Bam Aquino

Bam pushes for support for Filipino scientists, business startups

Senator Bam Aquino calls on concerned government agencies to provide necessary support to Filipino scientists to boost the country capability in terms of research and development.
 
“We want to make sure na ang ating Filipino scientists, hindi lang sila makabalik dito at magkaroon ng opportunities sa ating bansa bagkus pati iyong mga nandito hindi na kailangan lumabas ng Pilipinas,” said Sen. Bam during the hearing of the Committee on Science and Technology which he chairs.
 
Aside from enticing Filipino scientists to return to the country, concerned government agencies must give them more opportunities to thrive through proper benefits and other forms of support.
 
Sen. Bam said his committee will focus on the passage of Senate Bill No. 679 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to help address the issue.
 
Aside from the plight of Filipino scientists, the hearing also tackled the measure providing necessary support for business startups to thrive and compete in the market.
 
“Nakita natin na full support ang DOST, ang DTI, all of the agencies are fully supportive of this bill. This will hopefully unlock our digital startup community,” said Sen. Bam of his Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act.
 
Among those who expressed support for the bill were Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato dela Pena, other government officials and private stakeholders.
 
“Maraming startup sa ating bansa na magagaling. They have very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo at nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
If enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the Innovative Startup Act will make it easier for tech startups to set up and build successful businesses in our country.

 

BIDA KA!: Patok pala ang K to 12

Mga bida, kasabay ng kontrobersiyal na pagdinig ukol sa extrajudicial killings (EJK) sa bansa, tahimik na nagsagawa ng hearing ang Se­nate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture noong Lunes.

Habang siksikan ang session hall sa Senado ng mga panauhin at mga mi­yembro ng media, naging laman naman ng Laurel room ang mga opis­yal ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na may kinalaman sa edukasyon.

Mabuti na lang at nakadalo sa pagdinig ang mga kapwa ko senador na sina Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay at Alan Peter Cayetano, na tulad ko ay may mga isinusulong ding mga adbokasiya na may kinalaman sa edukasyon.

Sabi nga ng isa nating panauhin na si Department of Education (DepEd) Sec. Leonor Briones, hindi kasi seksi ang paksa ng ating pagdinig kung ihahambing sa mabentang isyu ng extrajudicial killings.

Hindi man kasing sexy ng EJK, kung titimbangin ay napa­kahalaga ang ating dinidinig na isyu, lalo pa’t kinabukasan ng ating mga kabataan ang nakasalalay rito.

Kabilang sa mga sinilip ng kumite na ating pinamumunuan ang estado ng K to 12 program sa bansa, na todong ipinatupad ngayong taon.

Naisama rin sa agenda ang iba’t ibang panukalang nagpapa­lakas sa edukasyon sa bansa, kasama na ang nauna na­ting tinakalay sa kolum na ito na Senate Bill No. 170 (Trabaho Center in School Act), Senate Bill No. 172 (Abot Alam Act of 2016) at Senate Bill No. 173 (Free Education for Public School Teacher’s Children Act).

***

Unang natuon ang usapan sa K to 12 program, na inaasahan ng marami na sasablay dahil sa umano’y pahirap na dala nito sa mga estudyante at mga magulang.

Ngunit taliwas sa tantiya ng karamihan, pumatok pala ang K to 12 program dahil mahigit 1.5 milyon ang nag-enroll sa Senior High Schools (SHS) para sa school year 2016-2017.

Sa kabuuang 1,517,610 SHS enrollees, 1,460,970 ay nakakumpleto ng Grade 10, 54,262 ang Balik-Aral students at 2,378 ay nakapasa sa Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) examination.

Ang 1,460,970 ay 98 porsiyento ng kabuuang bilang ng nagtapos ng Grade 10 na nagpasyang magpatuloy sa SHS.

Ibig sabihin nito, walang katotohanan ang mga ulat sa pahayagan na malalayo at mahihirapan ang mga estudyante na puntahan ang iba’t ibang senior high schools sa bansa.

Sa mataas na bilang ng nag-enroll, patunay ito na sasamantalahin ng mga Pilipino ang pagkakataong  mag-aral basta’t naririyan ang libreng edukasyon at tuluy-tuloy na tulong ng pamahalaan.

Kasabay naman ng mataas na bilang ng nag-enroll, naririyan rin ang hamon ng kakulangan ng classroom at gurong may sapat na kasanayan sa ilalim ng K to 12 program.

Ngunit sa pangunguna ni Sec. Briones ng DepEd, tiwala ako na malalampasan ang mga pagsubok na ito.

***

Isa rin sa mga nabigyang pansin sa pagdinig ang panukala nating bigyan ng scholarship ang mga anak ng public school teachers sa lahat ng SUCs sa buong bansa

Ang panukalang ito ay pagkilala sa kabayanihan ng ating public school teachers na patuloy na nagsisilbi sa mamamayan sa kabila ng maliit na suweldo.

Ito, at iba pa nating mga panukala, ay isinumite na natin sa DepEd para sa kanilang komento at pagbabago, kung mayroon man, upang maisama sa pinal na bersiyon.

Bilang chairman ng education committee, tiwala ako na magiging mabunga ang susunod na tatlong taon sa tulong na rin ng masisipag na opisyal ng DepEd at CHED at mga senador na kaisa ko sa pagnanais na pagandahin ang kalidad ng edukasyon sa bansa.

Article first published on Abante Online

Transcript: Bam on free Internet in public schools, support for under-appreciated scientists, and encouraging tech startups

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s interview after Committee on Science and Technology hearing

 

Q: When will the committee discuss Internet issues?

 Sen. Bam: Dalawa ang agency under Science and Technology. You have DOST and you have the new DICT. We’re still looking for the availability of Secretary Salalima. So we will tackle that when he’s available already.

 Marami sa amin ang nag-file na Wi-Fi in public facilities, pati na rin sa eskwelahan. That’s something we want to explore sa Committee on Education. Ang ating public schools at SUCs, may sapat na internet connectivity. Kasi napansin rin namin na kulang talaga iyong connectivity natin sa ating public schools and SUCs.

 

Q: Ano ang nakikita niyong balakid na maipasa ito?

 Sen. Bam: Actually, wala akong nakikitang balakid. Unang-una pangako ng maraming mga politiko. Pangalawa, hinahanap talaga ng mga taumbayan. Ang concern ko is kung kaya nga ba ng ating telcos na bigyan ng connectivity ang ating SUCs.

 We can pass it into law pero kung talagang mahina, kung talagang mabagal, eh, sayang din lang iyan. So we want to get a commitment also na kung gagawin natin ito, sigurado talaga na iyong speed, iyong bilis at access talagang mararamdaman ng taumbayan.

 

Q: Iyong sa Magna Carta (for Scientists), kumusta?

 Sen. Bam: Alam mo, isa ito sa mga bagay-bagay na kailangan ng ating bansa para mag-progress. Iyong ating focus sa science at math, iyong ating tulong sa mga scientists, na magkaroon ng dagdag resources sa research. Ito iyong mga bagay-bagay na kailangan mangyari so we can really move forward.

 Sabi nga ng mga resource speakers natin kanina, kulang talaga iyong support sa mga Filipino scientists. May mga provision na nakakabawas sa puwede nila makuha na suweldo and we want to correct all of this.

 We want to make sure na ang ating Filipino scientists, hindi lang sila makabalik dito, magkaroon ng opportunities dito sa aming bansa, bagkus pati iyong mga nandito hindi na kailangan lumabas ng ating bansa. Itong Magna Carta for Scientists and Science workers, isa ito sa mga bibigyan natin ng pansin in this committee.

 

Q: You spent some time with the Startup Bill. How important is this for you? What’s the potential for this getting passed?

 Sen. Bam: There’s a huge potential also because this is one of my pet bills and we really want to focus on this. At nakita naman natin na full support ang DOST, ang DTI, all of the agencies are fully supportive of this bill. This will hopefully unlock our digital startup community. Maraming startup sa ating bansa, magagaling, very good ideas pero nasasayang dahil nahihirapan magsimula ng negosyo. At nahihirapan sa mga regulasyon. So we want to make it easier for digital startups to start in our country, to sustain themselves eventually get to larger markets.

 Isa ito sa mga gusto naming itulak ngayong 17th Congress and we find a lot of support from the private sector. Of course may Silicon Valley, ang pinakasikat na startup community sa mundo.

 Mayroon din sa Israel which created Viber and Waze. We’d like to think that we have the ingredients to have a very vibrant economically viable innovative startup community. Kailangan na lang ng kaunting tulong.

 And what we want to do, gusto nating tanggalin lahat ng mga balakid sa kanila. We want to make it easier for them and create that community here. And we really feel may potential sa Pilipinas. We can really do that here.

 The startup community’s been here for a number of years already but this is the first time na binibigyan ng pansin ang kanilang concerns at nagsa-suggest ang gobyerno ng solutions na puwede nilang makuha upang mas mapadali ang proseso ng kanilang pagiging startup sa ating bansa.

 

Q: Apart from the financial incentives, ano iyong iba pang ways to help our startups?

 Sen. Bam: Alam mo, marami eh. In fact, iyong financial – isang aspeto lang iyan. Iyong isang mahalaga diyan is Ease of doing business. Pagkakaroon ng paraan na ma-recognize sila, nabibigyan ng tamang benepisyo hindi lang sa pera pati rin sa personnel, pati rin sa office space or co-working spaces.

 So the bill is very comprehensive. It’s more than just financial support. It tries to make it easier for people to start up their businesses. It makes it easier for foreigners to also come here para magsimula dito.

 Kasi nakikita natin na maraming dayuhan na maraming karanasan sa ibang bansa na gustong magtayo ng mga negosyo dito sa startup scene.

 And everytime they come here, whether they are Fil-Ams, or even foreigners mismo na napamahal sa Pilipinas. When they come here bringing their experience, mas lumalago iyong ating ecosystem.

 Lumalago iyong karanasan ng mga startups dito at nagiging mas evolved sila at mas tumataas iyong level nila. We’re hoping we can also make it easier for them to set up here.

 Mahalaga na may support – iyong financial support, ease of doing business at pagkakaroon ng komunidad na sila-sila rin magtulungan na ma-create nila iyong komunidad so we can compete with the rest of the world.

 

Q: Nabanggit niyo po -this innovative startup is not just for Filipinos?

 Sen. Bam: Well, it creates space for foreigners to also set up here or they can join Filipino companies here.

 

Q: But don’t you think iyong competition, malamangan iyong mga Filipino startup?

Sen. Bam: Well, unang-una kasi iyong ganyang mentality – iyan iyong type of mentality na hindi nakaka-progress ang mga communities. If you look at silicon valley, if you look at other startup communities around the world, there’s competition but there’s also a lot of cooperation.

 There’s also a lot of cross-learning. That’s the way that these communities really thrive, eh. Nagkakaroon ng exchange of ideas, technology and personnel. Iyan iyong paraan para talagang ma-develop iyong community. You have to allow that exchange to happen.

 Yes, they’re competing with each other but through that competition, lumalabas iyong totoong galing at nagkakaroon ng cross-learning.

 So, mahalaga iyon. Kung mananatili tayong isolated at insular, hindi talaga tayo mag-po-progress but if we want to be competitive, kailangan handa tayong tumanggap ng tao mula sa iba’t-ibang bansa. Makikipagkumpitensya sa kanila pero also makuha rin ang kaalaman nila.

Bam: K to 12 exceeds expectations with 1.5M enrollees in Senior High School

The K to 12 program exceeded expectations with the number of enrollees in Senior High Schools (SHS) surpassing the 1.5-million mark for school year 2016-17.

 This was reported by the Department of Education (DepEd), led by Sec. Leonor Briones, during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture on the status of the K to 12 education program.

 “This figure debunks news reports on inaccessible senior high schools,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

 Of the 1,517,610 SHS enrollees, 1,460,970 were Grade 10 completers, 54,262 were Balik-Aral students and 2,378 were Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) passers.

 According to Sec. Briones, the number of Grade 10 completers who continued to SHS was equivalent to 98 percent of the students who finished Grade 10.

 “The fact that so many continued on to senior high school shows that if the state provides free schooling, Filipinos will seize the opportunity to get an education,” Sen. Bam said.

 However, Sen. Bam stressed that this high turn out brings added challenges like backlogs in classrooms and trained teachers.

 “We need to work quickly to meet these challenges head on and make free access to quality education a reality for every Filipino family,” Sen. Bam asserted.

Senate Bill No. 173: Free Education for Public School Teacher’s Children Act

Who would appreciate the great value of education more than the very people who have dedicated their lives to teaching in our public schools?

Many of our public school teachers sacrifice higher paying jobs and more comfortable working environments to answer their calling of educating those from less fortunate families. Their act of public service is invaluable to the lives of their students and molding the future of our country.

But as they fulfill their vocation in the field of education, they too struggle to afford the tuition fees to send their own children to school. With the meager salaries of public school teachers, paying for a college education comes as a heavy burden.

To unburden our modern-day heroes and to promote the value of education and becoming an educator, this bill endeavors to provide full tuition subsidies available in all State Universities and Colleges in the Philippines for the children of public school teachers.

This measure is in line with our efforts to improve access to quality education for every young Filipino and sends the message that becoming an educator within our public school system is a dignified vocation worthy of special benefits from the State.

Let’s continue to support and reward citizens who take part in nation-building and creating a brighter future for the next generation of young Filipinos.

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

 

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 173

 

 

 

Senate Bill 0172: An Act Institutionalizing the Abot Alam Program

At the age of 78, Miguel Lajos is graduating with a degree in AB Political Science from the University of the Visayas‐Dalaguete.

“It is never too late,” he tells people.

Miguel Lajos is not alone in his aspiration to continue schooling and earn a degree but, like him, too many Filipinos are faced with challenges such as poverty that impede on their education.

The Abot Alam Bill seeks to effectively address the needs of the fast growing numbers of Filipino youth aged 7 to 24 who are not attending school.

This measure calls for the creation of a comprehensive national framework designed to achieve the government’s aim to provide education for each and every Filipino.

Targeting the out‐of‐school (OSY), including those who are at risk of dropping out and those who have never had any formal schooling, the Abot Alam program has the following directives:

1) Data banking to enable the government to know the total percentage of OSY in the country and where these OSY are through the Barangay Abot Alam Targeting System;

2) A program mapping system to ensure that the initiatives and resources of all government agencies, non‐government organizations and institutions, volunteer groups, and all other sectors mandated to solving the challenges of OSY in the country are cohesive and efficient;

3) A focus on reintegration and equal opportunity through the program matching system so that all OSY are given equal access to programs and services of partner agencies and institutions.

At the heart of this policy is every Filipino’s right to quality education and we are hopeful that this policy moves us forward to an era where all our countrymen are empowered by education.

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

 

PDFicon DOWNLOAD SBN 0172

 

BIDA KA!: Garantiyang trabaho pagkatapos ng senior high school

Mga bida, bilang chairman ng Committee on Education ngayong 17th Congress, isa sa ating tinututukan ay ang pagsusulong at lalo pang pagpapalakas ng K to 12.

Ang programang ito ay binuo, isinabatas at isinakatuparan ng nakaraang administrasyon upang maiangat ang estado ng edukasyon sa bansa patungo sa pagiging world-class.

Natutuwa naman tayo na ipinagpatuloy ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang nasabing programa dahil alam niya na malaki ang maitutulong nito upang mabigyan ang ating mga estudyante ng de-kalidad na edukasyon.

Sa tulong nito, mas malaki ang pagkakataon nilang magkaroon ng magandang hanapbuhay o ‘di kaya’y kabuhayan para sa kanilang hinaharap.

***

Bago pa man pormal na nagsimula ang K to 12, may ilang paaralan na sa bansa ang nagsilbing “early implementers” ng programa.

Kabilang na rito ang Fidelis Senior High sa Tanauan, Batangas na nagbukas ng pinto noong 2014 sa dalawampu’t anim na Grade 11 students bilang pioneer batch ng Senior High School.

Habang ang iba nilang kaklase ay nagtuloy sa kolehiyo, buong tapang namang hinarap ng 26 ang hamon ng programa, na tumakbo sa ilalim ng sistemang “study now, pay later” at may garantiyang trabaho pagsapit ng graduation.

Sa nasabing paaralan, agad sinabak ang 26 sa mga kasana­yang may kinalaman sa trabaho at entrepreneurship upang maihanda sila sa papasuking hanapbuhay sa hinaharap.

Sa unang taon, kasabay ng pag-aaral ng iba’t ibang paksa ay bumisita rin sila sa mga kumpanya sa science park sa Batangas at Laguna upang malaman ang mga sistema sa paghahanap ng trabaho.

Sa isang kompanya, tinuruan pa sila kung paano mag-fill-up ng application form, kumuha ng exam at humarap sa iba’t ibang interview.

Pagsapit ng Grade 12, ipinadala sila sa iba’t ibang kumpanya para sa on-the-job training.

Noong March 19, 2016, gumawa ng kasaysayan ang dalawampu’t anim bilang unang batch ng graduates ng Fidelis Senior High Grade 12.

Habang ang karamihan sa kanila ay nagpasyang magtuloy sa kolehiyo, ito sa kanila ang nabigyan ng trabaho pagka-graduate.

***

Ito ang pakay ng isinumite nating Senate Bill No. 170 o panukalang magtatag ng Trabaho Centers sa lahat ng Senior High Schools sa buong bansa.

Ang Trabaho Center ay tutulong sa Senior High School graduates, na nais nang maghanapbuhay at huwag nang magpatuloy pa sa kolehiyo, upang makakita ng trabaho.

Kapag naisabatas, tatlong pangunahing aspeto ang tututukan ng Trabaho Center — career counseling services, employment facilitation at industry matching.

Sa ilalim ng career counseling, bibigyan ang mga estudyante ng bagay sa career na kanilang pipiliin sa Senior High School.

Sa Employment Facilitation, bibigyan ng lahat ng kinakailangang tulong ng senior high school student sa paghahanap ng trabaho.

Sa pamamagitan naman ng industry matching, mapupunuan ang pangangailangan ng mga kumpanya sa pagbibigay sa kanila ng listahan ng mga graduate at profile ng bawat estudyante.

Magtutulungan naman ang Public Employment Services Office (PESO) at TESDA sa paglikha ng database ng mga bakanteng trabaho sa lokalidad at kung anong dagdag na training ang hinahanap para sa isang partikular na trabaho.

Naniniwala tayo na edukasyon ang magandang tulay tungo sa pagkakaroon ng hanapbuhay.

Sa tulong ng Trabaho Center, magiging abot-kamay na para sa isang Senior High School student ang inaasam na trabaho.

Ito’y isa lang sa marami pa nating plano upang mapalakas ang edukasyon sa bansa at makalikha ng marami pang trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan.

Article first published on Abante Online

Bam: Lower the price of electricity

A senator has submitted a measure seeking to lower power rates by removing Value Added Tax (TAX) from the sale of electricity by all electric companies and cooperatives.

In his Senate Bill No. 670, Sen. Bam Aquino wants to make VAT-exempt the sale of electricity at all stages — from generation, transmission, and distribution — to lessen the expenses of Filipino families.

 “A tax relief on electricity will result in significant savings for Filipino families as well as lower operating costs for businesses, from small restaurants and retail stores to large factories,” Sen. Bam said.

 The measure seeks to amend Section 108 (A) (II) and 109 (1) of the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 9337, to cover sale, transmission and distribution of electricity from VAT-exempted transactions.

 Among them are sales of electricity by generation, transmission and distribution companies and electric cooperatives and services of franchise grantees or electric utilities.

 The senator is also eyeing to exempt from VAT the sale or importation of machineries and equipment, including spare parts, to be directly used by the buyer or importer in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity

 “We’ve been complaining about our expensive electricity for too long. Something must be done to bring down prices,” Sen. Bam said.

 The Philippines has one of the most expensive electricity costs in Southeast Asia, having the third highest tariffs for residential electricity whereas our neighbors’ electrical distribution is heavily subsidized by their governments.

 The lawmaker added that more than hindering foreign investment, high power rates add burden to average Filipino families that are already struggling to pay for other necessities such as water, food and gas.

 

Bam: More support for poor Filipino families ​through Microfinance NGOs

Low-income households will be supported by more m​icrofinance non-government organizations (​MFI ​NGOs) with the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 10693 or the Microfinance NGOs Act.
 
​“This law will encourage more MFI​ NGO​s to ​help the poor through ​loans and​ ​training,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, who pushed for the law’s passage in the Senate as co-author and principal sponsor.
 
​​MFI NGOs give Filipinos access to low-interest, no collateral loans to pay for housing, medical, and educational needs​ as well as loans for small businesses.
 
“MFI NGOs​ aid​ our poor countrymen in times of inflation and price increases. They also provide financing and training for livelihood and small businesses so families can overcome poverty,” he added.
 
In 2013, MFI NGO members of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) had a gross loan portfolio of over 15.26 billion pesos catering to more than 2.7 million micro-entrepreneurs.
 
​According to Sen. Bam, the law ​incentivizes microfinance NGOs to continue helping Filipinos overcome poverty not just through financing but also through financial literacy, livelihood, and entrepreneurship training.
 
​​The ​law provides microfinance NGOs needed support and incentives that includes access to government programs and projects, technical assistance and exemption from taxes.
 
​​Republic Act 10693 was one of Sen. Bam’s 16 laws in the 16th Congress. It was passed under his watch as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
 
​The ​law’s IRR is set to be signed today, August 16, 2016.

Bam eyes tax exemption for communities affected by calamities

Business establishments and communities affected by calamities will be exempted from paying taxes once a measure submitted by Sen. Bam Aquino becomes a law.

 “This measure seeks to relieve Filipinos of some taxes to encourage recovery after disaster,” said Sen. Bam as he filed Senate Bill No. 653 or “An Act Providing for Tax Relief in Times of Calamity”.

 The measure mandates real property tax exemption for affected communities after a declaration of a state of calamity.

 In addition, Sen. Bam said business establishments affected by a calamity shall be exempted from income tax payments.

 The bill also provides donor’s tax exemption to organizations, provided that at least 90 percent of the donations go directly to the affected community and not to administrative purposes.

 “Families affected by calamities need our help. Waiving taxes is one way the government can give them support and assistance,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 A total of 6 provinces, 12 cities, 17 municipalities, and 2 barangays have been declared under a state of calamity because of El Niño from February 2015 to March 14, 2016 according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

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