Balik Scientist Act

Sen. Bam Aquino: Tuloy ang laban, tuloy ang trabaho

Being part of the opposition hasn’t stopped Sen. Bam Aquino from working on reforms that benefit the Filipino people.

“Tuloy lang ang laban, tuloy ang pagtrabaho sa mga repormang kailangan ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam, who just passed his 21st and 22nd law in his five years as senator.

 Recently, Republic Act 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act, which Sen. Bam pushed as principal sponsor and principal author, has been signed into law to encourage Filipino scientists abroad to return home and contribute to solving the country’s problems.

“Kailangan ng bawat bansa ng mga scientists para guminhawa ang buhay at umunlad ang bayan. Sila ang susi sa mga makabagong solusyon na kailangang kailangan ngayon,” said Sen. Bam on the passage of his law.

 Sen. Bam was also a co-author of the Philippine Mental Health Law, which is now known as Republic Act 11036.

Despite being a member of the opposition, Sen. Bam has committed to work for the welfare of the Filipino, especially the poor.

“Kapag makatutulong sa pamilyang Pilipino, lalo na sa mahihirap, mauuna akong sumuporta,” said Sen. Bam.

However, Sen. Bam said he will be at the forefront of the fight when it comes to policies that will burden the Filipino people.

  “Ngunit pag may magpapahirap lalo sa mga Pilipino, mauuna rin akong tumutol,” asserted Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.

Sen. Bam continues to speak up on the issue of rising prices and is pushing for a measure to roll back the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

Sen. Bam welcomes passage of his 22nd law in support of Filipino scientists

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the passage of the law that provides necessary assistance to Filipino scientists who will return to the country and help strengthen its research and development capability. 
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Repubic Act 11035 or the Balik Scientist Act in the Senate as principal sponsor and principal author. The law is Sen. Bam’s 22nd in his five years as senator. 
 
“Malaking tulong ang batas na ito upang mahikayat ang mga Pinoy scientists na bumalik sa bansa at tumulong sa pagpapaunlad sa bayan at sa buhay ng mga Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. 
 
“Matutugunan din ng batas na ito ang kakulangan ng bansa sa scientists, upang makasabay na tayo sa ating mga kapitbahay sa Asya na mas marami ang nagtatrabaho sa research and development,” added Sen. Bam. 
 
During the committee hearing, it was discovered that the country has 189 scientists per million, far from the ideal ratio of 380 scientists per million. 
 
Currently, the Philippines trails South Korea and United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million. 
 
The Balik Scientist Act will provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development. 
 
Aside from the Balik Scientist Act, Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and co-author of the Amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, and Researchers bill and the Innovative Start-up Act, which is currently being tackled in the plenary. 
 
Meanwhile, President Duterte also signed into law Republic Act 11036 or the Philippine Mental Health Law, which Sen. Bam pushed as co-author.

Sen. Bam continues productive streak, even in minority bloc

Senator Bam Aquino once again proved his willingness and ability to pass significant reforms, even after his removal as chairman of the education committee and confinement into the minority bloc.

“Kahit tayo’y nasa minorya at oposisyon, hindi ito hadlang para magtrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng bansa at ng lahat ng Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

Hard at work as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, measures to support scientists and researchers are now closer to becoming law.

One is the Balik-Scientist Act, with the bicameral conference committee report now ratified by both Houses of Congress and waiting to be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s approval.

Another is Senate Bill No. 1534, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to give scientists commensurate benefits.

The measure has been approved by the Senate on third and final reading and will be tackled by the bicameral conference committee anytime soon. 

The Open Access in Data Transmission Bill was sponsored in the Senate before session adjourned on Wednesday (March 21) while the Innovative Start-up Act is already being tackled in the plenary. Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of all four measures.

Also, Sen. Bam spearheaded investigations into the National Broadband Plan, the Philippine Rise issue and the “nakaw load” controversy that has affected millions of prepaid mobile phone subscribers.

Sen. Bam also led the passage of Senate Bill No. 1698 or the Reservist Employment Rights Act.  The bill was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via a 16-0 vote.

Sen. Bam has 19 laws to his name, the latest being Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he passed as principal sponsor during his 8-month stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture and Arts.

Sen. Bam: Balik-Scientist Act one signature away from becoming law, to boost country’s R&D

Senator Bam Aquino expects the country’s research and development to get a much-needed boost, now that the Balik-Scientist Act is one signature away from becoming a law.

“This is our way of supporting the field of research, science and technology in the country, which has been undervalued for too long. We hope the President can sign this into law and show his support and appreciation for Filipino scientists,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

The Senate and House both ratified the bicameral conference committee version, which will now be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature.

Once it becomes a law, Sen. Bam said it will help address the country’s lack of scientists. As of last tally, the country has 189 scientists per million, a far cry from the ideal ratio of 380 scientists per million.

Sen. Bam pointed out that the Philippines falls behind South Korea and United States, which have 5,300 and 3,500 scientists per million, respectively. Malaysia, for its part, has 2,000 scientists per million.

 “With the Balik-Scientist Act, we expect Filipino scientists to return to the Philippines and help strengthen our research and development,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor of the measure in the Senate.

If enacted into law, the Balik Scientist Act will provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and co-author of the Amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, and Researchers bill and the Innovative Start-up Act, which is currently being tackled in the plenary.

Sen. Bam has passed 19 laws in over 4 years as a senator.

Sen. Bam: Research ships and Balik Scientist Act, victory for Filipino scientists

Sen. Bam Aquino said today marked two big wins for Filipino scientists.

“Masaya ang araw na ito para sa ating mga Pinoy scientists at researchers. Sa wakas, nabibigyan na sila ng tamang pansin at halaga,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, the Chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.

On Tuesday, Malacañang announced plans to purchase research ships for local scientists studying the Philippine Rise.

Meanwhile, the Balik Scientist Act hurdled the bicameral conference committee in the Senate and is now closer to becoming a law.

The Senate contingent, led by Sen. Bam Aquino and the House panel, headed by Erico Aumentado, ironed out the disagreeing provisions of their respective versions.

Once the Senate and House ratify the approved version of the measure, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature.

“Once enacted into law, this should encourage Filipino scientists to return to the country and help in the nation’s research and development,” said Sen. Bam, principal author and sponsor of the Senate version of the bill.

Sen. Bam said this will also address the lack of science professionals caused by the exodus of scientists and researchers to other countries.

The measure aims to provide overseas Filipino scientists with financial benefits and incentives to encourage them to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

It seeks to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will help address development gaps in the Philippines.

A Balik Scientist is a science and technology expert or professional, as certified by the DOST, who is currently or who was formerly a Filipino citizen or a foreigner of Filipino descent, residing abroad, and contracted by the government to return and serve in the Philippines along his or her field of expertise under short, medium, or long term engagement.

Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor and co-author of the Amendments to the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, and Researchers bill and the Innovative Start-up Act, currently in the period of amendments in the Senate.

Sen. Bam Aquino has passed 19 laws in over 4 years as a senator.

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