Transcripts

Excerpts from the Interview of Sen. Bam Aquino during the Manila Port Inspection

Q: Sir, ano po ang assessment at findings ninyo sa Port Inspection?

A: So far, iyong problema ng physical congestion na-resolve na kasi itong areas na pupuntahan natin, a few months ago, may daloy na ang daan.

Kaya lang ang tanong ko, bakit marami pa ring nagko-complain?  Marami pa ring nagsasabi na hindi ganoon kabilis ang paglabas pasok ng produkto sa ports natin.

In the next hearing, we’re going to tackle this. Previously, kahit si Secretary Almendras, na-mention na rin niya na may mga corruption issues tayo dito. May mga grupo, mga nilalang na pilit na nag-e-extort sa mga truckers natin, kaya hindi ganon kabilis ang pasok ng mga goods natin.

So in short, we’re trying to tackle this problem one step at a time. At least iyong physical congestion, nakikita natin malapit na iyong solusyon diyan o nangyayari na iyong different solutions. Nagkakaroon na ng technology.

Iyong pagtanggal ng truck ban nakapag-ease ng traffic natin at iyong daloy ng produkto. Mayroon pa ring natitirang problema na kailangang tugunan.

One I think at the minimum, we need to be able to resolve iyong mga corruption issues at the ports. Makita natin na walang extra charges o mga fake charges na binibigay mga negosyante natin. Mahalagang bagay iyon.

Pangalawa, pag-usapan ang long-term solutions.  For example, the connector roads. Iyong paglatag ng bagong rail facilities natin. I think this also needs to be discussed para makita natin na ang solusyon natin sa port congestion ay hindi pangmabilisan kundi pangmatalagan.

 

Q: Nabanggit po ba sa inyo ni Secretary Almendras kung saan nanggagaling ang corruption, sinong tao o sinong organization?

A: Sa October 16, we’ll have a second hearing, Ilalantad din namin iyong iba’t ibang reports na nakukuha namin.

Iyong mga charges kasi dito plus P2,000, P3,000, P4,000 per container per trip.

This is an added cost na at the end of the day, makakadagdag sa presyo ng bilihin so we need to make sure that even if mga ganitong bagay matanggal din natin.

Ang nangyari kasi diyan, noong nagka-port congestion tayo, may mga tao talagang kumita. Sabi nila, gusto ninyong mabilis na malabas ang container ninyo, magbayad ka.

We’re still trying to get to the bottom kung anong grupo at kung sino ang may kinalaman dito.  Parang mga vulture ito na noong makaamoy ng problema, pinagkakitaan. They took advantage of the problem.

Ngayon, as we can see, wala na talagang physical congestion, mas cleared na ang roads natin pero mayroon pa ring ganitong practice.

We need to get to the bottom of this at kung may kailangang reforms na gawin, we need to be able to make sure na hindi ito nakakadagdag sa mga problema natin.

Ito ang tinatawag nating under the table fees. Ito iyong mga illegal na fees na dinadagdagan ang charges natin. Siyempre illegal yan, nakakabagal iyan ng flow ng ating goods and services.

So we’re hoping na apart from the physical congestion problem na nakita naman natin kanina na okay na, itong mga problema na nakakabagal ng paggalaw ng ating goods, ito siguro ang isa pang bagay na dapat nating tingnan.

On October 16, nag-invite kami ng ibang resource speakers, mga truckers, mga negosyante at doon nila ikukuwento iyong mga extra fees na sinisingil sa kanila at kung sino ang mga naniningil sa kanila.

 

Q. Sir sasabihin ba talaga ng nasa likod ng katiwalian?

A: May mga pinakita rin kanina, so hopefully we will be able to uncover this. Even in the last hearing namin, may tinatawag na along the way fees. One of the businessmen mentioned na maraming along the way fees na nangyayari so kahit ito gusto nating mahimay, malaman talaga kung saan nanggagaling, saan napupunta.

 

Q: Ilan bang klaseng along the way fees? Kunwari bawat stop…

A: Mas magandang galing sa kanya ang sagot. Hindi ko masasabi at hindi rin nila nasabi kung ilan.

 

Q: Magkano inaabot ang all the way fees?

A: Per container libu-libo. Ayaw ko pong bigyan ng range. Anyway doon na lang sa next hearing para sa kanila talaga galing.

Ang balak ni Secretary Almendras na bring the importers to the ports and show them na walang rason para magbayad pa sa kung sino para mag-unahan sa paglabas.

Kanina nakita ninyo napakaayos ng daloy. In fact, they could even say maluwag, although Tuesday is a light day.

But still, there’s no reason for that. For the importers, dapat huwag rin silang magbayad cause wala ring rason na magbayad.

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Cabotage Bill Hearing

Lowering of Logistics Costs

I’d like to know specifically if they (DTI) have a study already and how much this measure can lower costs (of logisitics). Kasi at the end of the day, ang pinaka-pakay naman ng bill and all of the things that we are talking about is lower the cost of logistics.

Many people have commented and I think it’s largely accepted already that our cost of logistics is higher that a lot of our countries, iyong pagship natin ng mga produkto.

This hearing was conducted to check ways how we can lessen costs of our logistics. This proposal came from DOTC and is supported by everyone here.

Before proceeding, I would like DTI and even other agencies here to at least give a forecast pag pinasa natin ito, how much ang puwedeng ibaba ng presyo ng ating bilihin, number one.

Number two, I think malinaw rin that if we even file this bill, this is just one of many reforms na kailangang gawin. We have to look at costs in our ports, even in taxes currently being collected from shipping industry and even the operational costs of the shippers themselves.

The suggestion of Atty. Banez was to benchmark this across the ASEAN para makita natin how competitive we really are.

One of slides that they showed earlier showed na pagdating sa taxes, ang taas ng tinatax natin sa mga shippers natin. When we tax the shippers, they charge it to their clients.

At the end of the day, babagsak din ito sa mga Pilipino.

 

Policy Direction on Taxes 

We’d like to also have a clarified policy regarding, is the policy to collect more in taxes or is the policy is lower the cost of prices.

In this case, posibleng magkasalungat ang mga polisiyang iyon. We want to get a clearer picture from our friends from DOTC, MARINA, PPA and DOF.

If through this measure, if we can lower the cost of logistics even by five to ten percent, that will have an impact sa cost of goods natin.

Most goods in the Philippines pass through logistics and shipping industry because were islands. If you look at the different components that comprise the cost of a product, we’re tackling the logistics part doon.

 

President’s Agenda

Apart from the President pointing this out in his SONA na kailangang magpasa tayo ng policies which will lower cost, many people commented na just to ship products from the Philippines, it’s cheaper to send it to another country than to send it to another port.

In fact, one of the resource speakers mentioned that she hopes that we don’t stop here. We start with this bill, we look at the costs, we look at the taxes and eventually, we really push for long-term vision with regard to our port situation.

The current problem sa ating Port of Manila, hindi natin nalagyan ng long-term thinking that in an economy that’s growing, ang liit-liit naman ng port mo. Hindi ka gumagawa ng mga measures na palakihin at palakasin ito.

Hopefully, this will also lead to a serious reflection on our infrastructure in the Philippines and see if even now, we can really start the process of planning ahead.

We’re a growing economy. I believe that we can be a middle-income economy in a decade but that means that our ability to trade needs to be protected also and to be safeguarded. That means a long-term vision to our port infrastructure.

Ang mga usaping ito, it all leads to that. Kumbaga, nagtatahi-tahi ang issues. We have short-term solutions, we have policies that we can push but at the end of the day, ang hinahanap talaga natin ay mas mahabang pagtingin sa situation ng mga port natin.

 

Q: How will this solve port congestion?

Technically, the goal of this hearing is to lower prices. Kung ang port mo congested, tataas talaga ang presyo mo dahil very inefficient ang ports natin.

In short, if our ports are congested and we haven’t solved that problem, even if we pass this bill, haharapin pa rin tayo ng problema ng congestion.

But hopefully, if we able to decongest the ports and have a better policy framework for shipping, mas mura ang cost natin, posible talagang bumaba iyong presyo ng bilihin because of this measures.

But if our ports continue to be congested, maliliit, inefficient at any single point, posibleng magkagulo dahil kulang talaga ang infrastructure, then prices will go up.

If we have better infrastructure there at kung maipasa ang mga polisiyang ito, bababa naman ang presyo ng bilihin. Of course, ang hinahanap ng maraming Pilipino, bumaba ang presyo ng bilihin.

 

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Internet Hearing

Q: Is NTC capable of ensuring na mabilis ang Internet?

 A: Si Commissioner Corboda, said it for the record, currently, wala silang kapangyarihan na i-dictate ang presyo pero nasa kanilang poder na mag-set ng mga minimum standards. Ito ang hinahanap natin sa susunod na hearing and they’re coming up with the memorandum circular on the matter.

Sabi ko naman hindi puwede na ang stated rate, o ang napapangakong rate at iyong minimum standard mo napakalayo, kailangan naman may batayan pa rin iyon.

So they’ll come up with suggestions, one is iyong possible amendments sa RA 7925. Napag-usapan din kung dapat bang gawing basic service ang Internet service kasi sa ngayon, value-added service lang siya.

Pangatlo, napag-usapan din kung paano maabot ang hard-to-reach areas. DOST has a current pilot using iyong frequency ng TV o tinatawag na white space project. There’s already a pilot in Bohol at iyong pilot sa Bohol ay doon sa mga palaisdaan.

In that area, using the white space frequency, 12 megabytes per second iyong speed nila. Kung tutuusin mas mabilis pa ang white space project na ginagawa ng DOST kaysa doon sa ibang lugar dito sa Metro Manila.

We’re also trying to explore if DOST needs more support para maikalat ang white space project nila para maabot ang far-flung areas.

For the next hearing, pag-uusapan din naming ang Open Access Bill. This is a bill which will help telcos put up more infrastructure. Kasi marami rin sa kanila may mga complaints na pagdating sa local government unit or even mga barangay, hindi rin ganoon kadali para makapagpatayo ng cell sites.

In the end, ang tao din ang nagsa-suffer kasi pangit ang services natin.

In the meantime, we’re waiting for the recommendations of NTC sa Republic Act 7925, sa memorandum circular on minimum speed ng ating telcos.

DOJ is also coming out with a memorandum circular stating na iyong advertisements ng ating telcos, kailangan ding mas malinaw para sa mamamayan natin.

May mga advertisement na nagsasabing unlimited pero hindi naman pala unlimited. Dapat hindi na iyon payagan.  DOJ will step in along with DTI to make sure that consumer complaints are also met.

 

Q: Malaking bagay ba kung magagawa bang basic service ang Internet connection sa speed at presyo?

 A: If it becomes a basic service, then government has all the powers to actually regulate it. Currently kasi, dahil commercial transaction ito, walang kapangyarihan ang gobyerno para mag-set ng presyo.

But I will have to admit, this would not happen if we experienced good experience pagdating sa ating Internet.  Sabi ko nga kanina, kung maganda ang serbisyo natin, mura, mataas ang kalidad at regular iyong kalidad ng ating Internet, we wouldn’t be having this hearing. Hindi pa mapag-uusapan na gawing basic service ang Internet.

At this point, I think government really needs to step in. Whether it’s getting all players to agree to IP peering, proposing minimum standards to protect our consumers or even just to make sure na ang far-flung areas natin ay mayroon pa ring Internet service.

It’s time government steps in.  It’s budget season now, kung kinakailangang maglaan ng pera ang gobyerno para ma-improve ito. Palagay ko dapat napag-uusapan na natin o napa-plano na natin iyan.

 

Q: Kanina nabanggit niyo doon sa mga ads na maximum usually ang nababanggit, iyong minimum hindi masyado.

A: Actually, magandang clarification nga ni Undersecretary Dimagiba, is that, kahit na may fine print iyan, iyong may asterisk tapos napakaliit na sulat diyan, iyong dahilan pa rin ng consumer complaint is of course the stated number, iyong ‘up to.’

So we’re asking the telcos to state very clearly kung ano ba ang pangako natin sa taumbayan. Ang ‘up to’ kasi, kung iyong ‘up to’ mo naman, ilang oras lang sa isang araw. Ang hirap rin kung iyon ang ina-advertise natin. We should advertise what is our assured speed and people should be paying on the assured speed and not based on ‘up to’, especially kung ilang oras lang sa isang araw mo makukuha iyon.

 

Q: Pumayag ba ang telcos?

A: They agreed and they nodded. For the record, nag-nod sila babaguhin nila ang advertisement. In fact one of the telcos mentioned that they’ll be doing away with the unlimited advertisement and state already kung anong volume ang puwedeng makuha based on your plan or based on what you paid for.

I think that’s an improvement. At least, in that sense, mas malinaw sa taumbayan na malinaw ang kanyang binabayaran at kung ano ang nakukuha niya.

 

Q: Kailan po magiging totoo ang ads nila?

A: Soon daw. Soon they won’t have a choice once DOJ comes out with the circular, they have to follow.

I’m hoping na unahan na nila ang circular ng DOJ at baguhin na nila ang ads. I also mentioned to them na tina-track naming ang ads, may ilang ok na at may ilan pa ring vague.

I got their commitment earlier na babaguhin nila ang kanilang practices.

 

Q: Pagdating sa IP peering?

A: Kailangang pag-usapan na natin iyan. I think at this point, NTC wants to bring in the players. I support that but at the end of the day kasi, if it’s a commercial transaction and not regulated by government, wala kang kapangyarihan na sabihin sa isang grupo na libre na iyan ah.

So, the question is, do we provide the right powers to the NTC so that they can do that. One, which might mean amendments to the law, or two, we come up with an agreement among stakeholders, which I hope is the better solution, so we can push for IP peering among local players.

At the end of the day, ang pinaka-objective naman ng IP peering is all local content, keep it local. Para at last iyong local content natin, di hamak na mas mabilis ang pagtanggap sa ating devices.

 

Q:  Can the government demand it to be mandatory?

A: If we amend RA 7925 and make Internet a basic service, then government will have the power to say that this has to be mandatory. Currently, it’s voluntary at sinasabi ng ibang telco, is that we’re ok with IP peering but we will charge.

To be frank, ako I’m fine with that but we charge the right rates. Kasi what the small ISPs are saying, ang taas ng charge ninyo, hindi naman ma-justify.

Right now, the NTC will try to bring all stakeholders together and hopefully, through these hearings and through meetings, pag-uusapan if they’re gonna stick to kung kailangang mag-charge, at least have a rate that’s acceptable to all. In fairness naman, meron naman silang investment doon.

The other extreme is i-amend mo iyong batas, gawin mong basic service ang Internet, and then have government step in and already regulate the sector, which, again is the extreme example.

The fastest example is just to get all the players to agree, ano ba iyong pinakamagandang patakaran between all of us.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino During the Budget Hearing of DTI

On Port Congestion

 

SECRETARY GREGORY DOMINGO: The problem came in three phases and each phase had a different sort of problem although they were quite interrelated. The first phase was when the Manila truck ban was imposed in February and for the next month or so, the problem was the movement of trucks in and out of the port.

When we talk about the port congestion, tatlo iyon. One is the truck capacity in and out. The second is the container yard capacity and third is the ship site capacity, which is the loading and unloading of vessels.

Sa first phase po, ang problema doon ay truck capacity. Nalimit ang ikot ng truck so nangyari po, ang ship site di tumigil dahil padating pa rin ang barko so na-affect ang container yard capacity.

Umakyat po nang umakyat iyong number of containers sa port so iyon po ang second phase naman.

Una, iyong truck capacity ng impact for one month. After one month, napuno po ang ating container yard so it became a container yard limitation. Plus, the truck capacity limitation tapos nung naresolba na iyong mga truck ban tsaka nakagawa ng ruta, we moved to the third phase, which was about a month ago wherein the truck capacity limitation were basically improved drastically.

Ngayon, ang lakas na po ang daloy ng truck. Before Thursday, Friday last week, we were doing 9,000 trips per day from a low of 3,000 a day during the truck ban.

Pero ang nangyari po ngayon is, ang problema ngayon nag-iba na. Iyong ship site ang naging problema because there are more containers being brought in than being taking out.

Ngayon, ang container yard capacity umakyat po ang utilization. ICTSI (International Container Terminal Services, Inc.) is about 100 percent while ATI (Asian Terminals, Inc.) is about 92 percent.

Pag masyadong mataas ang container yard utilization, lalagyan na naman nila ng containers ang circulation roads which limit the movements of the crane, movements of the truck. Baka ma-affect na naman ang throughout ng trucks so doon po tayo.

Ang solution po dati ay utilize Batangas port. Now Batangas port is now fully utilized. Gamit na gamit po ang Batangas port ngayon.

Pangalawa po, we are now using the port five out of seven days a week. That’s a 20 percent limitation on capacity. We are now encouraging the companies at saka mga brokers and everybody to utilize the extra two days.

Kung magawa po ang extra two days na iyon, then ma-stabilize ang situation po. Then pagdating ng first quarter during the lean season, then we can clear a lot of the congestion sa port.

Pero now na ‘ber’ months na tayo where iyong dating ng containers ay napakalaki, mahirap nating ma-reduce ang port congestion. All we can hope for is really optimize it para hindi ma-hamper masyado ang movement ng goods.

 

Sen. Bam Aquino: During our hearing, napag-usapan iyong pagbabawas ng mga containers and I think the goal was x thousand a day na mailalagay sa PEZA zones.

 

Has that helped out? Nabawasan ba ang containers natin because of those new areas?

A: From our last hearing po, lahat po ng nasabi roon, karamihan nagawa na po. Like the movement of containers to the port, iyong movement of seized containers ng Customs so that’s in fact some is ongoing still. Iyong pagbukas po ng container yards outside the port, gaya sa PEZA, nangyari na po. So marami na pong nadagdag na container yard capacity.

 

Q: But has that lessen the number of containers? If I’m not mistaken, 80,000 containers ang capacity. And you wanted it to bring down to 60 to 65 thousand right?

A: Nasa mga 78,000 yata po tayo ngayon.

 

Q: So by three thousand natin naibaba because ber months na, mas dumarating ang mga ships basically?

A: Oho, tsaka hindi nailalabas ang containers. Let’s say mag-unload tayo ng 4,000 containers, pero mag-lo-load tayo 3,000 lang kaya nadadagdagan per day. Kailangan mag-usap talaga ay with the shipping lines but they have to cooperate.

 

Q: How about domestic shipping lines natin?

A: Hindi po affected.

 

Q: So the port congestion issue, you’re saying, will continue until 2015?

A: Opo.

 

Q: We’re hoping na kapag nag-lean months in the first quarter of 2015, doon tayo mas magbabawas ng containers

A: Opo, during the first three months of 2015.

 

Q: The traffic in NLEX that happened for a few days, that’s a direct consequence of us opening up the lanes sa port?

A: Ang understanding ko po hindi nasunod ang ruta. Na-divert to smaller roads kaya nagkabuhol-buhol po ang traffic.

I guess we didn’t have enough enforcers so it was being ran by the local city government iyong enforcement. So now ang dinecide po ng Palasyo is that the routes going from NLEX to the port will be manned by MMDA and the national police.

 

Q: That special route will be there until 2015?

A: Until ma-resolve po ito. Hopefully, first quarter of next year.

 

Q: There’s no other way to speed up the process of taking out the containers?

A: Kung magawa natin seven days a week. Napaka-critical po iyon. If we’re able to use the additional 20 percent, that will solve almost all of our problems.

 

Q: From the time we had a hearing, di pa rin operational ang port ng weekends and Monday morning?

A: We’ve been pushing. The chambers are part of the task force. Hindi rin nila matulak.

 

Q: Kanina, secretary you mentioned the 9,000 trips?

A: In and out po.

 

Q: Roughly we can only do maximum 4,500 na release per day? We cannot increase that 4,500 to a higher amount?

A: Puwede po. May nakita na po akong report na umakyat ng 9,300. I think hanggang 10,000.

 

Q: So we need to basically, kung one, we need to work during the weekends and that’s dependent on the private sector and our processes need to double out para pabawas tayo at hindi padagdag.

 

 

Transcript of Senator Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Manila Port Congestion Hearing

QUESTION: Ano po ang update sa port congestion hearing?

SEN. AQUINO: Nagrereklamo ang private sector na hindi binubuksan ang port pag weekends, at kung Monday morning. Ngayon nagkakasundo na para ma-decongest talaga ang port natin, kailangan ng extraordinary measures.

The City of Manila is already doing a lot in terms of changing the regulations.

Kailangang papasukin natin ang government agencies ng weekend at Monday mornings para masiguro natin na mas mahaba iyong hours of operation po natin sa port.

 

QUESTION: How about banks, kasi closed iyong banks, isa rin sa itinuturong dahilan?

SEN. AQUINO: Madali namang pakiusapan kahit isa o dalawang branch in that area na magbukas.

Alam ninyo ang isyu na ito, mahalagang mahalaga po ito. Hindi po ito puwedeng palampasin lang. Ang presyo ng bilihin natin, stocks sa merkado, ito po ang nanganganib diyan.

Kailangan ho talaga lahat ng grupo, whether private sector or public sector, nagtutulungan po para maresolba ang isyung ito. Kung hindi magtataas po ang presyo natin at iyon ang ayaw nating mangyari.

 

QUESTION: Ang four weeks, experimental lang ba iyon?

SEN. AQUINO: No. Right now dalawa kasi ang problema. Una kailangan natin ng long-term solution. Dahil kaya po nangyayari ang port congestion, dahil nasa full capacity na siya. Konting aberya lang, nagkakagulo na lahat. So a long-term solution is needed.

Kailangang i-expand natin ang port, palakasin ang Batangas at Subic.

But iyong short-term problem natin, punung-puno na po ang ports natin at kailangan nang madaliin iyong proseso ng pagtanggal ng containers.

So iyong PEZA magbubukas ng area para kunin ang container. Magbubukas po ng Sabado, Linggo at Monday morning para matanggal ang containers doon.

Ang Manila po, nagbukas na po ng mga lanes para mas mabilis ang pagtanggal ng containers.

Sa short-term solution, kailangang magtulungan lahat. Hindi puwedeng Manila lang, national agency lang. Kailangan ang private sector at public sector nagtutulungan para ma-resolve ito at the same time, kailangan ng long-term solution kasi kung hindi, babalik at babalik ang problemang ito.

 

QUESTION: Ano po ba ang tinutukoy ni Mr. Cheung ng “expenses along the way?”

SEN. AQUINO:  Hindi nga nilinaw ni Mr. Cheung kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin. Pero palagay ko siyempre iyong paglilinis dito sa ating mga sistema, sana linisin natin ang korupsiyon sa Port Area.

 

QUESTION: May deadline kung kailan matatapos ang clearing para ma-normalize ang operation?

SEN. AQUINO: Kahapon po ang deadline.

Sa totoo, the more that this congestion happens, the more na nanganganib po ang ating stocks, iyong ating mga presyo, iyong kapakanan po ng taumbayan.

They need to move fast and hopefully, we’ll have a hearing again in five weeks, may makita po tayong totoong resulta sa ating hearing na talagang na-decongest po ang ating ports.

 

QUESTION: Nakaapekto ba ang truck ban sa port congestion?

SEN. AQUINO: I guess, sabi ni Vice Mayor Isko, siguro naging sindi sila sa doon problema but to be very frank, hindi na ito truck ban problem dahil they changed the regulation.

Sabi nga niya, lahat ng hiningi ng national government, binigay naman nila. In fact, gumagawa na sila ng express trade lanes, mula sa South Luzon papunta sa Port diretso, and they’ll be operating that next Monday.

Manila has already done its share, kung ano ang kaya niyang gawin para maresolba ang isyu.

Right now, it’s really a matter of cooperation between the truckers, the logistics, the owners of the containers, ating private at iba’t ibang ahensiya. Kailangang magtulungan talaga.

 

QUESTION: Iyong process sa pagpapalabas ng containers, will you look into that?

SEN. AQUINO: Yes, in fact may na-mention rin kanina tungkol sa corruption issue. I think na-mention ng isang resource speaker na mga along the way fees na hindi nado-document, kailangan ding tingnan iyon.

If we’re going to fix this problem, ayusin na natin ng lubus-lubusan. Hindi lang pansamantala, let’s go for long-term solutions.

Linisin natin ang problema, let’s make it more efficient. Huwag nating hayaang tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin dahil dito.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview Regarding the 2015 Budget

Maraming tao ang nakakalimot that the power of the purse is with the Congress and the Senate. At the end of the day, ang pag-submit ng executive sa amin is still up to our approval.

Even though in the past, masabi natin that they submit is very close to what comes out, there’s still that five-month process kung saan puwede talagang usisain ng bawat congressman at senador, siguraduhin na iyong mga priorities ng ating gobyerno at priorities ng ating bayan ay nagre-reflect sa ating budget.

 

Q: Gusto ng Palace na within six months na kapag hindi pa nagagamit ang funds ay puwede nang i-declare as savings.

A: I think we’ll be undergoing some deliberations on that. Kasama na rin ako sa nagtawag na we put to rest the issue and really define savings once and for all. If we’re able to define savings, really put guidelines there, iyong mga prosesong ganyan can actually be given more credibility and more legitimacy.

What happened doon sa DAP, na kung saan nagkaroon ng iba’t ibang interpretation ang branches of government, can be avoided. Kapag malinaw na talaga kung paano dine-declare ang savings, kung anong pondo ang puwedeng ideklarang savings, kailan ito dinedeklara.

I’m probably sure that throughout this budget process, there will be a parallel process calling for the definition of savings in the Congress.

 

Q: Malinaw naman sa GAA na dapat after one year, why redefine?

A: Maybe it’s not redefine. Maybe it’s going into further detail. Kasi iyong ibang mga nakita rin ng Supreme Court, baka nagkulang rin iyong GAA sa pagbibigay ng more detail sa proseso.

In the past, we left it to the executive to actually determine that. Not just in this administration but in the last.

Now that this controversy broke out, palagay ko the legislative can step in, define things further and make sure there will be no further conflicts of interpretation in the future.

 

Q: Hindi ba malinaw iyan na babangga dahil sinabi na sa GAA na after one year, then we can say its savings.

A: Hindi siya babangga because siyempre when you define something new, it supersedes everything in the past.

I think there’s a need to go into further detail doon sa proseso ng pag-declare ng savings at paggamit ng savings. That will I think at least put to rest a lot of these issues sa DAP and we can move with a clear understanding among all the parties.

I think kinakalimutan din ng tao na it’s the job of Congress and Senate define matters. The executive implements the law, the Supreme Court interprets the law but we actually define the laws.

So hindi rin naman masabi na remiss kami sa aming duty, so that we can actually stop any of these controversies from happening again, we should put it into law already and define it as clearly as possible and of course, make sure everyone follows the specifics of those laws.

 

Q: Compared sa mga nakaraang budget deliberations, mas magiging istrikto ba kayo this time?

A: Ako, istrikto naman ako even the last time.

Ang hinanap namin last time are all the budgets concerned with inclusive growth, support for micro entrepreneurs, tulong sa maliliit na negosyante sa ating bayan.

I think every senator who of course, has their own pet advocacies and areas of expertise, everyone will really be looking at the budget from that perspective and trying to see that there is money behind these priorities.

Para sa akin, we just passed the Go Negosyo Law noong July 15 and I don’t think that’s budgeted yet because nabuo ito (2015 budget) even before July.  So ako hahanapin ko iyon na itong batas na enacted na, although I have to admit ginagawa pa lang ang IRR, this law if this is passed in December, it will be after the IRR, so hahanapin ko dito na mayroong pondo para makatulong sa malilit na negosyante sa ating bayan.

That goes I think for every senator. Hahanapin talaga. We have senators who work for the environment, really focusing on education.

Each and everyone of us really need to look at this document and make sure na iyong pera ng bayan, napupunta talaga sa priorities ng ating bayan.

 

Q: Nasilip ninyo na ba iyong lump sum fund o malaking special purpose fund?

A: I saw it already. Actually if you go further doon sa bawat item, malinaw naman kung saan ito pupunta. May contingency fund, mayroong support for local governments, mayroong disaster, relief and rehabilitation fund.

I think iyong mga definition na iyon means that it can be used for that purpose, kaya siya special purpose. Malinaw kung saan paggagamitan. But you have to admit that those types of funds hindi mo puwedeng idetalye dahil hindi pa nangyayari ang disasters at pangangailangan ng local government.

For example, may nangyaring delubyo sa isang area or nagkaroon ng something very specific sa isang local government na masamang nangyari, they need to have some amount of funds to be able to support that area.

Palagay ko, there is still that need for some leeway and for some space. We’ll just have to make sure na hindi siya kalakihan at kahit papaano, accountable ka pa rin sa pondong iyon.

 

Q: Some leeway meaning?

A: Some leeway, meaning there are some things that happen throughout the year and therefore we need to also trust the executive to be able to use the fund properly.  As much as you want to detail it, talagang may mga bagay-bagay talaga na maiiwan talaga siya sa special purpose.

But if you look at the development of the budget through the years, makikita mo talaga na kumokonti talaga itong mga lump sum. In fact, in the last year’s budget, I remember one of the senators asking na ayaw lang namin iyong classroom, gusto namin talaga pag tinanong ka sa hearing, puwede mong idetalye kung saan classroom ito pupunta o kung anong classroom ang bubuuin.

That goes for most of the budget items but of course, there will always be some level of leeway given to the executive. But I think if we look at other items that in the past are lump sums, these days mayroon ka nang performance based budgeting, mayroong kang targets na nakadikit, mayroong kang outcome na ini-expect per line item.

I think these are reforms that we also need to acknowledge na malayo na rin ang narating ng budget na ito. You’ve been covering this for so many years, I’m sure mapi-pinpoint ninyo ang pinagkaiba ng budget na ito doon sa budgets in the past.

 

Q: May unlimited pork daw sa budget na ito. Sinasabi ng mga solons na bottomless pork nga daw ang nakalagay.

A:  Wala akong nakitang item na bottomless pork but I guess you really have to understand the different roles of each of the branches of government.

Bakit masama ang pork barrel sa legislators. Masama ang pork barrel sa legislators because we are not implementors. We make the laws, we don’t implement the law.

But when you talk about project funds or funds na gagamitin mo para mag-implement, of course nasa executive iyan, di ba.

To actually equate a pork barrel, medyo confusing iyon, or they’re trying to confuse the issue there. I will have to agree, pagdating sa pork barrel sa legislators, hindi talaga iyon dapat sa amin.

But if you’re talking about funds to build bridges, build roads that should really be with the executive dahil iyon ang trabaho nila. Trabaho namin ang gumawa ng batas at hindi mag-implement ng proyekto.

 

Q: Ano ang safeguards to make sure magagamit ang lump sum nang maayos?

A: Kapag nag-he-hearing ka, kailangan mong tanungin kung saan mo nagamit iyan last year.  And if you feel that wasn’t used properly, babawasan mo ang budget. At the end of the day, iyong kapangyarihan ng bawat senador at congressman, kung tingin namin hindi importante ang isang bagay, puwede mong i-zero budget iyan o lessen the budget. That again goes back to the power of the purse of the legislative.

When you look at the budget process, siguro ang isang maganda na rin sa mga kontrobersiyang ito, napag-uusapan ano ba iyong papel ng bawat sangay ng gobyerno.

In our case, its our responsibility is to make sure that every single budget item here is really towards the priorities of the people at hindi sa priorities ng iilang tao lang or pabor lang sa kokonting tao.

This should be in favor of the majority of the Filipino people.  That’s what we will to make sure through this five-month or six-month process.

 

Q: Nagwo-worry daw kayo na magkaroon ng illegal insertions, what do you mean by that sir?

A: Again in the process of this budget pag may nakapasok diyan, kailangan pati iyon usisain natin. We need to make sure it goes to the right process. Once this is signed and put into law, every congressman, every senator, nandito ang mga pangalan at pirma namin.

We need to be proud of this document and we need to be sure that every single peso here does go to the people.

And if it doesn’t go to the people, that’s where the judiciary comes in, that’s where our investigations come in and that’s where you make sure iyong accountability naman ng executive sa paggamit ng perang ito.

 

Q: Illegal insertions, what do you mean by that?

A: Every single item there, dapat may justification iyan. Dapat pabor iyan sa karamihan ng Pilipino. Dapat tumutulong iyan sa mahihirap sa ating bansa. If there’s anything new that comes here, dapat pasok pa rin sa criteria na iyon.

Na walang masisingit diyan na para lang sa iilang tao, or pabor sa mga pekeng NGO. We need to make sure that each item here does indeed go to the benefit of the Filipino people.

 

Q: Mas strict ba kayo ngayon after DAP and PDAF issues?

A: Even last time, medyo istrikto naman kami. I’m hoping now ang taumbayan natin makikilahok. When the budget season happens, it’s a lengthy process here in the Senate and Congress.

Usually inaabot tayo ng umaga diyan, Kayo rin inaabot in the wee hours of the morning. I think, with all of these controversies, panahon na ang taumbayan natin get involved in the process. If I’m not mistaken, this should be uploaded already sa Internet.

Usisain ng taumbayan at tingnan talaga nila. Let them be involved in the process and make this a participatory type of budget process. Ang mga senador naman, nakikinig iyan sa taumbayan.

Lets go over it. Huwag nating payagan na iyong mga usual komentarista lang or ang oposisyon o administrasyon lang ang nagsasalita. Let people go over it and tingnan talaga nila iyong mga pangangailangan ng ating lugar, ng aking komunidad, naso-solve ba ng budget na ito. That’s why we have public hearings and long process to allow people to come in also and be part of this process.

I’m hoping with all of these controversies, magkakaroon ng partisipasyon ang taumbayan natin dito. Ako naman, if we look at the priorities, I’m hoping that the top priorities — education, health, support services and of course, my own advocacy, which is support for our micro and small entrepreneurs.

Iyong tulong sa mahihirap sa ating bayan, hopefully makita rin natin na tuluy-tuloy ang tulong na ito and its really felt by the people.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the WASAK: Walang Asenso sa Kotong Campaign Launch

On WASAK Hotline

Actually, ang pag-launch natin ng WASAK campaign, binuo natin ito para makatulong talaga sa ating malilit na negosyante. Usually kasi, iyong mga civil servant, other government officials o kaya si city hall mismo ang mga may members na humihingi ng kotong o under the table, usually ang komento nila walang matakbuhan.

Ni-launch po namin ito para ngayon kung mayroon man kumukotong, under the table o red tape, puwede na pong puntahan o itext ang ating WASAK number 0908-881-6565.

Ito po ay upang may matakbuhan ang ating entrepreneurs kapag sila’y hina-harass o hinihingan ng under the table para maramdaman nila na mayroong tutulong sa kanila.

We have all the different agencies here, ranging from the CSC to the DOJ, DTI and DILG kasi bawat hakbang po niyan, iba iba po ang posibleng penalty. It could be administrative, meaning Civil Service Commission.

It could actually be a criminal case kaya kasama po natin ang DOJ dito.

We’re hoping na isa itong paraan para maramdaman ng ating mamamayan na mayroon silang kasangga, katulong laban sa korupsiyon sa ating bayan.

 

On President Aquino’s DAP speech

Para sa akin, nilinaw ng Presidente ang mga dahilan niya kaya niya itinaguyod ang DAP. Sabi nga niya na hindi lang ito legal, and of course he cited the Administrative Code of 1987, pero nasabi niya na sa kanyang posisyon, kaya ba niyang hintayin pa ang isang taon bago makatulong sa ating taumbayan. That was, of course the main reason for running the program.

And I’m hoping na ang Supreme Court ay makinig din sa kanyang request, sa kanyang mga dahilan, at ang taumbayan din natin, sikapin din na intindihin din kung ano ba talaga ang nasa likod ng programang ito.

Nasabi niya kahapon na ang nadatnan niyang budget noong 2010 halos ubos na.

Noong 2011, maraming mga ahensiya ang talagang may leakage o may corruption issues. They needed to do some changes in the budget to be able to fulfill the needs of the people.

Palagay ko, ang nasabi niyang iyon ay mula sa kanyang puso, and I’m hoping na ang taumbayan natin at iyong Supreme Court ay makinig sa kanyang speech kahapon at sa kanyang motion for reconsideration.

 

On Possible Constitutional Crisis

I don’t think so. Huwag nating kalimutan na wala na ring DAP. It’s already done.

Ang constitutional crisis is an ongoing act. Patuloy iyang ginagawa habang ang isang branch of government naman ay sinasabi na itigil na ito.

But in fairness, natigil na ito dahil na-correct na ang kailangang gawin sa budget.  By 2013, it was already done.

I think a constitutional crisis will only continue if patuloy na ginagawa ang isang bagay habang pinapatigil naman ng ahensiya ng gobyerno iyon. At this point, wala nang DAP.

Palagay ko hindi constitutional crisis ang posibleng mangyari. Siguro di pagkakaunawaan o di tanggapin ang posibleng sabihin ng Supreme Court.

But at this point, I think everyone is looking at the motion for reconsideration. Siguro kailangan din nating Hintayin ang isasagot ng Supreme Court sa MR na ihahain ng gobyerno.

 

Hypothetically, in case ma-deny ang MR, should the administration just accept it? Kasi medyo combative ang tono ng Presidente?

ANSWER: Nandoon ako. On the contrary, para sa akin hindi combative. Nagtataka nga ako kung bakit lahat ng diyaryo sinasabi combative.

I actually felt it was very sober. He was in good spirits.

Iyon iyong dating sa akin, hindi siya combative. Nagtataka nga ako, challenges, fights, goes to war, I think all of these really are exaggerations.

Palagay ko ang nangyari kahapon, inexplain niya ang side niya. Hopefully, ang taumbayan ay nakinig dito, pati na rin ang Supreme Court.

Hintayin natin kung ano ang sasabihin ng Supreme Court. I’m still hoping na there are some things na hindi nila nakita. In fact, the President cited several provisions na hindi na-cite ng Supreme Court.

Hopefully, they’ll be able to look at those provisions and see things in a different light.

 

QUESTION: Itinigil na naman ang DAP, why the need to challenge the Supreme Court?

ANSWER: Alam ninyo, pag gumagawa ka kasi ng tama tapos sinasabihan ka na mali ang ginagawa mo, mahirap talagang tanggapin iyon.

Honestly, I really believe kung saan nanggagaling si Presidente even si Secretary Abad – there is a definite need na ayusin ang budget process, itigil ang corrupt practices, gamitin ang budget nang mas maayos, palagay ko ang kanilang pagnanais na gawin iyan para sa taumbayan, mahirap tanggapin na sabihin na mali iyon.

Even the President used the metaphor na mahirap na kinakasuhan ka na hindi mo naman alam na bawal pala iyon. He did cite legal provisions to back up what they did sa DAP.

Palagay ko sa isang tao na nagsisikap gumawa ng tama, pag sinasabihan na mali ang ginagawa mo kahit maganda naman ang nangyayari, mahirap talagang tanggapin iyon. I think that’s the reason na itutuloy nila ang MR and hope for the best.

 

QUESTION: Do you think the speech last night would improve his ratings?

ANSWER: For a few weeks, I think, Malacanang just allowed all detractors to really just speak and this the first time that he speak after the ruling came out.

I’m hoping na ang taumbayan natin, pakinggan ang kanyang explanation at maghusga for themselves kung ang reason ng Presidente ay katanggap-tanggap sa kanila.

Si PNoy, sa pagkakaalam ko sa kanya, whatever public perception is, gagawin niya ang tama. That’s the type of president we have.

So, maybe public perception probably ay secondary sa kanya.

Ang pinaka-primary talaga, ginagawa niya ang tingin niyang kailangan ng taumbayan.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview at Kapihan sa Diamond Hotel

On Constitutional Change/Entry on Foreign Ownership on Businesses

A. To be frank, I don’t think we need to change the Constitution. We can actually get the investments even without changing the Constitution. Changing the Constitution is too large an endeavor to do in 2014 right before 2016.

That will probably mean the next president will be the one tackling changes to the Constitution. Alam ko po si Speaker Belmonte is very adamant about it but in the Senate, there’s really not much movement in terms of any constitutional changes.

I don’t think we’ll have that in the next two to three years. Probably the next president will undergo that if that’s the priority of the next president.

In the meantime, if you’re waiting for that before you move, it’s a moving target. We really have to do the reforms that can be done currently within our constitution.

Get the investments in.  In other countries, they have even stricter but they were able to get the investments.

It’s a matter of balancing your incentives, the investments you want to get in the country in the next two to three years.

 

On government Relying Too Much on OFWs Remittances

A. Remittances are big part of our economy and in fact, malaking bagay po siya. We have to thank our OFWs for that.

But the drive to go from consumption to production goes through increasing jobs and supporting enterprise kaya iyon po ang aking pinaka-focus. Kailangan po ng mas may production dito.

That’s why DTI is moving to revitalize our manufacturing sector.

Ang ating BPO industry is trying to go beyond voice and go into other services that it can provide. Definitely, there is a push for jobs and enterprise here and that will actually balance our dependency on remittances.

If you look at our portfolio and the things that we have pushed for, our Microfinance bill, our Go Negosyo bill, our Youth Entrepreneurship bill, lahat ng mga tinutulak natin, it all leads to that.

To try to have a stronger economy here that is more equitable, recognizing our growth and at the same time, making sure this growth reaches the poorest Filipinos.

 

On Controversies Hounding Senate

A. Well ang trabaho ng senador o kongresista ay gumawa ng polisiya at batas para sa kapakanan ng sambayanang Pilipino.

Without PDAF, it really forces you to focus on legislative work. Iyan na ang nagiging focus namin but then again, just because wala ka nang PDAF, it doesn’t mean you cannot engage in programs.

May nagtanong sa akin noon, Senator, paano po ba ibabalik ang tiwala sa Senado ngayong bagsak na bagsak ang tiwala sa inyo?

No amount of words will get the people’s trust back.  It’s really your output and your work. Kapag nakikita na nagtatrabaho ka para sa kapakanan ng tao, maybe at some point babalik ang tiwala nila sa iyo.

We just committed to work hard and make sure na ang mga naipangako natin noong campaign ay gagawin natin.

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Hearing on the Slow and Expensive Internet Connection

Q: Kumusta po ang inyong hearing?

A: Marami pang kailangang pag-usapan, to be frank. We just suspended the hearing but you can expect that in a few months, we will have another hearing on this because marami pang unresolved issues.

 

Changes in Advertising

We talked mostly about the problems today but I really want to talk about solutions. One I think iyong changes sa ating advertising, I think that would be quite good for our consumers na mas malinaw kung ano ang nakukuha nila pagdating sa Internet.

Congestion

Pangalawa iyong pagdating sa congestion. We’ve instructed NTC to actually check if indeed congestion is the main problem kung bakit mabagal ang Internet.

Sabi ko nga, kung congestion ito na once in a blue moon, then maybe you can say ok at that particular time, mahina ang Internet. But if it a regular type of congestion, araw-araw mong nararanasan, that’s something that has to be addressed regularly.

Value-Added Service vs. Basic Service

Now, NTC has said na Internet natin is considered as a value-added service, hindi siya basic service meaning hindi siya makapagregulate nang todo-todo dahil hindi ito kasama sa basic services natin.

I think that can be one of the laws that could be amended na gawin nating basic service ang Internet. It is already recognized as a human right and if we make it a basic service, at least puwede talaga nating bantayan kung paano ito puwedeng maikalat sa maraming Pilipino, at the right cost and at the right service level.

Next Step: Technical Working Group

The TWG will probably tackle this more in detail. Hopefully aantabayanan po natin iyan kung paano gumalaw.

Kasi ang nagiging problema sa maraming hearing, nag-uusap-usap pero walang nangyayari.

Hindi natin iiwanan ang isyung ito.

Every quarter we can have this hearing and make sure that we get closer to affordable and quality Internet for our country.

 

Q: Puwede bang babaan ang charges sa Internet na mabagal?

A. Sa totoo lang, NTC cannot regulate even on that because it’s not a basic service.

It is a market driven system right now.  If we’re able to make Internet a basic service, it can one of the services which is regulated.

Alam naman natin na sa ating bansa, may mga regulators tayo, they can basically dictate the prices for certain services and if we’re able to make Internet a basic service, puwede nang gawin iyan. Puwede nang mag-regulate.

 

Q: Sir ano ang mga standards that you want to set?

A: In fact, in the Philippine Digital Strategy, nakalagay doon na by 2016, kailangang 80 percent na ng ating mga kababayan ang mayroong internet access and nasa minimum of 2 MPBS.

Mayroon na tayong standard na kailangang sundan. This Philippine Digital Strategy was made by DOST in 2010.

In fact, binabantayan natin kung umaabot tayo sa standards na iyon. According to the private sector and NTC, mukhang maaabot naman ang 80 percent access by 2016.

But iyong regularity of speed and iyong cost ang dapat bantayan, na dapat affordable pa rin ito at tuluy-tuloy at hindi dapat pawala-wala.

 

Q: Sino ba dapat magre-regulate? Dapat pa ba tayong mag-create ng regulator?

We have a regulator and that’s the NTC. So alam ninyo iyong isang na-reason kanina ay do we need new laws or just have NTC regulate.

In some cases, puwede na silang mag-regulate but in case of the Internet, na hindi considered as basic service, kailangan itong gawing basic service.

 

Q: Sir, how do we do that?

We’ll amend the Public Service Act, which is a 1936 law.

Isipin mo, we’re talking about high-tech information age and we’re still using a 1936 law.

So it’s about time that we update this law and we use those amendments to really push for better access, more affordable internet in the Philippines.

 

Q: This means powerless po ang government?

No that’s not right. In fact, we asked NTC to come up with standards for Internet. Initially, walang pa silang standard na sini-set because this is a value added service.

Standards

To respond lang sa hinaing ng maraming Pilipino, kahit iyong ibang senador may hinaing na rin sila, it’s just right that they come up with standards to check the infrastructure kung talagang kaya ng infrastructure natin ang pinapangakong speed ng ating Internet.

Kung hindi, pilitin natin ang private sector na ma-match ang standards na nakalay-out na at gagawin ng NTC.

Responsibility of Users

Iyong kabaligtad din dito I think, we must be responsible users of the Internet just to be fair. Earlier nga na-mention na iilang tao lang na heavy users, apektado ang lahat.

Kung 24/7 ka sa mobile, panay ang download mo, nakakaapekto sa mga kasama mo.

 

Q: Sir in your next hearing ano po ang tututukan ninyo?

A: First we’ll have a TWG. All of the resource speakers, the NTC, DOST, DTI and telco partners. We’ll invite the other ISPs. I think mahalaga rin dito ang ating local government units.

 

Puro Salita

Himayin natin ang discussion natin and come up with specific recommendations and from there, we’ll give it maybe two to three months to have another hearing para ma-track natin kung may nangyayari ba o wala.

Ang masakit kasi, puro salita at walang nangyayari. By the next hearing, after three months, we can check already, mayroon ba tayong solusyon na naihain o nagawa na o wala pa rin.

 

On Local Government Units

Iyon isa ring siguro na na-raise ay iyong sa local government units. Sinasabi ng ating telcos, hindi pare-pareho ang pagtrato sa kanila ng LGUs. There are some LGUs who will charge a really high amount, ang iba naman will charge less.

Nahihirapan sila (telcos) na i-roll out ang kanilang services. Kaya it’s important also to have the DILG, League of Cities and the League of Municipalities to have a common stand that when it comes to Internet and providing, kailangang tulung-tulong tayo rito.

On Congestion

Standards when it terms to congestion. At the minimum, they can actually show kung iyong infrastructure natin nagma-match sa population or Internet usage, para kung congestion nga ang problema, makita natin kung ano ang paraan kung anong ma-decongest natin.

Q: What’s the issue with Internet peering?

A: Well this is something NTC is already working on. We’ll ask for an update on the next hearing or during the TWG.

Ibig sabihih nito nagko-connect locally ang ating mga nodes. To be frank, maybe a technical answer might be better.

 

Paikot-ikot

Simply put, kunyari galing akong Quezon City pupunta akong Makati, dadaan akong EDSA. Hindi na ako iikot sa Manila Bay, pupunta pa sa Cebu at babalik pa bago makarating sa Makati.

This makes the nodes faster. I think NTC is already working on this, and we’ll look for updates after three months on this issue.

 

Q. Kasama po ba ang mga text na pinapadala ng network na may promo sa resolusyon ninyo?

A: It’s not part of the resolution but we can add it.

 

Q: Kung minsan matutulog ka na lang may magtetext, akala ko importante.

A: I can have that checked. Pag nandoon na ang NTC puwede nating patanong iyon. But primarily kasi, the question is more on the expensive Internet.

Compared to other countries, medyo lumalayo na ang presyo. So we’re hoping kung ma-refer na siya sa aming committee today, we’re hoping to have the hearing next week.

 

Q: Hindi magkakalayo ang mga rates nila, so puwede ba nating sabihin na maaaring may cartel rin sila?

A: Hard to say that that’s a crime.

 

Fair Competition

But babalik din tayo diyan sa competition policy. That’s one of the bills we’re pushing for.  If you have better competition, you have more people in the market, mas competitive, mas bababa ang presyo.

 

Roadmap for Internet

Primarily gusto naming tanungin sa NTC, ano ang roadmap natin.

Technically, regulated industry iyan, NTC should have a roadmap in terms of the price and quality.

Unfortunately, napag-iwanan na tayo ng ibang mga bansa so we want to see. Antabayanan natin kung anong sasabihin nila.

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview on the Slow, Expensive Internet

Q. Kasama po ba ang mga text na pinapadala ng network na may promo sa resolusyon ninyo?

A: It’s not part of the resolution but we can add it.

QUESTION: Kung minsan matutulog ka na lang may magtetext, akala ko importante.

ANSWER: I can have that checked. Pag nandoon na ang NTC puwede nating patanong iyon. But primarily kasi, the question is more on the expensive Internet.

 Compared to other countries, medyo lumalayo na ang presyo. So we’re hoping kung ma-refer na siya sa aming committee today, we’re hoping to have the hearing next week.

QUESTION: Hindi magkakalayo ang mga rates nila, so puwede ba nating sabihin na maaaring may cartel rin sila?

ANSWER: Hard to say that that’s a crime.

But babalik din tayo diyan sa competition policy. That’s one of the bills we’re pushing for.  If you have better competition, you have more people in the market, mas competitive, mas bababa ang presyo.

 Primarily gusto naming tanungin sa NTC, ano ang roadmap natin. Technically, regulated industry iyan, NTC should have a roadmap in terms of the price and quality.

Unfortunately, napag-iwanan na tayo ng ibang mga bansa so we want to see. Antabayanan natin kung anong sasabihin nila.

 

QUESTION: Kailan iyon?

ANSWER: If it is referred today, we can have that (investigation) next week. Kung ma-refer siya today.

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