Bam Aquino

BIDA KA!: Davao City bombing

Mga bida, napakaespesyal po ng Davao City para sa akin at sa aking pamilya.

Kilala po ako at ang aking ­pamilya bilang tubong Tarlac ngunit sa mga hindi nakakaalam, ang akin pong ina at ang kanyang angkan ay mula Davao.

Ang aking lolo na si ­Segundo Aguirre ay naging principal ng ­University of Mindanao. Ang lola ko naman na si Victoria Aguirre ay naging chairperson ng Filipino ­Department sa nasabing unibersidad.

Sa Davao po lumaki at nagtapos ang aking ina. Sa Davao po niya nakilala ang aking ama habang sila ay nagtatrabaho sa Davao branch ng SGV. Davao po ang setting ng kanilang love story at sa Davao rin sila ikinasal.

Sa aking paglaki, pumupunta kami sa Davao para bisitahin­ ang aking lolo at lola at hanggang ngayon, mayroon pa rin kaming mga kamag-anak na nakatira sa tinaguriang “Crown Jewel of Mindanao”.

***

Nang malaman namin na sila’y ligtas, ang kaba na aming naramdaman ay unti-unti na naging galit.

Nagdurugo ang aking puso dahil ang karumal-dumal na pangyayaring ito ay gawa ng mga Pilipino sa kapwa Pilipino.

At pinili pa nila ang lugar na dinadagdsa ng mga nagde-date, mga pamilyang namamasyal at kung saan nagtatagpo ang mga magkakaibigan.

Kabilang dito si Ruth Merecido, isang dalagang ina na nagta­trabaho bilang therapist. Nasawi rin si Pipalawan ­Macacua, isang senior education official of CHED sa ARMM na isang masugid na sumusuporta sa usapang pangkapayapaan sa Mindanao.

Ilan lang sila sa mga nasawi noong gabi ng Biyernes nang punitin ng isang malakas na pagsabog ang kasiyahang nangyayari sa lugar na iyon.

***

Sa aking privilege speech noong Lunes, binanggit ko na ngayon ang panahon upang tayo’y magpalakas ng puwersa sa pamamagitan ng suporta sa ating mga pulis at militar.

Subalit magagawa lang nila ito kung ibibigay natin ang ­lahat ng kanilang kailangan para imbestigahan, hulihin at ­papanagutin sa batas ang mga nasa likod ng pagsabog.

Ikalawa, kailangan na nating mas maging mapagbantay sa ating kapaligiran laban sa anumang banta sa ating buhay.

Subalit hindi lang tayo dapat maging alerto sa mga naiwanang­ bag o kahina-hinalang kilos ng sinuman.

Higit sa lahat, dapat tayong mas maging mapagbantay sa mga maling impormasyon na kumakalat sa Internet at sa ating lipunan.

Nakalulungkot dahil may ilang grupo na nagpapakalat ng maling balita na ginagamit ang insidenteng ito upang lalo pang paghati-hatiin ang mga Pilipino.

Dahil nakataya rito ang ating buhay at sistema ng pamumuhay, dapat nating timbangin ang mga impormasyon na ating natatanggap kung ito ba’y totoo o malaking kasinu­ngalingan.

Ikatlo at pinakamahalaga sa lahat, dapat tayong magkaisa.

Ang layunin ng terorismo ay maghasik ng lagim at lagyan ng malaking dibisyon ang ating bansa.

Kapag hinayaan natin na tayo’y magkahati-hati, mananalo ang terorismo sa ating bansa.

Ngayon, higit sa lahat, dapat tayong magsama-samang ­kumilos upang tiyakin na hindi na mauulit ang nasabing ­insidente.

Sa madaling salita, isantabi natin ang pulitika at ibigay ang lahat ng kanilang kailangan upang masugpo ang banta ng ­terorismo sa bansa.

Marami nang nalampasang pagsubok ang mga Pilipino — mula sa mga bagyo, lindol, baha at iba pang kalamidad. At ito’y dahil sa ating pagkakaisa.

Ito rin ang gamitin nating susi upang tayo’y makabuo nang mapayapa at ligtas na lipunan.

***

Mga Bida, makipagkuwentuhan kay Sen. Bam sa fb.com/BenignoBamAquino o sa e-mail bidakacolumn@gmail.com!

Bam: Look after children during state of lawlessness, armed conflict

A senator called on concerned government agencies to ensure the welfare and safety of civilians, especially the children, affected by the administration’s drive against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao and the perpetrators of the Davao bombing.

 “The welfare of our Filipino children should be the utmost priority since they are one of the most vulnerable sectors during these times of lawlessness and armed conflict,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.

 According to Sen. Bam, Republic Act 10821, or the Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act provides utmost protection to Filipino children during disasters, calamities and armed conflicts.

 “Kasabay ng ating kampanya laban sa Abu Sayyaf, huwag nating kaligtaan ang kapakanan, pangangailangan at kaligtasan ng mga taong naaapektuhan ng bakbakan, lalo na ang mga bata,” said Sen. Bam, a co-author of the measure, which he filed during his tenure as chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

 “Mahalagang matiyak natin na mayroon silang pansamantalang matutuluyan, pagkain, gamot, damit at iba pang pangangailangan habang naghihintay na maging normal ang sitwasyon sa kanilang lugar,” he added.

 The law gives priority to children during and after every disaster, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and man-made disasters such as war and armed conflict.

 It will also establish child-centered training to disaster first responders, teachers, psychologists and other volunteers in disaster recovery, relief and rehabilitation, with special modules for different stages of children and youth development.

 It mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to formulate a Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children and local government units to integrate the said program in their development and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (LDRRM) plans and budget.

According to Sen. Bam, existing policies will also be reviewed to give better support to Filipino children, especially during disasters, calamities or in armed conflict to help lessen trauma, restore normalcy quickly and build their resilience better.

 “We will continue to work in protecting our Filipino children during disasters, calamities, or armed conflict, but also to reduce trauma and build their resistance to these threats,” he added.

Senate Bill No. 916: Comprehensive Nursing Act

The Philippines is the largest exporter of nurses in the world and Filipino nurses have proven to be one of the most highly skilled assets of our country. Sadly, nurses continue to be undervalued at home and vulnerable to dangerously long working hours and exploitative employment arrangements. Further, despite there being 200,000 underemployed or unemployed nurses, healthcare is still lacking in many rural areas.

If we invested in harnessing the massive potential of our existing healthcare professionals, we can address this healthcare shortage with a strong, competent, and professionally-regulated nursing board.

This bill seeks the creation of a Professional Regulatory Board of Nursing (PRBN) that will be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the nursing profession are hlld up to standards of excellence. The PRBN will be mandated to promulgate quality standards of nursing education, research, practice, and management.

Through this measure, we will set a standard for academic excellence for all nursing programs in line with the Policies, Standards and Guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education.

The PRBN shall also implement an Advanced Practice Nursing Program which will provide professional development opportunities to existing nurses. Through this program, nurses can expand their skill base, assume more responsibilities on the medical floor, and be better able to serve our countrymen.

Most importantly, this bill aims to protect the welfare of our nurses and uplift the nursing profession by initiating studies on how healthcare professionals should be trained, managed, and developed in an organization, ensuring that working conditions and compensation are compliant with the Code of Ethics for nursing.

Filipino nurses must be empowered with better education, a broader skill base, and more viable opportunities within the country. Ultimately this will uplift the nursing profession while providing better healthcare to all Filipinos. 

In view of the foregoing and to ascertain our commitment to the Filipino people, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 

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Senate Bill No. 696: Rideshare Support Company Act

The rain is pouring heavily and commuters are muddled together under the shade. Taxi queues are long and winding yet taxis are nowhere in sight.

Those that decide to brave the rain in search for a cab ride are met with picky drivers or unreasonable contracted rates. To make matters worse, stories of robbery perpetrated by malicious taxi drivers, has left passengers with a justifiable fear and distrust of taxis.

In any industry, increased competition would often lead to improved quality, improved service, and lower prices for consumers. For the commuting public, this is a change they have long clamored for.

Recent technological innovations ushered in an era of ride sharing, giving commuters the option of securing convenient, safe, and affordable rides through internet-based applications.

The DOTC has already recognized these innovations “as a driver for progress” and as one of the solutions to “help address the increasing demand for mobility spurred by rapid urbanization.”

In support of these innovations, the DOTC issued a Memorandum Circular (MC) in 2015 to recognize these ride-sharing services under a new category called “Transportation Network Vehicle Service” and allowed them to operate within the agency’s existing regulatory framework.

While the release of the MC is a significant milestone for the promotion of ride-sharing services in the country, there is a need for legislation to create and institutionalize an appropriate regulatory framework for this new type of service and to distinguish it from public transport services.

The proposed bill clarifies the regulations governing Transportation Network Companies, referred to in the bill as “Rideshare Support Companies”, as well as Rideshare Network Drivers and Vehicles.

This measure seeks to promote and encourage new, affordable transportation options and ensure the safety of the riding the public by imposing safety and financial responsibility standards and requirements. 

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 


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Senate Bill No. 917: Filipino Identification System Act

A list of of valid IDs in the Philippines enumerates 33 different forms of identification that are obtained from various government agencies. Often, a different form of identification will be required of a Filipino citizen depending on the service or government agency involved. The bureaucracy, red tape, and wasted time involved in procuring and releasing each different form of identification is economically inefficient for both the government and its citizens. This also hinders the timely delivery of public services to ordinary Filipinos who bear the opportunity cost of applying and waiting for their IDs.

The proliferation of various forms of government identification obtained separately from different agencies also makes the government identification systems vulnerable to discrepancies and identity fraud.

If we are to continue our pursuit to provide high quality social services to all Filipinos in an effective and timely manner, we must take the necessary steps in unifying the identification system which will allow us to have better control and more efficient interaction between citizens and the government.

This bill seeks to establish a unified Filipino Identification System, to be implemented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The PSA will manage the Filipino Citizen Registry – a master database of all registered Filipinos. Every Filipino citizen, including those born or residing overseas, will be assigned a unique Common Reference Number at birth and will only be required to renew this ID upon reaching the age of majority and again upon reaching the age of 60. This ID shall be used as the sole required identification in any government transaction and will be provided free of charge as part of the government’s social responsibility.

In pursuing a national identification system, Filipinos will have a more efficient experience with government transactions and the government will benefit from a thorough database of information on Filipino citizens. This will also pave the way to more effective ways of delivering government services such as anti-poverty programs and other social services to improve the quality of life for all.

In view of the foregoing and to ascertain our commitment to the Filipino people, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 691: Value-Added Tax on Non-Essential Goods

Whether young or old, ingrained in the Filipino psyche and in our daily hygiene is the use of baby cologne.

In a survey of Filipino consumers, baby colognes ranked second only to shampoo in regular usage, placing it above powder, lotion, and hand sanitizers.1

Further, 98% of the splash cologne consumers are from the economic classes C, D, and Ewith Class D taking up 54% of the market share.7

This Act aims to recognize splash cologne as an essential good, setting it apart from perfumes and other luxury fragrances by ascertaining the concentration of the essential oils or perfume in the product.

The proposed amendment is in line with the legal definition already set by Revenue Regulations No. 8 to 84.3

By aligning and streamlining the definition for baby cologne or “toilet water” and recognizing such as an essential good and taxing them accordingly, we will be able to protect our low-income households from unnecessary surges in prices of their inexpensive, but fragrant cologne, and at the same time, provide appropriate support to the baby cologne industry.

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 648: Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos Assistance Act

From the malls of Hong Kong to the souqs of the Middle East and even on massive vessels navigating through borderless seas, you’ll find talented Filipinos diligently working to build a brighter future for their family.

They aren’t only keeping their loved ones above water financially; they are also keeping the Philippine economy afloat with remittances reaching $16.21 billion or P764 billion from January to August 2015.

Even with their contribution, Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) remain vulnerable to poor working conditions and abusive employers.

In addition, their employment abroad is no guarantee of financial success.

In a survey conducted by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last September 2015, only 38.2% of the 563 household-respondents said that a portion of the money from OFWs are set aside for savings.

There are still too many OFWs that come home without a plan for retirement. Keeping in mind our duty to empower and uplift every Filipino, the OFW Protection Act bolsters our support for the OFW community and the families they leave back home.

This measure ensures our OFWs safety by strictly monitoring and assessing accredited partner agencies and mandating the Public Attorney’s Office to establish a help­ desk in every international port of exit in the Philippines to offer legal service, assistance and advice to departing migrant workers.

Acknowledging the immense power in access to credible information, this measure orders effective and efficient information dissemination on labor, employment, and migration data through various mediums, including social media.

Lastly, to truly achieve prosperity for every Filipino family, this measure integrates programs on livelihood, entrepreneurship, savings, investments and financial literacy to the existing efforts of embassies.

This is our opportunity show our gratitude and appreciation to our overseas Filipinos while fulfilling our duty as public servants.

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Senate Bill No. 684: Rural Employment Assistance (REAP) Act

It is our directive to ensure that as the Philippine economy grows and thrives, all Filipinos grow and thrive together. One of our mandates is to promote inclusive growth and spread wealth and opportunity across the country.

As such, we need to take a look at our rural communities and provide opportunities to those along the countryside and within our islands, beginning with our least fortunate countrymen.

Considering that almost 80% of Filipinos living in poverty reside in our rural areas1, we are in urgent need of measures to combat poverty and unemployment beyond our cities and urban hubs in the short and long term.

The Rural Employment Assistance Program (REAP) Act is one such policy for the short term, which aims to provide heads of poor families in rural areas fair wages for temporary unskilled work.

This bill not only addresses the issue of unemployment in rural areas, it also involves our less fortunate citizens in nation building as we provide other measures that will help them pursue permanent employment.

The REAP Act mandates the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to hire unemployed Filipinos to maintain, build, and rehabilitate shared, public facilities and livelihood assets within their community.

Let us bring opportunities, wealth, and capacity to the Philippine islands, especially in the countryside. Let every Filipino reap the fruits of our positive progress and development.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 687: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act

Despite country’s success in achieving moderate economic growth, the results of the 2015 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey still show that 50% of Filipinos consider themselves as poor. This result is a call for the national government to strengthen its effort in addressing problems of unemployment and alleviating poverty.  A study conducted by Asian Development Bank in 2006 suggests a strong link between poverty levels and educational attainment. Almost 50% of household heads who did not complete any formal schooling are poor while only 2% of college graduates have income below the poverty line. Despite Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reporting an increase in subsistence incidence among Filipino Families from 10% in 2012 to 9.2% in the first semester of 2015, it is still reported that incomes of poor families were short by 29% of the poverty threshold. Based on this, on the average, an additional monthly income of PHP 2649 is needed by a poor family with five members in order to move out of poverty in the first semester of 2015.

These data show that despite the decrease in in poverty levels, improvement to current poverty alleviation efforts is much needed.  It is in this line of reasoning that we push for the institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. Other countries have been implementing similar programs like Argentina’s Universal Allowance for Children, Brazil’s Family Grant, and Chile’s Solidarity System which all have reduced their poverty levels significantly. All these have been made into laws. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act of 2016, with its enhancements on the existing program, hopes to ensure that all youth beneficiaries will have the assistance they need to finish high school and college and thus have a greater chance of landing a job. These include the expansion of age coverage from 0-14 to 0-18 years old and the increase in the amount received by students 12-18 years of age. This Act also strengthens implementation by penalizing actions which jeopardize the integrity of the program.

With the current implementation of the program in the country, high compliance rates were recorded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the months of March and April 2015, with 99.91% for the deworming of children aged 6-14; 98.99% for school attendance of children aged 6-14; 98.33% for school attendance of children in daycare aged 3-5; 97.05% for school attendance of children aged 15-18; 95.95% for health visits of pregnant women and children aged 0-5; and 94.84% for attendance in family development sessions. The program, designed to address short term needs for the long term goal of breaking the intergenerational poverty cycle, is only beginning to receive its return on investment, with year 2015’s 300,000 thousand high school graduates from household beneficiaries.  Given what the program has already accomplished and in consideration of what it could still achieve given the improvements to the program, it is the government’s responsibility to ensure sustainability regardless of transitions the Philippines may go through as it shifts from administration to administration.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

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Senate Bill No. 689: Rationalizing the Taxes Imposed on Non-Life Insurance Policies

Water-logged vehicles, homes swallowed by the earth, valuables blown over and washed away – these are scenes from the various calamities experienced by Filipinos over the past years.

From Ondoy in Metro Manila to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Bohol and super­ typhoon Yolanda in Leyte, what Filipino families had spent decades working for was taken away and families without the protection of insurance had no recourse but to begin again from scratch.

Non-life insurance policies in the Philippines bear a value-added tax (VAT) of 12% amongst an array of other taxes, such as documentary stamps, fire service and local government taxes bringing the total tax burden to 27.2% per policy. In comparison, life insurance policies carry only 2% VAT after enjoying a 5% reduction thanks to RA 10001.

The prohibitively high taxation rates on non-life insurance have caused Filipino consumers and businesses alike to shy away from this key necessity, placing their hard- earned investments at risk in our disaster-prone nation.

In order to empower our citizens and local businesses to protect hard earned assets and encourage more Filipinos to think long-term, we must pursue the reduction of taxes for non-life insurance policies in the country.

What’s more, as the Philippines enters the ASEAN Integrated Economic Zone, we have a responsibility to strengthen local industries, including our insurance sector who will be contending with foreign competitors who offer non-life insurance policies at 0.4-7% VAT.

This measure will not only safeguard the valued possessions of our hardworking countrymen; it won’t Just shield businesses from the risk of failure after catastrophes beyond their control, but will also create a thriving non-life insurance sector in the Philippines as it competes on a larger stage in the ASEAN.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought. 


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