable solutions:
 
First, to address the rice crisis by appointing effective leadership in the NFA and maintaining our 15-day buffer stock.
 
Second, immediately complete the roll-out of mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, including the unconditional cash transfer program and the pantawid pasada program, and ensure the financial help will cover the needs of poor Filipino families.
 
Third is to roll-back and suspend TRAIN’s excise tax on petroleum products.
 
Dear colleagues, even as we were debating the TRAIN Law last year, we were already concerned about the inflationary effects of taxing petroleum and increasing the price of fuel.
 
The next scheduled increase in the excise tax on petroleum is in January – in 3 months. Under the TRAIN Law, there will be an increase of another 2 pesos per liter for diesel and gasoline, and another 1 peso for kerosene.
 
My fellow senators were so concerned about the excise tax on fuel and its effect on the prices of goods that the principal sponsor, Sen. Angara, even agreed to include my proposed safeguards to the Department of Finance.
 
We thank Sen. Angara for graciously including these safeguards, he even called it Aquino Amendment, in the interpellations. And these were included in the final Senate version of the TRAIN Law.
 
Dalawa po ang safeguards na isinama natin at inasahan nating magsisilbing proteksyon: una – base sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo sa world market; at pangalawa – base po sa inflation.
 
Ito po specifically, ang final version ng panukala dito sa Senate version, and I quote:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when any of the following conditions have been met:
 
One, the average Dubai Crude Oil Price for the first fifteen days of the month based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) reaches or exceeds eighty dollars per barrel cost, insurance, and freight (CIF); or
 
Two, when the inflation rate exceeds the higher end of the annual inflation target range set by the DBCC or the Development Budget and Coordination Committee and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).”
 
Pinagbotohan po natin ang mga probisiyong ito. Pasado po ito sa Senado. Wala pong tumutol.
 
Ngayon, Mr. President, pagkatapos ng pagpupulong ng bicameral conference committee, nag-iba ang mga safeguard na ito. Ito naman po ang final version ng TRAIN Law:
 
“For the period covering 2018 to 2020, the scheduled increase in the excise tax on fuel as imposed in this section shall be suspended when the average Dubai crude oil price based on Mean Of Platts Singapore or MOPS for three (3) months prior to the scheduled increase of the month reaches or exceeds eighty dollars (USD 80) per barrel.”
 
Alam ho natin, matagal ko nang sinasabi, nawala ang safeguard based on inflation. 
 
—
 
At ang nawalang safeguard na ito ang pinagbasihan ng inihain naming Senate Bill Number 1798 o tinatawag nating Bawas Presyo Bill. 
 
Iyan po ang lagi nating binabanggit sa ating kapulungan at hindi pa rin po ako nawawalan ng pag-asa na ipapasa po natin ang panukalang ito sa lalong madaling panahon.
 
—
 
Pero ang naisamang safeguard sa final version ng TRAIN Law ay ang safeguard ukol sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Sa probisyong ito ng batas, ititigil po ang dagdag buwis sa petrolyo sa Enero kung umabot o lumampas ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo sa 80 dollars per barrel for three preceding months.
 
Alam ho natin na January 1 ang buwan ng pagtaas. Three preceding months begins this October. 
 
To be honest, the specific amount of 80 dollars per barrel did not come from this representation, it actually came from the Department of Finance; sila po ang nagtalaga ng presyong iyan. 
 
To be very specific again, noong panahon pong pinagbotohan natin ang TRAIN Law, ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo ay 55 dollars per barrel. Palagay ko hindi inasahan talaga na aabot sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS first breached 80 U.S. dollars per barrel last September 27, when it 80.40 U.S. dollars per barrel. 
 
Yesterday, Mr. President, world crude oil price based on MOPS was at 80.80 U.S.D. per barrel.
 
Some of the oil industry experts that we have consulted with have said that this price is likely to go higher in the next three months, and will only drop sometime next year.
 
Kung ganito po ang mangyayari, meron pong mandato ang gobyerno na itigil ang pagtaas ng excise tax sa petrolyo ngayong 2019.
 
Klaro po iyan sa ating batas! Nasa final version po iyan ng TRAIN Law.
 
Ngunit mga kaibigan, ang hindi po klaro ay ang proseso at pamamaraan ng pagsuspinde nito.
 
Mr. President, pagdating sa Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), hindi napaghandaan ang proseso ng suspensyong ito.
 
Kung makikita po ang buong probisyon, makikita nating mayroong dalawang provided. 
 
Provided, That the Department of Finance shall perform an annual review of the implementation of the excise tax on fuel and shall, based on projections provided and recommendations of the Development Budget Coordination Committee, as reconciled from the conditions as provided above, recommend the implementation or suspension of the excise tax on fuel: Provided, further, That the recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Meron po tinutukoy na annual review ng Department of Finance at ng DBCC. 
 
Ang tanong, kalian po gagawin ang review na ito? Ano ang batayan ng grupong ito sa kanilang posibleng pagsuspinde sa parating na dagdag na excise tax sa ating mga petroleum products. 
 
Kung ako ang tatanungin, mas gugustuhin ko na automatic dapat ang suspension ng dagdag na excise tax on fuel. Ibig sabihin niyan, pag umabot ng tatlong buwan at lampas sa 80 dollars per barrel ang presyo ng krudo, dapat po automatic suspension na iyan.
 
Ngunit iyong final version ng TRAIN, mayroong nakalagay na dalawang provided. Provided that there is an annual review, provided that this recommendation shall be given on a yearly basis.
 
Iyong tanong natin, na sana matulungan tayo ng Senado upang iklaro ito, para sa atin dito sa mga mambabatas, at para sa publiko. Kailan gagawin ang annual review na ito, ano ang basehan ng kanilang recommendation. Ito ba’y simpleng nag-breach na sa 80 dollars per barrel for three months. Alam ko po, nababasa ko sa pahayagan, marami na sa atin dito ang nagsabing kapag umabot na sa 80 dollars per barrel, kapag nag-average out na ng tatlong buwan ang 80 dollars per barrel ng crude oil, kailangan isuspinde ang pagtaas ng buwis ngayong January 1.
 
Ang hinihiling natin, konting kasiguraduhan, konting kalinawan, pagiging clear kung ano ang patakaran dito sa suspension na nakalagay sa TRAIN Law.
 
Para sa mga mambabatas, para sa akin, na siya pong nagmungkahi sa mga safeguard na ito, dapat automatic ang pagsuspinde ng pagtaas ng buwis kung lumampas na sa 80 dollars per barrel ang average price for three months ng krudo sa mundo.
 
Ang mahirap po ay kung umabot tayo ditto sa nakasaad na batayan sa batas pero dahil walang review o dahil walang recommendation ng administrasyon, hindi itutuloy ang pagsuspinde nitong pagtaas ng excise tax na alam naman nating nagpapabigat sa kalagayan ng napakarami nating mga kababayan.
 
The Senate must call on the DOF to issue clear and actionable guidelines, timelines, rules and regulations on how the suspension can possibly work.
 
Alam po natin na ang basehan dito, October, November, December na mga buwan ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo. Alam din natin na mayroong annual review, alam nating January 1 ang araw ng pagtaas ng excise tax. Ibig sabihin iyan, in these next three months, habang binabantayan natin ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan po matuloy ang annual review, kailangan maging malinaw iyong rekomendasyon ng DOF at ng DBCC dito po sa January 1 increase.
 
Hindi pa po natin pinag-uusapan kung itong increase na ito, ay kung ma-delay man o ma-suspend, ay babalik ba o hindi.
 
There’s very, very short time here Mr. President. Napakaikli po ng panahon natin dito. Tatlong buwan na lang po, habang binabantayan ang presyo ng krudo sa mundo, kailangan na nating malaman paano ba gagawin ang annual review na ito at kung ano ba ang maging batayan ng kanilang recommendation for suspension or not.
 
Mr. President, it is incumbent upon this body to find out how and when this excise tax may be suspended.
 
There are many questions, dear colleagues, that we need to find clear answers to. We want answers to be clear and on the record.
 
What we can provide through a proper Senate hearing is clarity. But to be frank, Mr. President, what the Filipino people need is hope.
—
 
Mr. President, marami sa mga kababayan nating nagsasabi po paano na bukas? 
 
Iyan ang tanong ng marami nating kababayan. Dahil araw-araw na po naghihirap ang mga Pilipino dahil sa pagtaas ng presyo ng pamasahe, bigas, pagkain, kuryente, at iba pang mga bilihin.
 
Ang tanong po: sa panaginip lang ba natin mabibigyan ng solusyon ang mga problemang ito?
 
Hanggang panaginip lang po ba ang ginhawang inaasam ng mga pamilyang Pilipino? At pagkagising naman, makikita nila na 60 pesos per liter na ang gasolina.
 
Hindi naman po sana. Bigyan po natin sila ng pag-asa.
 
Noon naman, kung ating pong maaalala, panaginip lang din po ang gawing libre ang edukasyon sa kolehiyo.
 
Ngunit noong tayo’y naging pursigido at noong tayo’y nagtulungan sa Senado, sa Kongreso, sa buong gobyerno, naisabatas po natin at naipatupad ang R.A. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
I will always consider it a great honor to have worked on this law for free college education as its principal sponsor here in the Senate.
 
But more than an accomplishment, that victory taught me what possibilities are possible when we decide to work together and get things done for our people.
 
Ang pagpasa po natin sa batas para sa libreng kolehiyo, patunay na kapag nagtutulungan ang mga Pilipino, kapag tayo inuuna ang pagtutulungan at pagkakaisa at hindi pulitika, nananalo po ang sambayanang Pilipino.
 
Ngayon po, ang hamon sa atin, ito pong suspension ng pagtaas ng buwis ngayong Enero. Pagtulungan po natin ang suspension ng buwis sa petrolyo. Kung hindi man po ipapasa ang Bawas Presyo Bill o isang safeguard dahil sa inflation, siguraduhin naman natin na iyong nasa batas na ay maayos po ang pagpapatupad. At iyon po ang safeguards na mahahanap natin base sa presyo ng krudo sa mundo na nandoon naman sa TRAIN Law ngayon.
 
Let’s make sure that this safeguard is properly implemented, that this safeguard is properly appreciated.  And I hope the Senate, maybe a hearing or maybe the budget process, can clarify paano ba i-implement itong safeguard na ito at paano po ba ito puwedeng magawa para sa ating mga kababayan.
 
Maraming salamat Mr. President, thank you very much to our colleagues.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech on Martial Law and the Price Crisis

 

Maraming salamat, Mr. President, Mr. majority floor leader. Mga kaibigan, mga kababayan.

Yesterday, there was talk about the opposition’s alleged plans to overthrow the government. But today, I would like to share with you our true and real plans.

As history would have it, forty-six years ago, a devious plot against our democracy was uncovered by a young senator by the name of Ninoy Aquino. He was 39 years old back then. On September 13, 1972, former Senator Ninoy Aquino stood before his colleagues and addressed the nation through a privilege speech on one Oplan Sagittarius.

He said, and I quote:

“In astronomy, Sagittarius is the 9th sign of the zodiac – denoted by the symbol of the arrow or dart.

The ancient Greeks represented this constellation as a centaur in the act of shooting an arrow…

I wonder if this plan is intended to shoot down our cherish[ed] civil liberties with the arrow or dart of a Marcos military rule.

Or could this be an arrowhead of the spearhead of a more devilish plot to transform our Republic into a garrison state?”

In his speech, former senator Ninoy Aquino went on to outline military and police resources and where they would be deployed to effectively blanket our beloved country in intimidation.

He also warned that the Marcos Administration would use the recent bombings – bombings which he alleged to be orchestrated by the government itself – as reason to declare martial law.

Martial law, they will say, is the solution to the country’s problems. They will say, it is the answer to this nation in crisis.

Ninoy Aquino stood courageous before the Senate and asserted, and I quote:

“I do not know what is going on in the mind of the President. I will never attempt to [divine] what his thinking is.

But let me say that at the height of the Huk depredations in 1950, when the armed partisans numbered more than 15,000, when the Huks were actually maneuvering in squadron and battalion strength, tying up the entire military command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines… never was martial law declared in our country.

I do not recall when martial law was ever declared since the birth of this Republic. If the President is thinking of clamping down martial law… I dare say that there must be another more devious plot.

Therefore, I should conclude that Operation Sagittarius is properly named because as the arrow and the dart, it may spearhead what we may actually find as the end of the Republic.” End quote.

Ten days after these words were spoken, former president, dictator and plunderer Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law and our beloved country came to know the consequences of absolute power and absolute impunity.

For the veneer of safer streets and the appearance of a disciplined society, the Filipino people paid in pain and in blood. And of course, as we know, Sen. Ninoy Aquino was prisoner No. 1.

In the nine (9) years under Martial Law rule: there were three thousand, two hundred and forty (3,240) victims of salvage or extra-judicial killings; thirty-four thousand (34,000) Filipinos were tortured; seventy thousand (70,000) were detained for being so-called ‘Enemies of the State’; and seventy-five thousand, seven hundred and thirty (75,730) cases of human rights violations were filed.

For the roads, bridges and buildings touted by Marcos apologists, the Filipino people incurred a debt of three hundred ninety-five billion, five hundred and nine million pesos (P395,509,000,000). Today, this is equivalent to three trillion, three hundred sixty-two billion, five hundred seventy-two million, three hundred eighty-four thousand, and six hundred pesos (P3,362,572,384,600).

Hanggang ngayon, binabayaran pa rin natin ang utang ng Marcos Regime, habang pumipila ang mga Pilipino para sa bigas na may bukbok at nalulunod po sa gastos ang napakaraming mahihirap na pamilya.

For their service to the Filipino people, the Marcos family was paid in personalized gold bars, jewelry, property around the world, invaluable art, an infamous collection of shoes and a lifetime of luxury. Ang martial law na sinabing magiging sagot sa sugat ng lipunan, pantakip lang pala sa kanilang kasakiman.

Mga kababayan, hindi sagot ang martial law noon, at lalong hindi siya sagot ngayon. Malubha pa rin ang sakit ng taumbayan, at lalong tumitindi ang kahirapan.

Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang mga lugar ngayong taong ito. Umiikot ako sa iba’t ibang [kumustahang] bayan. Ang kinokonsulta namin, mga magsasaka, mga mangingisda, mga urban poor, mga market vendors, mga jeepney at tricycle drivers. Ano po iyong sinasabi nila?

“Sen. Bam, nalulunod na kami sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin.”

“Hindi na kami makahinga sa laki ng gastos ng aming pamilya.”

“Kahit anong kayod, hindi na kami maka-ahon.”

Mga kababayan, may krisis muli ang ating lipunan – ito po ang kataasan ng presyo ng bigas at kataasan ng presyo ng bilihin. Mga kaibigan, nababalot muli sa takot ang mamamayan – may isang senador na ang kinulong at isa naman pong pinapatihimik. Mayroon na pong pinapatay na mga pari, , mga mayor at vice mayor, at pati mga kabataang Pilipino. Gayun pa man, hindi pa rin martial law ang sagot dito, at mas lalong hindi ang isang diktadura.

Kawalan ng epektibong plano, kawalan ng political will, at kawalan ng puso ng mga lingkod bayan at puso para sa mahihirap ang mga sanhi ng krisis natin ngayon. At solusyon, aksyon, at malasakit mula sa gobyerno ang lunas na hinahanap ng taumbayan.

Last May 23 of this year, I gave a privilege speech outlining solutions to the rising prices. Many of us were here. It would like to note that back then, inflation back in April was at 4.5% – already beyond the 2-4% target range set by the government. Last August, alarmingly, inflation hit 6.4%. We have not seen inflation this high in almost 10 years.

In that privilege speech last May, I mentioned 3 things government can do to provide Filipino families with some relief from soaring prices:

First, the government should ensure that the unconditional cash transfer program under the TRAIN Law is fully implemented. Doon po lahat tayo nagkakaisa.

Sumasaklolo na ang ating mga kababayan – ang mga jeepney at tricycle drivers, mga magsasaka’t mangingisda, mga tindera sa palengke – hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino at hindi pa rin naibibigay ng lubos ang pinangakong tulong mula sa gobyerno.

To this day, there are gaps in the implementation of the cash transfer program and other social mitigating measures under TRAIN, such as the pantawid pasada program, na ngayon pa lang ni-ro-rollout in September of 2018, and of course nowhere to be found is the 10% discount on NFA rice.

My second suggestion back then was to address the rice issue by solving the management problem by the NFA. I think many of us here have called for the resignation of NFA administrator Jason Aquino.

Noong nag-speech ako ng Mayo, naaalarma na ang tao sa presyong 42 pesos per kilo para sa bigas. Ngayon, sa sobrang lala ng krisis, umabot po three weeks ago ng 70 pesos per kilo ang bigas sa Zamboanga at pinipilit po na pakainin ang mahihirap nating kababayan ang bigas na may bukbok. Thankfully, in Zamboanga, prices have stabilized, it’s still around P50 plus, mataas pa rin po kumpara sa presyo ng bigas last year.

Sa laki ng kasalanan ng NFA Administrator sa taumbayan, sana naman po makahanap tayo ng mahusay na pinuno dito.

My third suggestion back in May was to suspend and roll-back the excise tax on fuel from the TRAIN Law by passing Senate Bill Number 1798 or the Bawas Presyo Bill. I will admit, dear countrymen, that speech was actually a glimpse into the opposition’s playbook.

In the past few days, there has been talk about the opposition planning, colluding, talking about things that they want to do. Ngunit hindi po pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno ang pinaplano namin. Ang pinaplano namin ang pag-angat ng mga kababayan nating nasa laylayan ng lipunan.

Ang tunay na plano ng oposisyon ay magsama-sama, gawin ang lahat ng aming kayang gawin, ibigay ang lahat na kaya naming ibigay para hindi na po malunod sa gastos at hindi mamatay sa hirap at gutom ang ating mga kababayan. Ang plano ng oposisyon, magkaisa. Hindi lang po oposisyon, pati administrasyon, magkaisa at magtrabaho para solusyunan ang krisis sa taas ng presyo ng bigas at taas-presyo ng bilihin bago pumatak ang Enero.

Mula sa privilege speech ko noong Mayo hanggang sa press conference na kasama si Vice President Robredo noong Lunes, inilahad namin ang Oplan Ginhawa na inasahan naming magiging lunas sa hirap na hinaharap ng ating mga kababayan. Tatlong solusyon, tatlong aksyon po:

Una, na mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon at benepisyo ang ating kababayang nangangailangan. Pagbutihin ang pagpapatupad ng mga cash transfer program at iba pang social protection initiatives.

We challenge the administration to quickly facilitate the release of all these cash transfers at the soonest possible to all of the 10 million Filipino families. And we propose, at the proper time here in the Senate, to increase the 200 pesos to 400 pesos, given the alarming spike in inflation. The government must push for the complete and effective implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program, the 10% discount on rice for the poorest Filipino families and the rest of the social mitigating measures in the TRAIN Law. We also propose to include tricycle drivers in the Pantawid Pasada program. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit nawala ang tricycle drivers noong ginagawa ang batas sa Pantawid Pasada Program.

Nasa kamay po ng administration and pagpapatupad ng mga programang ito. Tutukan sana ng gabinete ng Presidente para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang pamilyang Pilipino.

Pangalawa, at ito’y mukhang nangyayari na. Palitan ang liderato ng NFA at resolbahin ang isyu ng murang bigas sa ating bansa. Immediately, the NFA should bring back and maintain the mandated 15-day buffer stock. Ito po, order No. 1 para maibaba ang presyo ng bigas sa merkado. Naniniwala kaming kaya itong tuparin ng NFA sa loob ng isang buwan, basta’t mayroon silang matino at mahusay na NFA Administrator. With a 15-day buffer stock, NFA can make rice available and affordable for Filipinos and hopefully, this rice crisis will be over before the Christmas holidays.

Nasa NFA at administrasyon ang sandata para talunin na ang krisis sa bigas. Kailangan lang nilang gawin ang trabaho nila.

Pangatlo, itigil na sana ang excise tax sa petrolyo. Huwag po tayo papayag na magdadagdag na naman ng dalawang piso sa diesel at gasoline ngayong Enero. Ipasa po natin ang Bawas Presyo Bill. Suspindihin po natin ang mga probisyon ng TRAIN Law na nagpapataas ng presyo ng diesel at gasolina.

Marami naman pong pumunta na dito, kahit miyembro ng Gabinete, aminado na ang pagtaas ng diesel at gasolina ang mga nagpapataas sa presyo ng bilihin. Ngayon na napakataas ng presyo ng krudo sa mundo, di na ata tama na dito pa tayo huhugot ng pera para sa gobyerno. Basta’t pagtulungan ng Kongreso – at certified urgent ng taumbayan at sana po ng Pangulo – kaya natin gawing batas ito bago mag-Pasko.

We need to bring down prices and provide relief to poor Filipino families. We urge the President to take the lead on this matter, the opposition is ready, members of the administration are also ready. Kailangan lang natin itong itulak.

Iyong NFA, magandang pangitain na umalis na si NFA administrator Jason Aquino. Sana ang ipalit, isang tao na kayang gawin ang mandato ng NFA. Sana po wala nang pumipila para sa bigas sa mga palengke at hindi po nirarasyon ang NFA rice. Iyan po, isang kaagad-agad na puwede nating gawin. Maybe within a month or two, we can do this already para ang Christmas naman po, hindi ganito kalala ang sitwasyon ng bigas sa ating bansa.

Iyong presyo, alam naman natin na iyong presyo ng krudo sa mundo ang nagtutulak ng presyo pataas. Huwag na nating dagdagan pa gamit ang excise tax mula sa TRAIN Law. Ito pong second round ngayong Enero, kung itutuloy natin iyan, saan pupulutin ang inflation rate natin sa Enero.

Kailangan na nating gawin ang makakaya natin para maibaba ang inflation, maibaba ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin, hindi iyong dinadagdagan pa natin.

Ito pong tatlong solusyong ito, kayang gawin. This can be done before Christmas. Ang kailangan natin, pagkaisahan. And what we’re asking here is that all of us work together, the executive, the legislative, and even if some economic managers don’t want to see some of these provisions. Puwede nating gawing ito.

I remember that when we passed the Free Tuition Act, initially the economic managers were against it. The Senate and Congress and the President took a stand. Sinabi nating itutulak natin ang libreng tuition para sa kapakanan ng ating kabataan at pamilyang Pilipino.

Again, we’re called to be independent. Hinihiling sa atin na gawin ang ating makakaya para masolusyunan ang problemang ito – at kaya natin itong gawin bago mag-Pasko.

Ang kasaysayan ang unang magpapakita na hindi martial law, hindi propaganda ang sagot sa sakit ng bayan. Ang sagot ay nasa pagkakaisa, pagkayod, pagtrabaho at pag-aksyon ng gobyerno, pag-aksiyon ng lahat ng may pakialam at may malasakit sa bayan.

 Tama na, sobra na ang pahirap sa taumbayan. Pagtulungan po natin ang Oplan Ginhawa. Pagtulungan natin ang mga puwedeng gawing solusyon na ito.

Solusyunan, aksyunan natin ang mga totoong pangangailangan ng ating kapwa Pilipino.

Maraming salamat Mr. President. Maraming salamat, Majority Floor Leader. Thank you very much.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Sponsorship Speech for Philippine Space Agency

Magandang hapon, Mr. President, majority floor leader at mga kasama sa Senado.

I address you today to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1983 under Committee Report No. 434 entitled An Act Establishing The Philippine Space Development And Utilization Policy And Creating The Philippine Space Agency, And For Other Purposes, otherwise known as the Philippine Space Agency Act.

Have you ever looked out of the window of an airplane during take off?

Habang pataas ng pataas ang eroplano, paliit ng paliit ang mga building, mga bahay, at mga tao.

Habang palayo po kayo ng palayo sa lupa, para bang naiiwan mo na din ang problema ng bayan.

I was reminded of that feeling while reading responses to one of our online polls that asked if our country should invest in a Philippine Space Agency.

Madami po ang nagsabi na kailangan po muna natin ayusin ang ating mga problema sa lupa, bago tayo tumingin sa outer space.

Naiintindihan po natin sila. Marami nga tayong problema na kailangan ayusin ngayon.

Tuwing may bagyo, may matinding pagbaha. Araw-araw, walang katapusan ang trapik. Pataas ng pataas ang presyo ng bilihin at parang hindi po natin matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bansa… Bakit tayo gagawa ng isang Space Agency?

Pero natuwa ako sa sagot ng isang Mikael Francisco. Sinagot po niya ito sa ating social media platform. Sabi po niya, “Malaki ang maitutulong ng Space Program sa agrikultura, sa pag-ayos ng traffic, pagpo-forecast ng bagyo, at marami pang iba.”

Doon po sa kanyang sagot, nag-link pa siya sa isang article sa GMA Network na may pamagat: “Why the Philippines Needs a Space Agency”.

Natuwa po akong makakita ng Pilipinong nangangarap ng malaki para sa ating bayan. Natuwa ako na hindi pa nawawalan ng pag-asa ang iilan nating kababayan sa paghahanap ng solusyon sa mga problema ng ating bansa.

Hindi man masosolusyunan ng isang Space Agency ang lahat ng isyu ng Pilipinas, malaki pa rin po ang maiaambag nito sa buhay ng mga Pilipino.

For one, satellites can help improve disaster management – from providing accurate information that allow early warnings and predicting of disasters to reliable and quick communication during relief and recovery operations.

Para sa bansang lagi na lang natatamaan ng mga bagyo at pagbaha, malaking tulong po ang Philippine Space Agency para siguraduhing ligtas ang bawat pamilyang Pilipino.

Space technology also enhances production and profitability of agribusinesses thanks to soil and weather monitoring and assessment.

Ang nakukuha pong data ng isang Space Agency ay makatutulong sa mga magsasaka na planuhin ang timing ng kanilang pagsaka at irigasyon nito para dumami ang kanilang ani.

Para naman sa mga nagmamahal sa kalikasan, gaya nina Sen. Legarda at Villar, makakatulong din po ang Space Agency sa environmental conservation.

It can even improve urban planning, transportation and communication networks para mabigyan ng ginhawa ang mga Pilipinong nawawalan na ng pasensya dahil sa trapik at sa bagal ng internet.

Malayo man ang outer space sa Pilipinas, kung nasa puso naman ng Philippine Space Agency ang pagserbisyo sa ating mga kababayan at pagsuporta sa pag-unlad ng bayan, hinding hindi po ito masasayang.

Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, launching a Philippine Space Agency will give us a new perspective and valuable insights that can help solve some of our country’s biggest problems.

A solid space program can improve disaster management, enhance the lives of Filipino farmers, speed up our internet and telecommunications systems, and help us build more livable cities.

So let’s continue to dream big for our country! And let’s never tire of finding better solutions for our countrymen.

Mga kaibigan, ipasa po natin ang Philippine Space Agency Act!

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Privilege Speech On rising prices and the suspension of TRAIN

Mr. President, mga kaibigan, karangalan ko po ngayon na pagusapan ang isang bagay na nakakabagabag sa maraming pamilyang Pilipino –  ang patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

Nalulunod na po ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin.

Noong kami ay bumisita sa mahihirap na komunidad at kinausap ang ating mga kababayan tungkol sa kanilang mga hinaing, ang una po nilang lagging binabanggit ay ang presyo.

Ito ang ilan sa sinasabi nila:

Grabe na nga ang hirap at gutom dati, mas grabe pa ngayon. Saan na po kami pupulutin?

Mababa ang kita. Mataas ang presyo. Matindi ang aming pangamba.

Dalawang beses na lang po kami kumakain araw-araw.

Iyong mga may kaya, kakayanin ang pagtaas ng presyo. Pero kaming mahihirap, hindi po naming ito kaya.

Nahihirapan na po ang ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mga nasa laylayan.

Kahapon lang po, tumaas na naman ang presyo ng petrolyo.

In the past months, makikita ho natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng gasoline, diesel at kerosene.

Sa Robinson’s Supermarket, ang Ligo Sardines na 14 pesos noong Disyembre, 16 pesos at 25 centavos na ngayon.

Ang mga nanay na nakausap ko sa Bagong Silang, hindi na po nakapagta-Tang!… kundi napapamura na lang sa presyo ng Tang. Dati ay 9.10 pesos per sachet, pero ngayong Mayo ay malapit na po sa 17 pesos sa grocery.

Tumataas din ang presyo ng kuryente, ang presyo ng bigas, at humihingi na ng fare hike ang mga jeepney drivers at operators, pati na ang LRT.

Kaya naman po napakarami na ang umaalma.

Currently, inflation is on the rise and has surpassed the expected levels for 2018. Ngayon po ay 4.5% na tayo at ang yearly forecast ng BSP ginawa na pong 4.6% para sa buong taon.

Mr. President, marami ang nagsasabi na hindi lang naman TRAIN ang rason sa pagtaas na presyo, at tama po iyon.

Ngunit alin po ba sa mga rason ng pagtaas ng presyo ang kaya natin bigyan ng solusyon at alin po diyan ang hindi natin masosolusyunan?

Sa hearing ni Sen. Gatchalian dito sa Senado noong nakaraang mga linggo, binigay ng Department of Finance (DOF) ang breakdown of factors of inflation.

Sabi po nila, better tobacco compliance, global prices of crude oil, the devaluation of the peso, meron pong unwarranted increase of prices, and, syempre po binanggit din nila ang TRAIN Law.

Alin sa mga ito ang wala na sa ating kamay, at alin po dito ang mahahanapan natin ng solusyon?

Habang patuloy ang debate sa mga rason ng pagtaas ng presyo, ang hinahanap ng taumbayan solusyon, hindi po dahilan. Hindi po debate, solusyon po para sa ating mga problema.

Kaya mga kaibigan, kailangan natin itong aksyunan.

Una, siguraduhin nating ipinapatupad ang unconditional cash transfer program na nakasaad sa TRAIN Law.

Because of TRAIN’s effect on prices, the law mandated that 10 million Filipino households would receive financial assistance worth 200 pesos per month.

Tumaas na po ang presyo ng bilihin ngunit 2.6 million families pa lang ang nakakatanggap ng financial assistance. 2.6 million out of 10 million pa lang ang nabibigyan ng tulong at ngayon po ay Mayo na.

Noon pa man, hindi po mapangako ng DSWD na masasabay ang tulong pinansyal sa pagpataw ng excise taxes at ito ang naging pangunahing rason kung bakit ako tumutol ng TRAIN Law.

Now, with the rapid increase in prices, Sen. Gatchalian suggested to increase the amount of cash transfers – and I definitely agree and I think many of us will do so as well.

This is something we must seriously look at during our budget deliberations.

Ano po ang isang bagay na puwede nating maaksiyunan. The second thing government can do to help Filipino families is to address the high price of rice.

Dahil po sa kapalpakan ng NFA na mapanatili ang 15-day buffer stock, mula 27 pesos per kilo ng bigas noon, ngayon ay higit 42 pesos na.

Noong bumisita ako sa Barangay Holy Spirit sa Quezon City, may nagsabi na isang beses na lang sila nagkakain bawat araw, at kamote na lang ang sinasabay nila sa ulam tuwing gabi.

Thanks to Sen. Villar, we tackled this in the Senate, thanks to Sen. Villar. And we are hopeful that action points coming from the Committee on Agriculture to get the price of rice under control will be prioritized.

Ito pong rice tariffication na shunestiyon ng Committee on Agriculture, kailangan na pong mabigyan ng pansin because this is a reform that our countrymen desperately need.

Pangatlo, ano po ang isa pang puwede nating solusyon sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin? Kailangan natin ng mekanismo kung saan puwede nating i-roll-back ang pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo dahil sa excise taxes na pinapataw ng TRAIN Law.

The current version has a safeguard to suspend any additional imposition of excise tax, if the price of crude oil breaches 80 dollars per barrel.

Ang mekanismo pong ito ay mahahanap natin sa TRAIN Law ngayon. Ngunit mga kaibigan, ang crude oil ay may iba’t ibang klaseng depinisyon. Nandiyan ang BRENT crude oil na lumampas na po sa 80 dollars per barrel kahapon at nagsara po sa 79.11 dollars. BRENT is usually higher than the Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS), which is what the TRAIN Law based their provisions on.

In short, mga kaibigan, doon sa tatlong depinisyon ng crude oil, iyong BRENT, iyong WTI at MOPS, iyong isa po lumampas na kagabi ng 80 dollars per barrel, iyong dalawa hindi pa lumalampas.

Ngunit kung matutupad po ang suspension ng TRAIN based on the current provision currently found in the law, ang suspension po na mangyayari ay magkakaepekto lang sa Enero ng 2019.

In short, with the current wording of the law, any suspension based on the current law will only affect the January 2019 and possibly the January 2020 price increase.

What we need is a safeguard, Mr. President, which is responsive to the surges in prices and the needs of our countrymen.

In the Senate, in our Senate version, we actually passed a safeguard to suspend excise tax on fuel based on inflation. Ito po iyong probisyon na pinagbotohan nating lahat. However, this provision was removed during TRAIN’s bicameral conference.

In short, Mr. President, iyong lumabas sa Senado na version ng TRAIN,  kasama po ang inflation rate bilang isa sa batayan kung bakit po dapat isuspinde ang excise taxes na napapasaloob sa TRAIN Law.

Unfortunately, nawala po ito pagkatapos ng bicameral conference at natira na lang ang probisyon na tumutukoy sa Dubai crude oil price.

Our office filed SBN 1798 to bring back this safeguard mechanism based on the inflation target range, so we can roll back TRAIN’s excise tax on fuel.

Under this bill, when inflation exceeds the target range for 3 consecutive months, the excise tax on fuel will be rolled back.

For example, kung titingnan natin iyong taon ngayon, the BSP set the target inflation range 2-4%.

In December, the month that we passed TRAIN, inflation was at 2.9. In January, after the TRAIN law was implemented, inflation shot up to 3.4 percent. On February, 3.8 percent, kasama pa rin po iyan sa target range ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,

In March, we breached the 4-percent range, it grew to 4.3 percent. In April nagging 4.5 percent. Pangalawang buwan na po ito na lumampas sa inflation target range ang inflation ng ating bansa.

Pagkatapos na mangyari ito, ang BSP nag-recompute at nagsabi na ang bagong forecast nila para sa taong 2018 ay 4.6 percent. At alam naman natin na ang inflation ay ang tumutukoy sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin sa ating bansa.

Dahil napagbotohan na natin ang isang probisyon kung saan ginagamit ang inflation rate range bilang isang safeguard mechanism ditto sa pagpataw ng escise taxes sa ating bansa, umaasa ako na mabilis nating maipapasa sa ating Kamara.

This is a very reasonable amendment that can help alleviate the burden of high prices on our fellow countrymen.

Mr. President, mayroong pong mga nagsasabi na kung suspindihin ang excise taxes, wala nang pera para sa Build-Build-Build, wala na raw pera para sa libreng tuition sa ating mga SUCs. Wala na raw pera para sa mga programa ng gobyerno.

Sa totoo lang po, hindi ito totoo. Dahil kung tutuusin po, ang 2018 target collections ng excise tax on fuel base sa TRAIN ay 70 billion pesos lang po. Malayo naman ito sa kabuuan ng ating budget for 2019.

Sigurado po ako na mayroon tayong mahahanap na 70 billion pesos para pagtakpan kung may pagro- roll back na gagawin sa excise tax on fuel.

Una, mayroong underspending ang gobyerno mula sa 2017 na 390 billion pesos.

Pangalawa, kailangan lang na mas maging efficient ang collections ng BIR at BOC, at kakayanin natin iyan.

Pangatlo, I’m certain that under the leadership of Sen. Legarda in the Committee on Finance, and of course with the help of the sharpest eyes in the Senate, Sen. Ping Lacson, na kapag panahon po ng budget, may mahahanap na pera pong masi-save at pera pong magagamit sa ibang bagay, I’m sure may mahahanap tayong 70 billion pesos mula sa iba’t ibang departamento at iba’t ibang ahensiya na puwedeng makalap upang pagtakpan kung may mawawalang koleksiyon kung isuspinde natin ang excise tax on fuel.

Huwag na huwag po nating natin kakalimutan kung sino ang ating ipinaglalaban ditto sa Senado — ang pamilyang Pilipino na ngayon ay nahihirapan dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng presyo.

Kailangan ho nating umaksyon, hindi lang po magdebate.

Number one, siguraduhin natin na ang tulong pinansyal sa ating mga mahihirap na mga kababayan na nakasaad sa TRAIN Law ay mapatupad na. Kailangan po lahat ng ten million families na dapat mabigyan ng tulong, mabigyan ng tulong sa lalong madaling panahon. Hindi po katanggap-tanggap na sa September pa sila mabibigyan ng tulong o next year pa.

Pangalawa, suportahan natin ang mga gawain ng Committee on Agriculture pagdating sa reporma sa NFA at sa reporma patungkol sa ating bigas at kung paano ito mapapababa. Sana po maging priority measure natin ito dito sa ating Kamara.

Pangatlo, suportahan po sana natin itong naihain namin SBN 1798. Again, a very reasonable mechanism which we can use to roll back the price of excise tax on fuel only when the inflation target range is breached.

Isa po itong probisyon na sinang-ayunan na ng Kamara noong naipasa sa 3rd reading ang TRAIN dito sa Senado. Sinisikap lang namin ibalik ang safeguard na ito at gawing ganap sa ating bansa.

This is a reasonable mechanism that can alleviate the burden of our countrymen which can be responsive to the rise in prices.

Protektahan po natin ang pamilyang Pilipino mula sa pagtaas ng presyo.

Dahil sabi nga po, grabe na ang hirap at gutom dati, mas grabe pa ngayon.

Sabi nga po, matindi ang pangamba ng pamilyang Pilipino.

Sabi nga po, ang ating mga kababayan, ang ilan sa kanila ay hindi na nakakain ng tatlong beses isang araw.

Sabi nga po, hirap na hirap na ang taumbayan at tungkulin natin ang mapagaan ang kanilang buhay

Maraming maraming salamat po! And we hope we can all come together to support SBN 1798 very soon. Maraming salamat, Mr. President.

Sponsorship Speech on the Full Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

P.S. RESOLUTION NO. 620

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE 

FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS 

OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT BY ADMINISTERING AND AFFORDING THE STUDENTS 

FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES AT THE START 

OF THE SECOND SEMESTER OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018 

  

  

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV 
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, February 12, 2018

  

Good afternoon, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. 

It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor a Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Immediate Implementation of the Provisions of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by administering and affording the students free tuition and other school fees, including this current semester, which is the second semester of Academic Year 2017-2018. 

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2017, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining all of us to stand behind free college education in the Philippines, as principal sponsor of the now enacted Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, 

 Thanks to your support and thanks to the hard work and strong will of a great number of advocates in and outside Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines ratified this landmark bill on May 30, 2017. 

On August 3, 2017, Mr. President, amidst rumors and threats of a veto, the President signed this revolutionary reform into law as Republic Act No. 10931. 

Mr. President and fellow lawmakers, I remember how we all worked together and crossed  party lines to champion education in the Philippines! 

 Together, we enacted a progressive new policy that prohibits our public universities and colleges from charging their students tuition fees and other school fees. 

 Sa totoo lang, Mr. President, pag binabalita ko po ito sa mga estudyante at magulang, hindi po sila makapaniwala na wala na silang babayaran sa kolehiyo. 

 Sa mga hindi pa po makakapaniwala, totoo po! Naisabatas na po noong August 3 at naging effective ng August 18! Bawal na mangolekta ng tuition fees at miscellaneous fees ang mga state universities at colleges sa ating bansa. 

 And more than this, Mr. President, on December 19, 2017, the General Appropriations Act was signed and sealed with a 41-billion-peso allotment for the implementation of this landmark legislation. 

— 

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we all know that we secured significant funding to cover this law. 

 In fact as early as 2016, thanks to our colleagues Sen. Lacson and budget chairperson, Sen. Legarda, an 8.3 billion peso budget was inserted into the 2017 General Appropriations Act. 

Thanks to this insertion, all 112 state universities and colleges eliminated the tuition fee charge for about 1.6 million students! 

 Take note Mr. President, dito sa P8.3 bilyon na ito, mayroon pa ring natitirang 4.9 billion na nasa budget allocation pong ito.

 This year, Mr. President, there is an additional 41 billion pesos in the 2018 budget to ensure that our countrymen will receive the full benefit of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. 

 Mr. President, this P41 billion is divided into two. 17.7 billion pesos for our newly created Tertiary Education Subsidy for college scholarships, and this can be availed of by students from both public and private universities. Of course, the remodeled and improved student loan program. 

 Of course, Mr. President, and more importantly, we have 23.3 billion pesos to cover tuition fees and other school fees, like miscellaneous fees, in our SUCs, LUCs and TESDA-run technical vocational schools. 

 Mr. President, this astounding 23.3 billion pesos can fund, not only the current second semester of Academic Year 2017-18, this the ongoing semester right now Mr. President, but it can also fund Academic School Year 2018-19. In short, sobra-sobra pa ang nailaan natin para sa budget sa libreng kolehiyo sa bansa.

— 

 Mr. President, the question is no longer should provide students with a free college education. The answer, Mr. President is yes because we passed the law. The question, Mr. President, is no longer whether we can afford it because in the 2018 GAA, sobra-sobra pa, from the 2017 GAA, mayroong P4-plus billion pang natitira. 

 The question, Mr. President is when? When will we implement this landmark law kung saan tayo nagkaisa at pinasa ang nakapagandang batas na ito? Kailan?

 When will our public universities and colleges provide free tuition and free miscellaneous expenses for the benefit of the students? 

When will this landmark law be fully implemented in out country? 

Pasado na ang batas. Napondohan na sa national budget at sapat na sapat ito.

 Kailan makikinabang ang mga estudyante, ang mga pamilyang Pilipino; kailan po makikinabang ang taumbayan sa libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa?

— 

 Noong January 26, sinabi po ng CHED na sa Academic Year 2018-2019 pa raw ipapatupad ang libreng kolehiyo, which includes tuition and school fees.

 Ngunit, Mr. President, noong bicameral conference, at marami sa atin ang nandoon, and this was chaired by Sen. Escudero, nagkasundo ang kumite na on the record, nilagay natin na ang intensiyon ng mambabatas ay kasama ang 2nd semester sa implementation ng batas.

Sa ating nakalaang 2018 budget, Mr. President, kasama po ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees ng kasalukuyang semester sa ating napondohan. Alam ho natin ito dahil kasama natin ang CHED.

Senator Legarda can attest to this. We worked with CHED to include the second semester and the language needed to include the current semester in the 2018 budget.

In short, Mr. President, wala tayong nakikitang funding or legal requirement kung bakit hindi sinasama ang current semester sa implementation ng ating batas. Hindi po pondo ang problema, hindi po legalities and problema, ang problema, hindi ito ipinatutupad ng CHED.

 Mr. President, we witnessed this CHED employees and our LBRMO, through our office, worked together during the budget deliberations to ensure that the language of the budget provision allows for the fund to be used to cover tuition and other school fees for this current semester.

In short, napag-usapan poi to at binoto po natin ito when we passed the GAA. 

So, Mr. President, ang tanong – kailan ba talaga natin ipapatupad ang batas? 

 When will our students and their families experience the financial relief of a free college education? 

 Mr. President, CHED says tomorrow. But with the sense of the Senate resolution signed by practically everybody here in the Senate, we say, yesterday!  Yesterday, Mr. President, dapat napatupad na.

— 

 Yesterday, Mr. President, I went through videos, photos and stories of students who dream of a college education and of course, the parents who work tirelessly to make it happen. 

Na-meet ko Mr. President si Nanay Joana, isang microfinance beneficiary sa Batangas. Mr. President, pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ang dalawa niyang anak kaya naman todo ang pagkayod ni Nanay Joana na nagtitinda ng samu’t saring produkto, nangungutang para makapagbayad ng tuition at iba pang school fees para sa kanyang anak sa Batangas State University.

Nandoon po si Aling Susana ng Zambales.  Siya’y mayroong apat na anak. Dalawa ang hindi na nakapagtuloy sa kolehiyo ngunit ang dalawa ay pursigido magtapos ng college. 

Dalawang taon nang tumigil ang kaniyang pangatlong anak ng pag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan sa buhay. Sa dalawang taon pong iyon, nag-ipon ang pamilya, nagtiyaga sa pangingisda, pagtatanim at pagbebenta ng kanilang ani. 

 Dahil sa libreng tuition, nag-aral na ng automotive course sa Ramon Magsaysay Technological University ang kaniyang anak na lalaki na 21 years old. Ito ang pinakabata ngunit nahihirapan pa rin at kailangan pa rin ng ayuda para matustusan ang lahat ng gastos.

Naririyan din si Kuya Noli, isang security guard sa Iloilo. Noong nagpunta ako kung saan siya nagtatrabaho, nabanggit ko sa isang interview na magiging libre na ang kolehiyo.  Sa kaniyang tuwa, napasigaw siya ng, “Buti na lang!” kasi mayroon siyang dalawang anak sa college.

Kahit nagtatrabaho siya bilang security at ang kanyang asawa ay labas-pasok bilang overseas Filipino, nahihirapan pa rin silang mabayaran ang gastos sa bahay at sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak. 

 “Sa libreng tuition,” sabi ni Kuya Noli, “magkakaroon na ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak namin at makakatulong rin sila sa aming pamilya.” 

 Mr. President, umaasa po sina Nanay Joana, Aling Susana, Kuya Noli, at napakarami pang magulang sa kapangyarihan ng edukasyon. 

Umaasa sila sa oportunidad na mabuksan ng isang college degree para sa kanilang anak ang isang mas magandang bukas.

Araw-araw, buwan-buwan, taon-taon, sila’y kumakayod upang matustusan ang gastos sa bahay at mapaaral ang kanilang mga anak. 

Mr. President, kailangan nating tularan ang mga magulang na ito. Tulad po nila, pangalagahan natin ang edukasyon at manalig na ito’y isang mabisang solusyon upang matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bayan. 

Tulad ng mga mabubuting magulang na iyan, gawin po natin ang lahat upang mapaaral ng kolehiyo ang ating mga kabataan. 

 Let’s take inspiration from these stories, from the work that they put in, from the love that they give to their children, and countless Filipino families who work together, who exhaust all opportunities just to achieve a dream of prosperity. 

— 

  

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2016, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining you to stand behind free college education in the Philippines. And of course, everybody responded.

 This, Mr. President, if I’m not mistaken is still one of our priority bills in the 17th Congress. Many of us, Mr. President, took a stand and said we will pass free college education in the Philippines. Today, with the sense of the Senate, we take another stand to say that we want this implemented right now. Ngayon na po.

Mr. President, with my co-authors who I’d like to thank again — Senators Recto, Villanueva, Ejercito, Gatchalian, Pangilinan, Angara, Legarda, De Lima, Villar, Zubiri, Gordon and of course Senators Lacson and Legarda for the first budget allocation in 2017.

I would like to thank everyone from getting behind the sense of the Senate and to show our country that we stand behind our students who wish to get free education.

We stand especially for the parents and the breadwinners who worked non-stop so that their children can achieve their dreams.

I call on all of us to unite and demand for the full implementation of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Privilege speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on death of 17-year-old Kian Delos Santos

“Ian, isara mo na ang tindahan at matulog ka na.”

Kung alam lang sana ni Lola Violeta na iyan na ang huling masasabi niya sa kaniyang apo, siguro po iba ang nabigkas nito.

Bumaba si Ian upang isara ang sari-sari store ng pamilya at naglinis muna bago matulog.

Kung alam lang po sana ni Ian kung anong tadhana ang nag-aantay sa kanya, siguro po hindi na siya nagkusang loob.

Mr. President and dear colleagues, as someone who has worked in the youth sector for more than a decade and as someone, who, like all of us here, pushed for more access to education for our Filipino youth, the unnecessary death of Ian Delos Santos was difficult to accept.

Noong nabalitaan ko na sa Oplan Galugad ng PNP, may Grade 11 student na – kitang kita naman sa CCTV footage – na kinaladkad patungong isang sulok at pinatay na walang pakundangan, nanghina po ang aking loob at napaisip ako.

Paano tayo umabot sa ganito? Ito na ba ang ‘new normal’ ng ating bansa, especially sa mga mahihirap na barangay sa ating bayan?

Many of us here, surely, felt the same way.

Marami po sa mga kababayan natin ang una, nalungkot, at pagkatapos, nagalit, sa nangyari kay Ian at sa kaniyang pamilya.

Kian Loyd Delos Santos, better known as Ian, to his friends, is a 17-year old Grade 11 student from Our Lady of Lourdes Senior High School.

Si Ian ay pangatlo sa apat na anak.

Sari-sari store owner ang kaniyang amang si Zaldy at nagtatrabaho sa Riyadh bilang OFW ang kaniyang ina na si Lorenza.

“Kapit lang, Ma, makakauwi ka na. Malapit na ako matapos sa pag-aaral,” pangako po ni Ian.

Mabuti po siyang anak. Araw-araw, gumigising ng maaga si Ian upang magbenta ng school supplies sa mga estudyante at magulang na naglalakad papunta sa paaralang malapit sa kanila.

“Kilala si Ian na nagbebenta – nagbebenta ng school supplies sa mga dumadaan sa aming tindahan, hindi droga,” giit po ng kaniyang ama.

Masipag rin po siyang estudyante.

“Sabay-sabay tayong magtatapos ng high school,” hayag ni Ian nang bumuo siya ng study group kasama ng kaniyang mga kaklase.

Si Ian ay masayahin at malambing, magaling sumayaw – according sa kanyang barkada, mahilig sa FLIPTOP, at idol ang Filipino battle rapper na si Bassilyo.

Higit sa lahat, si Ian ay mapagmahal na kaibigan. Ramdam na ramdam ko po ang pagmamahal ng kanyang mga kaibigan nung nakasama ko sila kahapon sa burol ni Ian. Ang ilan po sa kanila ay kasama natin ngayong hapong ito.

“Naglalaba ka nanaman? Sabi ko sa ‘yo maupo ka lang eh,” lagi pong nasasabi ni Ian sa kaniyang kaibigang si Erica. At siya na po ang magtatapos ng labada ni Erica.

Sabi naman ni Ian kay Lennard, ang kanyang best friend, “Pumasok ka na, Gol! Miss na kita.”

“Awang awa si Ian sa akin noong inopera ako,” kwento ni Lennard, “Wala siyang pambili ng pagkain, pero binenta niya ang kaniyang mga damit para makabili lang ng prutas para sa akin. Pinilit kong pumasok agad para kay Ian, para makabawi ako sa kanya. Miss na daw niya ako.”

Ramdam na ramdam ng mga kaibigan ni Ian ang kaniyang pagmamahal.

Mr. President, hangarin sana ni Ian na i-ahon ang kanyang pamilya mula sa kahirapan.

Nangarap si Ian maging pulis, ngunit sa kaduluduluhan, mga pulis rin po ang kumuha ng kanyang buhay. Isang tama ng bala sa likuran, dalawa sa kanyang tenga, patunay, sabi sa kanyang autopsy, na binaril sya habang nakahandusay sa lupa.

Ang sigaw niya po sa kabila ng kahirapan sa buhay, “Laban lang!”

Ngunit, Mr. President, hindi siya nanlaban. Hindi po sya nanlaban. Hindi po sya nanlaban, Mr. President.

Noong Miyerkules, ikalabing-anim ng Agosto, alas otso bente kuwatro ng gabi, pinatay ng mga pulis si Kian Lloyd Delos Santos na walang kalaban-laban, sa ngalan po ng gera kontra droga.

“Tama na po! Tama na po! May test pa ako bukas!”, narinig ng mga testigo na sabi daw po ni Ian habang sya’y kinakaladkad patungong isang madilim na sulok sa looban ng Caloocan.

Kung kinilala sana ng mga pulis na ‘yon ang Ian na kilala natin ngayon –

Ang Ian na gumigising ng maaga upang matulungan ang ama para magbenta ng school supplies;

Ang Ian na tumutulong kay Erica tuwing Sabado sa kanyang gawaing bahay;

Ang Ian na nagbenta ng damit para lang makabili ng prutas para sa kanyang kaibigang si Lennard na bagong opera;

Ang Ian na may talento sa pagsayaw at pam-bato ng kanilang klase sa mga folk dancing competition;

Ang Ian na nagsisikap makapagtapos ng pag-aaral at nangarap makapasok sa PNPA.

Kung yon po sana ang nakilala nila

at hindi isang ang sinasabi ho nilang drug addict o drug courier na sa tingin po ng iba ay hindi naman tao at walang karapatang mabuhay, siguro po buhay pa si Ian ngayon — nangangarap at nagsisikap, nagpapasaya at tumutulong sa kanyang mga kaibigan at kapamilya.

Mr. President, thousands of Filipinos have died in the name of this current drug war we have. Just last week, there were 81 recorded killings.

Collateral damage include children as young as 4 years old… killed in the hands of those who have sworn to serve and protect.

Kung wala pong CCTV footage, Ian’s case would have been reduced to a statistic under the label of Legitimate Police Operations.

Ilan pa po ba ang kailangang mamatay bago natin harapin ang isang napakasakit na katotohanan – na ang ating pag asa sa karahasan bilang pangunahing solusyon sa problema ng droga at iba pang problema ng ating bayan ay hindi magdudulot ng kabutihan sa ating bayan, bagkus magdudulot lamang ng mas marami pang mga bangkay at mas marami pang mga pamilyang wasak at nagdurusa.

There must be other ways, Mr. President. There has to be other solutions to our drug menace – solutions through education, through a stronger justice system, through rehabilitation, through an upstanding and outstanding police force, through proper and legal enforcement procedures, through anti-poverty efforts and programs that provide jobs and livelihood.

Solutions, Mr. President, na in fairness, itinataguyod natin sa Senado sa mga batas, polisiya at programa na sinusulong ng bawat isa sa atin dito.

Ngayon po na magkakaisa ang Senado sa paghahanap ng katarungan para kay Ian, huwag rin po nating kalimutan ang iba pang naging biktima ng collateral damage, mistaken identity at mga biktima ng mga extra-judicial killings.

Mr. President, we need to put an end to these killings. We need to hold persons in positions of power and authority accountable to the Filipino people.

Para po kay Kian, para po sa ating kabataan, para sa ating bayan.

Salamat po, Mr. President.

Sponsorship Speech for the Innovative Start-Up Act

SENATE BILL NO. 1532 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 142

AN ACT PROVIDING BENEFITS AND PROGRAMS TO STRENGTHEN, PROMOTE, AND DEVELOP THE 

PHILIPPINE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM

 

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV

17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines

Sponsorship Speech, August 1, 2017

 

 

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon, magandang hapon po sa ating lahat.

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to sponsor Senate Bill No. 1532 under Committee Report No. 142 entitled An Act Providing Benefits and Programs to Strengthen, Promote, and Develop the Philippine Startup Ecosystem.

 It is difficult to launch a startup, Mr. President. And it is especially difficult in the Philippines.

I experienced this firsthand when I co-founded two social enterprises- the Hapinoy Program and Rags2Riches (R2R) a couple of years agp, almost a decade ago, Mr. President.

 We experienced rejection, running out of capital and changes in our business model. We went through many of the hardships every entrepreneur experiences, which is why I have a very special place in my heart for Filipino startups.

 So when I became a legislator, Mr. President, I was determined to push for policies that empower our Filipino SMEs. .

 The first law I passed was the Go Negosyo Act and I am happy to report that there are now over 500 Negosyo Centers around the Philippines. We’ve also passed the Youth Entrepreneurship Act and other laws that support the development of our micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs.

But, Mr. President, there is still much more we can do to encourage our start-ups, particularly our innovative and technology startups.

They are businesses that provide unique and relevant solutions to our problems, from daily hassles, like finding a taxi during rush hour, to improving the delivery of healthcare, providing support for our farmers, and addressing unemployment.

 And today, Mr. President, I would like to share some of these solutions.

The first is HealthBlocks. HealthBlocks focuses on the issue of complicated and extensive personal healthcare information.

In countries like Australia and England, health records are centralized for better access to accurate health information about patients.

 HealthBlocks took this idea and created an application that can facilitate the centralization of health information in the Philippines, around Asia, and anywhere in the world.

Imagine all your health records accessible at the touch of a button and easily and  securely given to your doctors, healthcare providers, and even insurance companies.

HealthBlocks will not only improve convenience but will allow for better diagnosis and treatment of patients, Mr. President.

 Another startup, Mr. President,  is called Cropital. Cropital is attempting to solve the problem of many of our farmers, and this is the lack of access to loans with reasonable terms.

This start-up allows anyone to sign up online and choose a local farming community to invest money in.

They then manage the funds of each farm and ensure that your money goes to the right resources.

 After harvest season and the farmer’s produce is sold, the investor gets his returns based on the agreed upon terms with the community.

 Through technology and the concept of crowdsourcing, Cropital  is able to match our farmers with those with the means to invest, empowering farmers in their agribusiness. Another innovative solution, Mr. President!

My third example, Mr. President, is Virtualahan. Virtualahan is attempting to solve the problem of unemployment.

 Virtualahan actually stands for “virtual eskwelahan”, which provides digital skills training for persons with disabilities or PWDs, unemployed youth, and full time parents so they can be hired as virtual assistants for NGOs and social enterprises around the world.

 To solve the problem of unemployment, Virtualahan is using to the power of technology and the internet – which is why we must also work to improve the internet services in the country, Mr. President!

 But back to our innovative businesses, Mr. President, HealthBlocks, Cropital, Virtualahan are just 3 of over 200,000 start-ups in the Philippines with the potential to solve our country’s problems and contribute to the lives of Filipinos through the products they create and the jobs they generate.

This  Innovative Startup Act aims to give these startups a better chance of succeeding by reducing barriers to their success.

This policy seeks to support innovative startups, first, through financial subsidies like tax breaks and grants; second, through ease of doing business through their registration; and third, through technical assistance and training programs.

 Plus, there is a provision for an Innovative Startup Venture Fund of 10 billion pesos that startups can apply for.

 Through this measure, innovative startups will also be entitled to free use of equipment, facilities, and other services from government agencies, such as testing and fabrication facilities, and services for the patenting or licensing of their product with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Mr. President, let’s take this opportunity to empower our innovators and entrepreneurs with a heart for nation-building.

 Ipasa po natin ang Innovative Startup Act at himukin ang ating mga makabagong negosyante na lumikha ng mga solusyon para sa bayan! Maraming salamat po, Mr. President, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support Senate Bill 1532, under Committee Report No. 142, the Innovative Startup Act. Maraming Salamat, Mr. President. 

CO-SPONSORSHIP SPEECH: SENATE BILL NO. 1459 OR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

SENATE BILL NO. 1459 UNDER COMMITTEE REPORT NO. 86

PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITY ACT

 

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, May 22, 2016

 

Good afternoon, Mr. President and esteemed colleagues! Mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang hapon sa ating lahat.

 It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor Senate Bill No. 354, under Committee Report No. 86, entitled Strengthening The Secured Transactions Legal Framework In The Philippines, Which Shall Provide For The Creation, Perfection, Determination Of Priority, Establishment Of A Centralized Notice Registry, And Enforcement Of Security Interests In Personal Property, And For Other Purposes – it is otherwise known as the Personal Property Security Act.

But before I delve into the bill, Mr. President, I would like to share some trivia about basketball superstar, LeBron James, in the wake of today’s loss.

Alam niyo ba, Mr. President, na noong high school pa lang si LeBron, nais siyang regaluhan ng ina ng mamahaling sasakyan na Hummer para sa kanyang ika-18 taong kaarawan.

Ang problema? Ang Hummer ay nagkakahalaga ng $50,000 at walang pambili si Mommy Gloria.

Dahil walang pambili, lumapit si Gloria James sa isang bangko sa Ohio at nangutang.

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, ang ginamit niyang collateral ay ang future earnings ng kaniyang anak kung siya’y maging NBA player!

 Kapag napasok na raw si LeBron sa NBA, milyun-milyon ang kikitain niya.

 Ang kagulat-gulat dito, tinanggap ng bangko ang collateral!

Ang tinignan nila ay ang talento ni LeBron at ang posibilidad na ito’y magiging NBA player. 

Ang ending ay win-win-win! Gloria James got her loan. LeBron got a Hummer. And the bank was paid back with interest.

 Mr. President, this would not have happened in the Philippines.

 Currently, it is land and real property that banks consider to be the most favored form of collateral – and this is not just because of its value.

 Financial institutions see land and real estate as low-risk because it is easy to ascertain that the piece of land has not been used as collateral for any other loan.

 But with lenders fixated on real property, they miss out on the opportunity to provide loans to a broader groups of MSMEs and farmers.

Consequently, many of our countrymen have a very difficult time accessing loans from banks and result to borrowing from friends and family or, worse, resorting to informal loans like the 5/6 system with exorbitant interest rates.

This is particularly heartbreaking for micro, small and medium enterprises, Mr. President.

Friends and colleagues, sa aking pag-iikot, ang laging tanong sa akin ng mga nagnenegosyo ay, “Sen. Bam, saan po ako makaka-utang na mababa lang ang interes?”

Sayang, Mr. President!

Many of our small businesses have so much potential – potential for success and potential to lift families out of poverty.

 Mr. President, we need to address our MSME’s lack of access to loans.

The Personal Property Security Act is one of our remedies.

This measure will encourage financial institutions to lend to more Filipinos by, one, expanding what banks consider as acceptable collateral and, two, reducing the risks associated to movable collaterals.

 First, this measure will broaden the utilization of movable assets like bank accounts, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, vehicles, agricultural products, and even intellectual property rights.

Imagine a farmer using his livestock or a craftsman using a contract for a bulk order as collateral for a loan.

But, Mr. President, we already recognize a diverse set of movable assets acceptable as collateral for loan purposes, like motor vehicles, equipment, and standing crops, such as rice or sugarcane.

 The major challenge of this measure, and those tasked to implement it would be to reduce the risk of accepting movable collaterals through an efficient, comprehensive, and centralized registry.

The Personal Property Security Act pursues the design, establishment, and operation of a unified, centralized, online notice-based national collateral registry to assure banks that the collateral being submitted has not been utilized for another loan.

Mr. President, this is not new. In other countries, a simple but effective registry have boosted financing for their local entrepreneurs.

In Mexico, the creation of a national Accounts Receivable Finance Platform by the government’s development bank supported at least 130,000 SMEs through accounts receivable financing.

In China, loans with movable assets as collateral now amount to 3 trillion US dollars per year.

 Mr. President, access to a centralized repository of information for movable assets will encourage financial institutions to lend to our MSMEs and may even speed up the loan application process.

With the Personal Property Security, our financial institutions increase their income by issuing more loans, Filipinos will have better access to lower-interest loans, and more Filipino families can grow their business and livelihood for a brighter future.

 Mr. President, the Personal Property Security Act seeks to replicate this win-win-win scenario for the James family in Ohio – not to help parents purchase luxury vehicles for their children – but to help parents provide a better life, better future for their children through sustained livelihood.

 With access to financing, a sari-sari store can grow into a convenience store and Pera Padala center.

 With access to financing, a farmer or agri-preneur can purchase equipment to boost production and develop his produce.

 With access to financing, a small bakery can endeavor to supply to a string of coffee shops and supermarkets.

Mr. President, aking mga kagalang-galang na kapwa senador, ipasa po natin ang Secured Transactions Act at suportahan po natin ang mga maliliit na negosyanteng Pilipino na magtagumpay at umasenso ang buhay!

Maraming salamat po!

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