Bam Aquino

Sen. Bam: Pahirap ang TRAIN Law, hindi perpekto

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sen. Bam Aquino, lone opposition standing in winning circle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sen. Bam: Inflation doubled in 1 year, suspend TRAIN now

Senator Bam Aquino slammed the government’s continued inaction on the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law amid the doubling of the country’s inflation rate in a span of one year.

“Sa loob lang ng isang taon, dumoble na ang inflation rate ng bansa pero nagmamatigas pa rin ang gobyerno sa TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.

“Malinaw ang mensahe ng 5.2 percent na inflation rate. Kailangan nang i-preno ang TRAIN sa lalong madaling panahon dahil nalulunod na sa taas presyo ang taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam

From 2.5 in June 2017, Sen, Bam said the country’s inflation rate soared to 5.2 in June 2018, based on the latest report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The latest inflation rate surpassed the projection by the country’s economic managers. The Department of Finance (DOF) predicted the inflation rate at 4.9 percent while Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas economists placed it at 5.1 percent.

Sen. Bam has been going around the country and meeting with different sectors to get their views about the government’s tax reform program. During his dialogue with different sectors, the senator received numerous complaints about high prices of goods and services and the lack of necessary support from the government.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law to ease the burden of Filipinos due to high prices of goods and services.

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

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

Sen. Bam: President should address high prices, support TRAIN suspension during SONA

With the country’s inflation rate breaching the 5-percent mark in June, Senator Bam Aquino is hoping President Duterte would announce the suspension of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

“Hindi na makatarungan ang pagpataw ng excise tax sa petrolyo habang pataas ng pataas ang presyo nito sa merkado. Nalulunod na ang taumbayan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on Thursday that inflation rate reached 5.2 percent in June, the fastest level in at least five years.

On Tuesday, oil companies raised their pump prices by P0.65 per liter for gasoline, P0.55 for diesel and P0.70 for kerosene. Starting this month, the electric bill of Manila Electric Company consumers will reflect a higher generation charge due to tight power supply and the further weakening of the peso.

 “Ito ang numero unong alalahanin ng mga pamilya kaya sana talakayin ito ng Pangulo sa kanyang SONA. Tugunan natin ang pangangailangan ng Pilipino. I-roll-back at suspindihin na ang excise tax ng TRAIN,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

During his dialogue with different sectors, Sen. Bam said he has received many grumblings about the high prices of goods and services and the lack of necessary support from the government.

Sen. Bam insisted that the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law should provide welcome relief for Filipinos who are burdened by high prices of goods and services.

“Sana marinig ng Pangulo ang hinaing ng taumbayan,” said Sen. Bam.

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

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

Sen. Bam: Huwag masanay sa karahasan, patayan

Senator Bam Aquino expressed concern over the growing culture of violence under the present administration, maintaining that we should not grow numb to all the killings.

“Taos-puso tayong nakikiramay sa mga mahal sa buhay ni Mayor Bote at sa buong bayan ng General Tinio sa Nueva Ecija,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Mayor Ferdinand Bote, who was gunned down in front of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) office in Cabanatuan City on Tuesday.

“Sa bawat Pilipinong pinapatay mayor man yan, pari o tambay, inuusig ang konsensya natin bilang isang bansa,” stressed Sen. Bam, even as he called on the Filipinos to stand up against violence and senseless killings.

“Hindi na tayo natuto. Patayan at pagdurusa lang ang idudulot ng karahasan,” urged Sen. Bam.

Bote was the second local official who was killed in a span of two days. On Monday, Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili was gunned down by an alleged sniper while attending the city hall’s flag-raising ceremony.

Earlier, Sen. Bam submitted Senate Resolution 765 calling for an investigation on the killings of priests Richmond Nilo, Mark Ventura, and Father Marcelito Paez, and attacks against other religious leaders of the country.

“A public hearing can be a venue for us to evaluate the festering culture of violence in our country. Hanapan natin ng solusyon ito dahil nakakabahala na ang tumitinding karahasan sa ating lipunan,” said Sen. Bam.

“Kaliwa’t kanan ang patayan kahit sa harap ng maraming tao. Wala nang pinipili ang nagiging biktima – opisyal ng gobyerno, pari, tambay. Wala nang ligtas kahit saan, kahit sino,” the senator added.

Sen. Bam lauds passage of law for feeding programs in public day care, kinder and elementary schools

Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the enactment of the law that aims to eradicate hunger and undernutrition by providing free nutritious meals to public day care, kindergarten and elementary school students.

“Napakalaking tulong nito para mabigyan ng sapat na nutrisyon ang ating mga estudyante upang sila’y lumaking malusog at matalino,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.

 Sen. Bam was the principal sponsor and co-author of the measure in the Senate. He pushed for the measure’s passage during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 The law is Sen. Bam’s 23rd 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, was signed into law.

 Aside from addressing malnutrition and hunger among schoolchildren from day care, kindergarten to Grade 6, the law aims to provide additional livelihood to local farmers, where the needed supplies for the feeding program will be sourced from.

 “Maliban sa pagtugon sa problema sa malnutrisyon, mabibigyan din ng dagdag na kabuhayan ang ating mga magsasaka sa tulong ng batas na ito,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from Sen. Bam, other co-authors of the measure are Senators Grace Poe, Gregorio Honasan II, Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villa, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Minority Leader Franklin

Sen. Bam to gov’t: Time to roll back fuel tax, suspend TRAIN law

Senator Bam Aquino stressed that it’s high time for the government to address the high prices of goods and services amid the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) projection that inflation rate could reach as high as 5.1 percent in June and the further weakening of the peso.

“Sa paghina ng piso, lalong nalulunod sa taas presyo ang mga Pilipino. Malaking porsiyento ng mga produkto sa merkado ay mayroong imported na raw materials, kaya ang tama ng pagbaba ng peso ay pagtaas na naman ng presyo,” said Sen. Bam, dispelling the statement of Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno that weakening peso is not bad for the country.

“Pareho ang sinasabi ng datos ng gobyerno at karanasan ng maraming Pilipino, nalulunod ang taumbayan sa tumitinding taas presyo,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.   

Sen. Bam maintained that the rise in inflation rate and the weakening peso are reasons enough for the government to suspend the TRAIN Law.

“Ano pa po ba ang patunay na kailangan ng gobyerno para isuspinde na ang pahirap na TRAIN?” emphasized Sen. Bam, who has been conducting dialogues with different sectors around the country on the effects of the TRAIN Law in the prices of goods and services..

“Sabi nga po ng isang tindera sa Bicol, kaming mahihirap ang ginawang riles para umandar ang TRAIN,” said Sen. Bam, adding that most, if not all, of the people whom he talked to are already burdened by the government’s tax reform law.

“Dumarami pa po ang nasasagasaan ng TRAIN, kailan po ihihinto ng gobyerno pahirap na ito,” added the senator, who has been pushing for the suspension and rollback of the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law to help lower the prices of goods.

Sen. Bam called on the government to support his measure calling for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to ease the public’s burden.   

If passed into law, Sen. Bam’s measure will roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once average inflation rate surpasses the annual inflation target over a three-month period.   

 Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implementation the mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

Sen. Bam Aquino: 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: ‘Hard fact’ is poor families are drowning in rising prices

Senator Bam Aquino challenged the government’s financial managers to personally go down to the people and listen to their plea on the high prices of goods due to Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.    

“Totoo po yan, numbers don’t lie. Pumunta po kayo sa palengke, hindi po nagsisinungaling ang presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the government’s tax reform program.  

“Ang ‘hard fact’ po ay nalulunod ang mga Pilipino sa taas ng presyo ng bilihin,” the senator added.   

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after Budget Secretary Ben Diokno said that “hard facts” will refute President Duterte’s statement that the economy is in the doldrums due to high prices of goods.     

“Sana mag-usap muna ang Presidente at ang Budget Secretary upang klaruhin ang estado ng ekonomiya. Mas mainam kung bumisita na rin sila sa mga komunidad upang malaman kung ano ang dinadanas ng mga pamilyang nasasagasaan ng kanilang polisiya,” Sen. Bam asserted.    

Sen. Bam urged the administration to support his measure calling for the immediate suspension of the excise tax on petroleum products under the TRAIN Law to ease the public’s burden.    

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

Sen. Bam also called on the government to fully implementation the mitigating measures under the TRAIN Law, such as the unconditional cash transfer program for poor families and the Pantawid Pasada for jeepney operators and drivers.

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