Bam Aquino

Senate Bill No. 170: Trabaho Center In Schools Act

This year marks the final stage of the K-12 curriculum roll out with the nationwide implementation of Senior High School (SHS). An additional two years of secondary schooling will provide specialized academic tracks to prepare students for postsecondary education or alternatively, equip them for employment directly after high

school.

There is a need to follow through on the intent of K to 12 and provide the infrastructure for Senior High School graduates who chose to enter employment to be able to find those opportunities.The creation of a job placement office through the Trabaho Center aims to address this need.

There are three main things that the Trabaho Center shall focus on: Career Counseling Services, Employment Facilitation and Industry Matching.

Career Counseling Services shall be offered to help guide the students on the tracks they choose in Senior High School.

Employment Facilitation is envisioned to assist the needs of a job seeker or the senior high school student. This includes but shall not be limited to resume writing, pre-employment seminars and job fairs.

Industry Matching on the other hand aims to address the needs of the industries by providing graduate listings and resume profiling of students to companies. Close coordination with PESO and TESDA are also needed to have a thorough database of job opportunities in the localities and to immediately coordinate further training that might be needed with TESDA based on particular employment opportunities.

The Trabaho Center is envisioned to be the first institutionalized office in all senior high schools that is mandated to aid in facilitating employment for all Senior High School graduates. 

Through the Trabaho Center, the needs of our nation’s graduates, businesses in the country, and the vision of the Department of Education come together to make the most of our curriculum reform and help us move closer to shared prosperity. 

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

 

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Bam to PNP: Look into illegal drug problems in SUCs, public and private schools

Senator Bam Aquino called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to determine the accessibility of illegal drugs in state colleges and universities (SUCs) and public and private schools in the country.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, Sen. Bam asked PNP chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa if he has information on how prevalent illegal drugs in SUCs and private schools.

 “Gaano ho ka-available ang illegal drugs sa ating mga eskuwelahan?” Sen. Bam asked Director General Dela Rosa.

 Currently, Dela Rosa said the PNP has no data but promised Sen. Bam that he will look into the matter and provide the Senate with the needed information immediately.

 As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam plans to conduct a separate hearing to determine the prevalence of illegal drugs in SUCs, public and private schools.

 Sen. Bam also plans to look into the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) proposal to include drug testing as a requirement for admission in colleges and universities.

 “Maganda ang layunin ng plano ngunit dapat nating timbangin ang lahat ng panig at isa-alang-alang ang karapatan ng ating mga estudyante na makakuha ng edukasyon sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas,” said Sen. Bam.

Bam on Coco Levy Fund

Excerpts of Sen. Bam’s statement during the Committee on Agriculture hearing

 

Mr. Chairman, marami po sa atin, naghihintay na noong 16th Congress pa lang. Our chairperson was Sen. Villar. And we did go very far, nabitin lang po sa dulo.

 Many of us here really wanted this bill to pass. And if I’m not mistaken, aside from choices of words or phrasing, there are four main issues.

 First of all Mr. Chairman, is the composition of the Board of Trustees. Iyong iba po, mas kumikiling sa pribadong sektor, iyong iba mas kumikiling sa government. My version is more on the side of having more farmers on the board.

 Secondly Mr. Chairman, is where will we invest the money? I think was the stickiest point in the 16th Congress. Iyong iba po, mas konserbatibo – only in government securities. Iyong iba po, mas risky na ang kapalit po noon ay higher yield.

 Third is the provision of Sen. Villar, which is to mandate the budgets of ECA. I think her version is the only version with that provision.

 Maybe a fourth is about the privatization of the 30 billion. There are some provisions I think in Sen. Villar’s bill which details how that is to be privatized.

 Those are the only main points Mr. Chairman. Of course anyone can correct me if I’m wrong.

 Now I would like also to ask the body to weigh in on those four points because we’ve already agreed on 95 percent of the bill.

 Iyong apat po na iyon – iyong privatization of the 30 billion, iyong composition ng trust fund members, iyong kung saan puwedeng i-invest iyong pera and iyong some provisions that are on PCA – kung saan nila gagastusin ang budget.

 More or less, iyong apat na iyon ang kailangan nilang pag-usapan.

 But, I would really suggest Mr. Chairman na imadali natin ito. I personally feel this should have been passed already.

 Let’s not wait for the maturity of the bonds. Let’s not wait na may masayang pa po na opportunity cost with the interest. Let’s pass it as fast as we can.

 I’m hoping we can really fast-track this.

 

Sen. Bam is the author of Senate Bill No. 669 or the Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund Act.

Bam: Target funding for rehab centers achievable

With government putting utmost priority in the fight against illegal drugs, Sen. Bam Aquino said the needed fund for the establishment of additional rehabilitation centers for thousands of drug dependents must be ensured in the national budget.

 “Now that everybody wants to support the war on drugs and the rehabilitation efforts, puwede kayong umasa sa Senado para sa budget item na ito,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs

 “Dapat nating matiyak na may pondo sa rehabilitasyon ng mga nag-surrender na drug dependents,” added Sen. Bam.

 Currently, the Department of Health plans to establish four regional drug rehabilitation centers of 500 beds each, or a total of 2,000.

 According to the Department of Health (DOH), the government is also looking to put up a drug rehabilitation center in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija that can house 5,000 to 10,000 dependents.

 The government also plans to establish rehabilitation centers in military camps in Bohol and Capiz.

 During the hearing, it was discovered that less than 0.6 to 1 percent, or around 30,000 to 37,000, of 3.7 million drug dependents in the country need treatment in rehabilitation centers.

 For the remaining percentage, resource speakers mentioned that they should be provided with outpatient intervention in local communities.

 Sen. Bam brought up the effectiveness of peer counseling to address both rehabilitation and prevention in the country’s fight against illegal drugs.

 “We need more barangay-level interventions to address the rehabilitation of drug dependents,” the lawmaker added.

 “Makatutulong sa ating anti-drug drive kung hindi lang ang PNP ang mangunguna sa laban. It should be a multi-sectoral effort – may simbahan, local, may mga organizations – para lahat ay makatulong sa pag-kontra sa droga,” the lawmaker added.

 The senator also mentioned that the Sangguniang Kabataan can play a crucial part in combating the illegal drug problem among the young Filipinos.

 

BIDA KA!: Ipaglaban ang SK

Mga bida, isa sa mainit na pinag-uusapan ngayon ay ang pagpapaliban ng halalang pambarangay at Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) na nakatakda sa Oktubre.

Argumento ng iba, katatapos lang ng pambansang eleksiyon noong Mayo masyadong maikli ang panahon ng paghahanda ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) para sa barangay at SK elections.

Nais naman ng ilang mambabatas na ipagpaliban ang halalan ng dalawang taon at gawin na lang sa 2018 upang mapaghandaan ito nang husto.

May lumitaw ring panukala na tuluyan nang i-abolish ang barangay council at SK dahil wala raw itong pakinabang at walang naitutulong sa mga komunidad.

***

Bilang isa sa mga nagsulong ng Republic Act No. 10742 o SK Reform Act bilang co-author at co-sponsor noong 16th Congress sa Senado, hindi ko matatanggap ang panukalang ipagpaliban ng dalawang taon ang halalan o buwagin nang tuluyan ang SK.

Kaya nga natin isinulong ang mga reporma sa SK upang mailayo ito sa dating sistema na puno ng katiwalian at walang nagawa para sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan.

Sayang naman ang mga ikinasang reporma kung hindi natin agad ito maipatutupad sa lalong madaling panahon o kung wala nang SK para magpatupad nito.

Huwag tayong magpadalus-dalos sa ating desisyon. Bakit hindi natin bigyan ng pagkakataong maikasatuparan ang mga repormang ito at tingnan kung ito’y magiging epektibo para sa kasalukuyang henerasyon.

***

Bilang kauna-unahang batas na mayroong anti-dynasty provision, malaking panghihinayang kung hindi natin makikitang naipatupad ang SK Reform Act.

Sa ilalim ng batas, bawal nang tumakbo bilang SK officials ang mga kamag-anak ng halal na opisyal, hanggang sa tinatawag na second level of consanguinity.

Itinaas na rin natin ang edad ng SK officials patungong 18 hanggang 24 taong gulang, upang magkaroon sila ng legal na pananagutan sa kanilang mga aksiyon.

Upang mahasa ang kanilang kaalaman sa pagganap ng tungkulin, obligado na ang mga SK official na dumaan sa leadership training programs.

Makatutulong na rin ang tinatawag na Local Youth Deve­lopment Council (LYDC) sa pagbalangkas ng mga programa’t proyekto para sa mga kabataan.

Sa pamamagitan ng LYDC, mabibigyan ang mas mara­ming grupo ng kabataan na lumahok, makialam at bantayan ang kanilang kapakanan.

Walang dapat ipangamba dahil sa mga repormang ipinasok natin sa bagong SK, ibang-iba na ito sa ating nakasanayan noon na madalas ay paliga ng basketball at beauty contest ang proyekto para sa mga kabataan.

***

Noong Martes, lumabas na ang committee report ng Senado na nagpapaliban sa SK elections sa Oktubre 2017.

Sa una, nanghihinayang tayo sa pagpapaliban na ito ngunit mas maganda na ito kaysa sa panukalang gawin ang halalan sa 2018.

Isa pa, tiniyak din sa atin ni Sen. Sonny Angara na tututulan ng Senado ang anumang pagkilos na buwagin ang SK.

Maaaring gamitin ng COMELEC ang dagdag na panahon upang mapaghandaan nang husto ang SK, gaya ng pagpapalawig ng registration at paghikayat sa ating mga kabataan na tumakbo.

Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang SK na humubog ng mga bagong bayani mula sa ating mga kabataan na tutulong sa pagpapalakas ng ating mga komunidad.

Article first published on Abante Online

Bam: Resolve underspending and inefficiency, fix gov’t procurement

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to fix the government’s procurement system to address underspending in the national budget and enable government agencies to better deliver services to the public.

  “I don’t think we will be able to spend properly, even with the best intentions, if we don’t reform the Procurement Act,” said Sen. Bam during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017.

 “Our taxpayer’s money should be spent efficiently and Filipinos should see results. Let’s fast track our Procurement Act reforms,” the senator said.

 According to Sen. Bam, a number of Cabinet secretaries have raised their concerns over the strict Procurement Act, including Transportation Secretary Art Tugade during the initial emergency powers hearing.

 “In the emergency powers hearing, a large part of the discussion is about procurement,” the senator added.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones mentioned that she has assigned an Assistant Secretary just to focus on the tedious procurement process.

 “Political will and good intentions are important. But if people are shackled by policies, it leads to unwillingness to spend on the development of the country,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

 For his part, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno revealed they plan to introduce several reforms to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 or the Procurement Reform Act.

 “We might allow just one failed bid and then negotiate,” said Diokno.

 However, Sen. Bam said lawmakers are willing to make amendments to the law so the country can have an effective procurement process for the long-term.

Hope in the hopeless

I’m a firm believer in the power of the youth, their idealism, and their can-do attitude. But I will concede that there is a problem.

There are young Filipinos that commit terrible crimes – robbing, doing drugs, raping, even killing.

Yes, there are Filipino children who are not only exposed to systemic violence but also perpetuate and reinforce it by joining gangs and syndicates.

But while we must acknowledge this sad reality, we must not discount the youth’s capacity to positively impact the lives of fellow Filipinos.

We must also acknowledge the youth’s remarkable ability to change their lives for the good and even make the world a kinder, better place.

These are two polar ends of the same reality and we see the full range of this spectrum in the story of Rustie Quintana.

I met Rustie a few years ago. He was part of Dire Husi, which is a youth organization in Cagayan de Oro, and at that time, he was receiving the Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Award in behalf of his organization.

The members of Dire Husi use arts and crafts to give streetchildren an alternative to their vices, such as drugs and gang violence.

What’s remarkable about Rustie is that he used to be one of those kids – a true batang kalye who would sniff rugby, snatch cellphones, do petty crimes and even be involved with syndicates in Cagayan de Oro City.

He was in and out of DSWD’s program for juvenile delinquents and even landed in Lumbia City Jail before being sent to the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY).

But after years of being in and out of these institutions, he decided to make a change for himself. He decided to join Dire Husi and transform his life.

When he received the TAYO Award, he told me, “Kuya, noong ako’y nasa kalsada ng Cagayan de Oro, hindi ko po napangarap na balang araw mapupunta ako sa Malacanang at makakamay ko pa ang presidente para sa isang award para sa kabataan.”

Just recently, he graduated from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan with the course Development Communications. The icing on the cake came when Rustie Quintana’s story was featured in Maalaala Mo Kaya.

It is this story of Rustie that came to mind when I reviewed House Bill Number 2, which seeks to amend the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (Republic Act 9344).

This initiative pursues a lowering of the age of criminal liability from 15 years down to 9 years old.

While I am relieved the policy’s author asserted that his objective is to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents and not throw them in jail with hardened criminals or worse, the bill filed does not seem to point to that path.

If the age of criminal liability is lowered, 9-year-olds might be tried as adults and be meted the corresponding penalties in our Revised Penal Code and other special laws.

So if a 9-year-old snatches your smart phone, this child who acted with discernment could be sentenced to 6 to 12 years in prison.

The current Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act already focuses on rehabilitation more than punishment. Erring children are likely sent to a Bahay Pag-Asa where they undergo therapy and are assessed periodically to check if they have been successfully rehabilitated and whether they can rejoin society.

The Bahay Pag-Asa in Davao and Bataan come to mind as institutions that do their task of helping and transforming these children well.

Instead of lowering the age of criminal liability, why not further support the already established youth care facilities and Bahay Pagasa centers first?

Why not improve the rehabilitation programs and make these centers more effective at addressing trauma and providing alternatives to a life of crime?

Why rush into solutions that could make matters worse instead of taking the extra effort to transform these young lives for the better?

Surely there are solutions that can address our problems of criminality and still have the best interests of our children at heart.

Hindi nag-iisa si Rustie.

There are numerous young Filipinos like him who have shown that given the opportunity to change, they can become Filipinos we can be proud of. And that ability and capacity to be better, gives us hope that our country can change for the better as well.

First Published on Manila Bulletin

Bam: Let’s give SK a chance to produce new heroes

Let’s give the new Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) a chance to produce a young generation of heroes.

Sen. Bam Aquino made this plea as the country celebrates National Heroes Day amid growing calls to postpone the SK elections for two years, adding that the reforms will be for naught if not implemented immediately.

 “Sayang naman ang repormang isinulong natin sa batas kung maghihintay pa tayo ng dalawang taon para ito’y makita,” said Sen. Bam, who pushed for the passage of Republic Act No. 10742 or the SK Reform Act as co-author and co-sponsor in the 16th Congress.

 “Bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang SK na humubog ng mga bagong bayani mula sa ating mga kabataan na tutulong sa pagpapalakas ng ating mga komunidad,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Youth in the 16th Congress.

 Instead of a two-year wait, Sen. Bam is open to postpone the SK elections for several months until early 2017 to give the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ample time to prepare.

 “Huwag na nating pag-antayin pa ng matagal ang ating mga kabataan na kasalukuyan nang naghahanda para sa halalan at sabik nang maglingkod sa kapwa nila kabataan,” Sen. Bam asserted.

 “Gamitin natin ang pagpapaliban na ito bilang dagdag na panahon sa pagpaparehistro at paghikayat sa ating mga kabataan na tumakbo sa ilalim ng bagong SK,” he added.

 The SK Reform Act is the first legislation with an anti-dynasty provision, prohibiting relatives of elected officials up to 2nd civil degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking SK posts.

 Aside from its anti-dynasty provision, the new law adjusts age limit of SK officials from 15-17 to 18-24 years old, making them legally capable of entering into contracts and be held accountable and liable for their actions.

 Sangguniang Kabataan officials will now be required to undergo leadership training programs to expose them to the best practices in governance and guide their development as leaders.

 The new law also mandates the creation of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the SK and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

 The LYDC will be composed of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

NEGOSYO, NOW NA!: Negosyo mula sa bente pesos

Mga kanegosyo, una sa lahat, humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa matagal na pagkawala ng kolum na ito.

Ilang buwan din tayong nawala dahil tumayo ako bilang campaign manager ni vice president Leni Robredo noong nakaraang halalan.

Kasabay nito, pansamantala ring nahinto ang ating programa sa radyo – ang Status Update – sa DZXL 558.

Sa ating pagbabalik, nais kong ibalita na nagbabalik tayo sa radyo bilang co-host ni Cheska San Diego sa programang Go Negosyo sa Radyo – sa DZRH 666 KHZ — sa pakikipagtulungan ng Go Negosyo at MBC.

Mapakikinggan ito tuwing Biyernes, mula alas-dos hanggang alas-tres ng hapon. Mapanonood din ito sa livestream sa dzrhnewstelevision.tv.

Sa nasabing programa, pinalitan natin si Mon Lopez, na itinalaga ni Pangulong Duterte bilang kalihim ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

***

Kabilang sa mga naging panauhin namin sa programa ang mag-asawang Rosiell at Rudy de Leon, may ari ng Bianca and Nica’s Ice Candy Factory.

Maganda ang istorya ng mag-asawa dahil sinimulan at pinalaki nila ang negosyo gamit lang ang bente pesos na puhunan.

Kung titingnan ngayon, malayo ang kalagayan sa buhay ng mag-asawa nang simulan nila ang negosyo noong 2011.

Walang trabaho noon si Rudy at naubos na ang kanilang ipon sa bangko. Nag-aaral din ang dalawa nilang anak, kaya desperado na si Rosiell sa paghahanap ng ikabubuhay.

Hawak ang bente pesos na natitira nilang pera noon, naisip ni Rosiell na magtinda ng yelo dahil sila lang ang may refri­gerator sa kanilang lugar noon sa Antipolo.

Ginastos ni Rosiell ang bente pesos para bumili ng 100 pirasong plastic ng yelo. Nang maibenta ito, lumago ang kanilang puhunan sa P300.

Ginamit naman ito ni Rosiell para bumili ng sangkap sa paggawa ng 100 piraso ng ice candy. Ibinenta niya ito sa ha­lagang limang piso kaya lumago sa P500 ang kanilang kita.

Dito na nagsimulang lumaki ang negosyo ng mag-asawa, na ipinangalan nila sa dalawang anak.

Ayon kay Rudy, nakuha nila ang ideya na magtinda sa paaralan mula sa kanilang mga anak.

Upang pumatok sa mga bata ang kanilang produkto, itinakda nila sa tatlong piso ang presyo ng ice candy at dinagdagan pa ang flavor.

Nagbunga naman ang hakbang na ito dahil sa unang buwan, kumita ang mag-asawa ng P400,000 sa eskuwelahan ng kanilang mga anak.

Sa sumunod na dalawang taon, umakyat sa labintatlo ang mga eskuwelahan na naaabot ng kanilang produkto.

Sa kasalukuyan, nagbebenta na ang Bianca and Nica’s Ice Candy Factory ng 24 flavors sa mahigit 100 paaralan sa National Capital Region at sa lalawigan ng Rizal.

Ang kuwento nina Rosiell at Rudy ay magandang inspirasyon at aral sa mga nais magnegosyo. Walang imposible sa pagnenegosyo, basta’t tama ang lokasyon at swak ang ibebentang produkto sa merkado.

Bam pushes for free Internet in all public schools

Believing that high-quality Internet is a crucial necessity in today’s learning environment, a senator wants to establish free Wi-Fi hotspots in all public schools to help students enhance their personal and academic development.

Sen. Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 1050 seeks to establish an Internet Access Program in all public schools in the country, including State Universities and Colleges.

 “Teachers and students should be given access to the Internet for meaningful research, collaboration, and learning,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture in the 17th Congress.

 Instead of discouraging Internet use at schools, Sen. Bam said students must be trained to engage with World Wide Web in a responsible way that furthers their personal and academic development

 Under the measure, the newly-established Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be tasked to ensure that all public schools provide reliable Internet connection to students, faculty members and other non-teaching personal.

 According to Sen. Bam, this Internet connection must be put up in publicly accessible areas on the premises.

 As chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam spearheaded the investigation into the slow and expensive Internet connection in the country.

 

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