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Sen. Bam vows to continue serving Filipino people in a private capacity
Saying he already entrusted his fate in the 2019 elections to God, Sen. Bam Aquino has committed to continue serving the Filipino people in whatever way he can in a private capacity.
“Hindi man tayo pinalad na makakuha ng pangalawang termino, hindi mauubos ang pagmamahal ko sa ating mga kababayan at kagustuhang manilbihan sa kapwa, bagkus sa ibang larangan naman,” Sen. Bam said in a statement.
“Napakalaking karangalan ang manilbihan sa taumbayan kaya’t lubus-lubos ang pasasalamat ko sa mga nakatrabaho at sumuporta sa akin sa loob ng anim na taon at sa mga walang pagod na nangampanya nitong nakaraang mga buwan,” he added.
Days before the elections, Sen. Bam said he already surrendered his fate to God, believing in His plans for him and for the country.
“Bago pa man ang araw ng eleksyon, ipinaubaya ko na sa Diyos ang resulta. At buo pa rin ang tiwala ko sa Kanyang plano para sa akin at higit sa lahat, para sa ating Bayan,” said Sen. Bam.
In his six years as senator, Sen. Bam has 43 laws to his name, including the landmark Free College Law and the Go Negosyo Act.
Manay Lolit, Tita Cristy set aside political leaning, warm up to ‘dilawan’ Sen. Bam and wife
Despite being on the opposite side of the political fence, Sen. Bam Aquino and his wife Timi were warmly welcomed by showbiz talk show hosts Cristy Fermin and Lolit Solis as guests in the initial airing of their online talk show “Take It…Per Minute!” on Tuesday.
Sen. Bam and his wife thanked the veteran talk show hosts for the chance to connect with their avid online followers.
“Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat kay Manay Lolit at Tita Cristy sa pagkakataon na makausap sila at ang kanilang mga tagasuporta. Salamat po sa inyong pagiging bukas na makinig sa aming mag-asawa,” said Sen. Bam.
Manay Lolit and Tita Cristy are known administration allies and close friends of former President Joseph Estrada’s sons Jinggoy and Jude, but they set aside their political inclination and received with open arms the lawmaker and his wife.
“Kasi noong una, siyempre pag sinabing ‘dilawan’, alam niyo naman kung saan kami naroroon. Iba iyong nasasalat mo ang senador at kanyang wife, nababasag ang pader sa gitna,” Tita Cristy said during the latter part of the show.
During the show, Sen. Bam and his wife gamely answered the controversial questions thrown by the veteran talk show hosts about issues on trolls, fake news and being part of the opposition.
“Noong una, pinapalitan lang ang Wikipedia page ko. Pero noong 2016, lumala na dahil may violence na. Ang worse niyan, noong tinawag akong terorista, na may kinalaman tayo sa Marawi, iyon ang pinakamalala,” said Sen. Bam.
Sometimes, Sen. Bam said trolls twist some of his measures to make them appear negative and resort to name-calling to destroy his credibility, but he always side with the truth to ward off fake news.
“Magandang panlaban sa kasinungalingan ay ang katotohanan,” said Sen. Bam, who said that the attacks against the so-called “dilawan” began when the current administration assumed power in 2016.
“Lahat ng nagawa ng previous administration ginawang mali. Nag-focus doon sa mga mali at mga kakulangan at tinakpan ang mga magandang nagawa,” said Sen. Bam.
Timi, for her part, admitted that she was sometimes affected by the “dilawan” tag, but she managed to get over it once she’s with Filipinos in poor communities who are desperate for help.
“Kahit 30 minutes ka lang nandoon, makikita mo na mas malaki ang problema ng mga kababayan natin, kaya balewala ang mga atake sa inyo sa Facebook,” said Timi.
“Take It…Per Minute!” airs live every Tuesday, 12 noon to 1 p.m. via Pilipino Star Ngayon’s Facebook account.
Sen. Bam welcomes Kris Aquino’s support behind free college law
Sen. Bam Aquino expressed gratitude to his cousin, actress/TV host Kris Aquino, for supporting his push for free college law that would give a better opportunity for Filipino students to have a better life through education.
“Nagpapasalamat po ako kay Ate Kris at sa mga kababayan nating naniniwala sa ipinaglalaban natin sa Senado na dapat may oportunidad na makatapos ng kolehiyo ang bawat Pilipino ano man ang kalagayan sa buhay,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law.
Sen. Bam echoed Kris’ statement that education is the best gift to Filipino children, which is now possible through the free college law.
“Tama po si Ate Kris, mahalagang pamana sa ating mga anak ang makatapos sila. Dati pangarap lang po ito para sa mga kababayan nating mahirap pero ngayon ay posible na dahil sa Free College Law,” said Sen. Bam.
Kris quickly sent a statement after Sen. Bam was asked about his cousin’s support in his re-election bid during a television debate last Sunday.
Sen. Bam emphasized that the support of the Filipino people behind the free college law serves as inspiration amid the fake news and black propaganda being thrown his way.
“Malaking bagay po ang tiwala ninyo lalo na sa gitna ng kabi-kabilang paninira at fake news na ibinabato sa akin at sa trabaho natin sa Senado,” Sen. Bam pointed out.
“Nagpapalakas po ng loob ang suporta ninyo. Inspirasyon po ito na ilaban na tiyaking ang bawat graduate ay magandang trabaho,” he added.
As he seeks re-election under the Otso Diretso slate, Sen. Bam said he will work to ensure employment for all graduates and push other education reforms such as improvement of facilities and benefits for teachers.
In his almost six years as lawmaker, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name.
Int’l group backs urgent passage of Sen. Bam’s compensation bill for Marawi victims
An international organization is calling for the urgent passage of Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure that seeks to provide monetary compensation to Marawi City residents who lost their homes and other private properties to the siege perpetrated by the ISIS-inspired Maute group last year.
According to Francisco Lara, senior adviser of International Alert Philippines, the enactment of the Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1816 or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2018 will help hasten the rebuilding of the war-torn city and help mend the wounds created by the conflict.
“It’s very important. It’s very important in terms of healing wounds created by the war in Marawi,” said Lara.
Lara stressed that it is unfair for the people of Marawi that a compensation bill is taking this long to pass, considering the urgency of the situation.
“It’s unfair that a compensation bill is taking this long to pass. This is the only thing the victims have to look forward to,” said Lara.
Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1816 on May 22, 2018, pointing out that the monetary compensation will give Marawi residents with means to immediately recover from the damage and destruction to their homes and private property caused by the Marawi siege.
“Sa ngayon, wala pang paraan upang mabigyan sila ng tulong mula sa gobyerno na katumbas ng kanilang personal na ari-arian na nawala at nasira sa bakbakan,” said Sen. Bam.
“Ang tulong na ito’y isang hakbang upang masiguro ang kapayapaan at ang daan tungo sa kasaganaan sa Marawi at sa buong bayan,” he added.
Based on earlier computation by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the rehabilitation of Marawi City will come with a tag price of around P51.7 billion.
As member of the member of the Special Committee on Marawi City Rehabilitation, Sen. Bam filed Senate Resolution No. 661 last February 26, 2018, asking the committee to look into the government’s moral and ethical obligation to provide financial assistance and support to victims of the siege. However, Sen. Bam’s resolution was not acted upon.
On May 23, 2017, the ISIS-inspired Maute Group attacked Marawi City, destroying public infrastructure, private properties and holding hundreds of civilian hostage.
The attack displaced thousands of Marawi residents from their homes and forced them to seek shelter in evacuation centers or live with their relatives in nearby cities. The attack also destroyed business establishments that served as source of income, livelihood and employment for many Marawi residents.
After government forces successfully regained control of the city and killed known international terrorist Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute, the administration declared Marawi City liberated from ISIS-inspired forces on Oct. 17, 2017.
‘No one, no place is safe’ – Sen. Bam expresses concern over murder of Father Nilo
Senator Bam Aquino expressed serious concerns over the death of Father Richmond Nilo and other priests, saying it underscores the growing culture of impunity and escalating violence in our country.
“Nangyari ito sa isang sagradong lugar, sa harap ng maraming tao. Kung hindi pa tayo natatakot at nababahala, hindi ko na po alam,” said Sen. Bam, as he visited the priest’s wake in Nueva Ecija.
“Wala nang ligtas kahit sino, kahit saan. Pati loob ng ating mga simbahan pinasok na ng karahasan,” Sen. Bam added.
As a response, Sen. Bam will file a resolution to investigate the peace and order situation in the country in light of the flagrant killings of religious leaders.
The senator said the deaths of the three Catholic priests in public and out in the open has roused fear and deep anguish to Filipinos who find comfort in their faith and religious community.
He added that the incidents merit a probe so Congress can support the quest for justice and strengthen efforts to ensure the safety and security of our country’s religious leaders.
Last June 10, 2018, Father Nilo, was shot by two unknown assailants as he was walking towards the altar to preside over Sunday mass at a small chapel of Nuestra Senora dela Nieve, in Barangay Mayamot in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija.
There have been 4 known attacks on Catholic priests in the past 6 months, resulting in 3 deaths.
“Ito ba ang peace and order na pinangako ng administrasyon? Ang mga mahihirap at mga tagapagtanggol ng mga mahihirap ang nabibiktima,” Sen. Bam stressed.
Sen. Bam’s co-sponsorship speech on appointment of Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat
Dear colleagues, campaigning for relatives is a common experience for most, if not all of us here today.
In my case, during the 1987 and the 1992 senatorial elections, I campaigned for my uncle, former senator Butz Aquino.
Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, whom I call Ate Berna, was campaigning for her father, former senator Bert Romulo.
I was 9 at the time, and she was maybe 15 or 16. And from then, until today, I consider her a big sister.
In that group of youth volunteers, campaigning for our respective relatives, she was, in many ways, everyone’s Ate.
Through the years, Berna Romulo-Puyat has had different professions. And she has excelled in all of them – despite being underestimated because of her looks and because she is a woman.
While Ate Berna is definitely petit in stature, she is definitely not petit in competence.
In fact, she earned a reputation as a terror prof in UP, much like her mentor Mareng Winnie Monsod.
She would shock her students by sitting in the back of the classroom, blending in as one of the students, while they spoke candidly about her and her class, only to reveal belatedly, that she was the professor.
As Undersecretary for Special Concerns at the Department of Agriculture, she didn’t just visit and speak to farmers, she worked with them, planting rice on the rice terraces and harvesting coffee beans in Bukidnon.
Capable, passionate and inspired, she linked farmers to markets and institutional buyers here and abroad. She also used Madrid Fusion as a venue to showcase the produce of Filipino farmers made delicious by out local cooks… to the delight of foreign chefs and gourmands.
Now, Sec. Berna is challenged to whip the Department of Tourism into shape, after the alarming reports of corruption and patronage in the agency.
She’s tasked with the sustainable development of own our tourism industry, and with getting local and foreign tourists to be just as enthusiastic as she is about the wonders of the Philippines.
We are confident she is up to the task and will get the job done!
For those who doubt her abilities, allow me to use her brother Erwin’s words:
You underestimate Berna at your own peril.
With that, Mr. Majority Leader, Mr. President, let me state my full support for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat as the Secretary of our Department of Tourism.
Sen. Bam: Severe price increases with no cash transfer to poor families, grounds for TRAIN suspension
Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the excessive price increases, unprecedented inflation rate and government’s failure to deliver on the unconditional cash transfer program are sufficient grounds to suspend the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.
“Hirap na hirap na ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin. Mula tatlo, ngayon dalawang beses kada araw na lang kumain ang ilang pamilya. Masasabi pa ba nating magtiis na lang sila?” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.
Sen. Bam was alluding to Socio-Economic Planning Sec. Ernesto Pernia’s pronouncement that Filipinos should just tighten their belts and live with the effects of the tax reform law.
“Ang malala rito, hindi pa nabibigay ng gobyerno ang pinangakong financial assistance ng TRAIN sa higit 6 million na pamilya. Sapat na dapat ito para isuspindi ang TRAIN law,” said Sen. Bam, who is pushing to suspend the TRAIN Law, particularly the excise tax on fuel.
Under Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 1798, the excise tax on fuel under TRAIN will automatically be suspended when the average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.
Sen. Bam successfully included this safeguard during the TRAIN deliberations, but the provision was removed from the final draft of the law during the bicameral conference.
“Sagad na ang pagtitiis ng mga Pilipino sa pagtaas ng presyo. Gawin naman natin ang ating makakaya para bigyan sila ng kaunting ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the targeted collections for excise tax on fuel in 2018 is only P70-billion, compared to government underspending last year amounting to P390 billion.
“Hindi lang TRAIN ang pinagkukunan ng budget. We can ‘Build, Build, Build’ and provide Filipinos free college tuition in SUCs even without collections from the excise tax on fuel,” Sen. Bam asserted.
Sen. Bam: PH Rise is not for China to name
Benham Rise is clearly Philippine territory and its features are not for China to name.
It is only right that the government counter any further moves to name features of our territory and propose remedies for the two formally named by China through the International Hydrographic Organization.
I hope that the hearing I will chair on February 26 will bring clarity to the issue and help determine next steps.
It is imperative that we protect our territory from any foreign interest.
Dapat nang magkaroon ng matibay at malinaw na plano ang pamahalaan sa Philippine Rise, lalo ngayong unti-unti nang kumikilos ang China para ito’y angkinin.
Huwag nating isuko na parang West Philippine Sea ang napakahalagang yamang ito.
Sen. Bam: All systems go for free college education!
Sen. Bam Aquino happily announced that the revolutionary reform for free college education has been funded by Congress, as he voted in support of the ratification of the 2018 national budget.
“Ngayon na may pondo na ng 40 bilyong piso para sa libreng kolehiyo, maaasahan ng mga estudyante na magiging libre na ang tuition at miscellaneous fees sa mga pampublikong unibersidad at kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act in the Senate.
“Natutuwa tayo na mas maraming Pilipino na ang makaka-graduate sa kolehiyo salamat sa tulong ng gobyerno,” added Sen. Bam.
According to Sen. Bam, the bicameral conference committee allotted P40 billion in the 2018 budget for free college education in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and TESDA-run vocational schools.
“We thank the members of the bicameral conference committee for prioritizing education. Our sincerest gratitude to our Finance Committee chairperson, Sen. Loren Legarda for defending and working to keep the budget for free education,” said Sen. Bam.
However, Sen. Bam said there’s still work to be done once the law is rolled out. “We must ensure that the law is implemented properly for the benefit of our students,” said Sen. Bam.
Thanks to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, tuition fees will be free in SUCs, LUCs and TESDA-run technical vocational schools.
Students will also be spared from paying miscellaneous and all other mandatory fees while scholarship grants will be made available to students of both public and private college and universities.
Under RA 10931, students can also avail of the new and improved student loan program, where they can apply for financing for other educational needs.
“Now that more Filipinos have access to a college education, let’s work on improving the quality of public education in the country,” stressed Sen. Bam.
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