Bam Aquino

Sen. Bam to DBM: Recognize urgency of releasing ASAP wage hike

Sen. Bam Aquino urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) not to leave government workers and public school teachers behind after it granted the fourth tranche of salary hike for employees of government owned- and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and local government units (LGUs).

“Nagpapasalamat kami at parang unti-unti ay gumagawa na ng aksiyon ang DBM para ma-release na ang last tranche ng salary increase,” said Sen. Bam, referring to Budget Sec. Ben Diokno’s order to allowing the implementation of the salary adjustments for personnel of LGUs and GOCCs.

“Pero nalulungkot din kami dahil kawawa naman ang mga public school teachers at kawani ng gobyerno dahil bigo pa rin silang makuha ang nakatakdang umento,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam said the DBM should not take the welfare of government workers and public school teachers for granted as they are also burdened by the high prices of food and other goods as well.

“Hindi sila dapat ma-etsa pwera sa dagdag-sweldo dahil matindi rin ang pangangailangan nila sa taas ng presyo ng mga bilihin ngayon,” said Sen. Bam, hoping that the DBM will soon release the final part of the salary increase under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

 Sen. Bam reiterated his call to the DBM to utilize the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) for the fourth and final part of the salary hike for government workers under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL).

“Ilang beses na nating sinabi na maaaring gamitin ng DBM ang MPBF para sa umento sa sahod ng ating mga manggagawa sa gobyerno. Ano ba ang pumipigil sa kanila para gawin ito?” Sen. Bam said.

 Sen. Bam recently submitted Resolution No. 982 expressing the sense of the Senate that the DBM should utilize the MPBF for the fourth instalment of the salary increase for government workers.

 Fellow members of the opposition, including Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Antonio Trillanes, Leila de Lima and Risa Hontiveros, supported Sen. Bam’s view and signed the resolution.

 In his Resolution, Sen. Bam insisted that the DBM is authorized to release and pay the salaries immediately, without the need for further approval from Congress.

Sen. Bam seeks additional P1,000 social pension for senior citizens

A senator wants to increase the social pension of senior citizens as gratitude to their valued contribution to the development of the country and to provide them with additional income to help them deal with the prevailing high prices of goods.

In his Senate Bill No. 2142, Sen. Bam Aquino seeks to mandate the government to give a social pension of P1,000 to all senior citizens who do not have social pension or to those receiving a pension not exceeding P3,000.

 “Kailangang-kailangan ng ating senior citizens ang dagdag na pensiyon para makatugon sa kanilang araw-araw na pangangailangan at makatulong sa gastusin ng kanilang pamilya. Mahalaga ito lalo na’t mataas ang presyo ng bilihin,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Napakalaki ng kontribusyon ng ating senior citizen sa pagpapaunlad ng bansa. Panahon na para bigyan natin sila ng karampatang kalinga at pag-aala bilang pagkilala sa kanilang sakripisyo para sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam.

According to Sen. Bam, a study conducted by the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE) indicated that social pension contributed on average almost a third of household income.

 However, Sen. Bam said that the same study showed that only 32 percent of eight million senior citizens in the country receive social pension of P500 a month, while 38 percent do not receive any pension at all.

 When it comes to the 1.5 million Social Security System (SSS) pensioners, less than half receives not more than P3,400 per month.

“With no or inadequate pension for many Filipino senior citizens, they are forced to rely on the modest incomes of their families who are also struggling to make a living,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Giving them social pension will greatly help to address their daily needs, and provide some relief to their households,” the senator added.

 Aside from additional social pension for senior citizens, Sen.Bam is also working for the creation of a National Commission for Senior Citizens (NCSC) through his Senate Bill No. 674.

 The bill seeks to amend Section 11 of Republic Act 7432 or the Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010, abolishing the National Coordinating and Monitoring Board and replacing it with NCSC.

 The council will be spearheaded by a chairperson and commissioners from a list submitted by senior citizens organizations and associations.

Sen. Bam renews call to suspend excise tax on fuel after big-time oil price hike

Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated his call to suspend the excise tax on petroleum products under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law following the recent big-time fuel price hike due to increase in oil prices in the world market.

“Hindi pa nga nakakahinga ang taumbayan sa mataas na presyo ng pagkain at iba pang bilihin, unti-unti na namang umaakyat ang presyo ng langis sa world market,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Kaya mas magandang itigil na ng pamahalaan ang excise tax sa langis sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law bago pa ito magdulot ng dagdag pang pasanin sa taumbayan, lalo na sa mahihirap,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has filed Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill in May 2018 to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

On Tuesday, oil companies have announced increase of a least P1.40 per liter for gasoline, P2.30 per liter for diesel and P2.00 per liter for kerosene due to increase in world crude prices.

The second part of the excise tax hike under the TRAIN Law is not yet included in the increase.

Earlier, Sen. Bam slammed the government decision to implement the second part of excise tax under the TRAIN Law, emphasizing that the country’s inflation rate remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent.

“Nalulunod pa rin sa mahal na presyo ng pagkain at bilihin ang ating mga kababayan kaya napakalaking pagkakamali na payagan ang ikalawang bahagi ng excise tax sa ilalim ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam: Free college law not affected by re-enacted budget

Sen. Bam Aquino assured that the implementation of the free college law will not be hampered by the re-enacted budget.

“Walang dapat ipangamba ang mga estudyante at mga magulang dahil tiniyak ng Kongreso na mayroong pondo ang libreng kolehiyo, kahit sa ilalim pa ng re-enacted budget o ng 2019 budget,”  said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Sen. Bam made the clarification to allay fears of students and parents after different government agencies experience funding issues due to the re-enacted budget.

 “Dahil tuluy-tuloy ang pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo, makatutulong ito para kayanin ng mahihirap na pamilyang Pilipino ang pasanin ng mataas na presyo ng bilihin,” added Sen. Bam, who pushed for the law’s passage during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Earlier, Sen. Bam called for the full implementation of the free college law in 2019, where students in public universities and colleges won’t have to shell out a single centavo on tuition, miscellaneous and other mandatory fees.

This, after Sen. Bam received a commitment from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that it will issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full release of the budget for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

Sen. Bam to admin: Don’t delay salary increase of gov’t workers, public school teachers

The government should not delay the scheduled salary increase of its workers, especially public school teachers, as it could help them cope with the prevailing high prices of food and other goods, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
“Sa gitna ng pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, hindi dapat mabinbin ang umento sa sweldo ng mga empleyado ng pamahalaan, lalo na ng ating public school teachers,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the scheduled release of the fourth tranche of the Salary Standardization Law in January 2019.
 
“Sa panahon ngayon kailangang kailangan ng mga guro natin ang ayuda para makaagapay sa hirap ng buhay,” added Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
Sen. Bam pointed out that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) could utilize the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefits Fund (MPBF) to ensure that government employees receive their salary increase on time.
 
“Huwag naman sanang ipagkait sa mga empleyado ng pamahalaan at sa mga guro itong agarang ayuda na matagal na nilang hinihiling at hinihintay,” Sen. Bam stressed.
 
During his term as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam worked for the enactment of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as the law’s principal sponsor.
 
Sen. Bam is also pushing for the passage of the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018 to help address the high prices of food and other goods.
 
The measure aims to fix the TRAIN Law by ensuring the suspension and rollback of excise tax on fuel once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

Sen. Bam breaks into winning circle in Pulse Asia survey, stresses importance of people’s support

Sen. Bam Aquino welcomed his entry into the winning circle in the Pulse Asia survey even as he stressed the importance of the people’s support in his re-election bid in the 2019 elections.

Natutuwa tayo sa pag-angat natin sa Pulse Asia Survey subalit mahaba pa po ang laban,” said Sen. Bam, who placed 10th to 16th in survey conducted from Dec. 14 to 21 with 32.6 percent.

 “Bagkus mabigat ang laban na ating susuungin, buo ang tiwala ko na ito’y kakayanin sa tulong at suporta ng ating taumbayan,” added Sen. Bam, whose percentage improved from his September ranking of 18 to 23 spots with 20.1 percent.

 In a statement, Sen. Bam underscored the importance of the voters’ role in the 2019 elections, especially in scrutinizing the accomplishments and performance of candidates.

 “Mahalaga po ang suporta at papel ng bawat botante, bawat volunteer, bawat supporter sa labang ito, sa pagiging mapanuri sa mga nagawa ng mga kandidato at sa pagkukumbinsi sa iba pang naghahangad ng mga pagbabago sa ating liderato at lipunan,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

“Sa inyo pong tulong, maiaangat pa natin ang ating standing at sa gayon mapagpatuloy ang mga mahahalagang reporma sa edukasyon na kailangan ng ating bayan,” he added.

The lawmaker also called on his supporters to convince their loved ones to weigh the accomplishments of all senatorial candidates in the 2019 elections as the country’s future depends on it.

“Sa mga susunod pong mga linggo, kumbinsihin natin ang ating mga minamahal sa buhay na suriin ng mabuti ang bawat sa amin na naghahangad ng pwesto sa Senado,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name in his first term as senator, including the landmark free college law and the Go Negosyo Act, which has now established more than  1,000 Negosyo Centers in different parts of the country.

Sen. Bam: New Year’s resolution should be 100% implementation of free college

Sen. Bam Aquino is hoping for the complete implementation of the free college law in 2019, with students in public universities and colleges not having to spend a single centavo on tuition, miscellaneous and other mandatory fees.

 “Gawin sanang New Year’s resolution ang 100% compliance sa batas na Libreng Kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Siguraduhin natin na kahit kapos ang pamilya, makapagtatapos pa rin ng kolehiyo dahil libre na ang tuition, miscellaneous at iba pang mandatory fees sa public schools,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam orchestrated the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as principal sponsor in the Senate during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

Earlier, Sen. Bam received a commitment from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) that it will issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

During the CHED’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam informed its officials that he received complaints from students that some SUCs still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931.

 Sen. Bam told CHED officials that the law should be properly implemented so that students and their families can enjoy its benefits, allowing them to cope with daily expenses amid the high prices of food and other goods.

 “Sa halip na gamiting pambayad sa gastusin sa paaaralan, mas maganda kung mapunta ito sa ibang pangangailangan ng pamilya, lalo na sa pagkain, damit at iba pang kailangan,” added Sen. Bam.

 Sen. Bam is also pushing for the full release of the budget for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

Sen. Bam: Free College is Rizal’s Legacy

Ang mahusay na pagpapatupad ng ating batas sa Libreng Kolehiyo ang pinakamakahulugang parangal kay Gat Jose Rizal.
 
Sa totoo lang po, ang isa sa mga naunang nangarap ng abot-kayang edukasyon tulad ng Libreng Kolehiyo para sa mga kabataang Pilipino ay si Jose Rizal.
 
Kalidad na edukasyon para mga Pilipino ang pangarap ni Crisostomo Ibarra sa Noli Me Tangere. “Paaralan ay siyang aklat na kinasusulatan ng hinaharap ng mga bayan. Ipakita ninyo sa amin ang paaralan ng isang bayan at sasabihin namin sa inyo kung ano ang bayang iyan.”
 
Ang pangarap ni Rizal dati nagkakatotoo na. Sa araw ni Gat Jose Rizal, bigyang buhay natin ang diwa ng ating pambansang bayani sa pagtiyak na kahit kapos ay makapagtatapos.

Sen. Bam: Inflation rate still high, shelve plan to implement excise tax on fuel in 2019

The government should reconsider its decision to implement the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law for 2019 as inflation rate remains far from its original target, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“Walang basehan itong pagbawi ng pangako ng gobyerno dahil mas mataas pa rin ang inflation sa sarili nilang target,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the November inflation rate of 6.0 percent, which remains far from the government’s inflation rate target of 2-4 percent range.

“Ibig sabihin, nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng krisis ng taas presyo kaya mali ang desisyong patungan ng excise tax ang produktong petrolyo sa susunod na taon,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the government should have based the suspension of excise tax on fuel on inflation rate and not on world crude prices, which he is pushing in his Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill that he filed in May 2018.

“Matagal na nating ihinain ang Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill na nagsisikap na baguhin at ayusin ang mga problemadong probisyon ng TRAIN. Ito na lang sana ang binigyan ng pansin ng economic managers, imbis na ulitin ang mga pagkakamali ng TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam.

Earlier, Sen. Bam lamented the decision of economic managers to implement the excise tax on fuel for 2019, days after recommending its suspension.

“Nakakapagod ang mga urong-sulong na pangako, lalo na para sa mga Pilipinong nalulunod sa taas-presyo,” said Sen. Bam.

“Pinakinggan sana ang taumbayan at hindi na gatungan ng buwis sa petrolyo ng TRAIN Law, habang alam naman ng lahat na ang pag-akyat nito ang dahilan sa mataas na presyo sa merkado,” he added.

Sen. Bam’s Privilege Speech on China issues

Magandang araw, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, majority floor leader! Magandang, magandang  hapon po sa inyong lahat!

To quote a very popular love song, a picture paints a thousand words.

Well, this particular picture inspired a thousand memes and thousands of comments.

Several of our countrymen raised their eyebrows and voiced their confusion and outrage.

Sabi nga ho ni Defense Sec. Lorenzana “Maybe Malacañang thinks that it is correct dahil ginawa nila yun. Do not torture our minds about giving meaning to these very trivial things.”

Well, Mr. President, marami po sa mga kababayan natin, hindi naisip na trivial iyong pagkawala ng ating bandila sa pagdating ni President Xi Jinping.

Hindi naman siguro masamang tanungin kung may violation nga ba o hindi iyong ginawang pagparada sa bandila ng China, na wala po ang ating three stars and a sun.

To be honest, Mr. President, the pivot to China opened a Pandora’s Box of questions regarding the Philippines’ dealings with a powerful and more domineering neighbor.

These, dear friends, are questions and concerns that have already been raised in the past 2 years, even before the 2-day state visit of China’s president.

Hindi rin naman sigurong masamang magtanong tungkol sa sarili nating teritoryo, sa sarili po nating karagatan na mas malawak pa sa kabuuan ng ating lupain at naglalaman ng sang-katutak na isda, langis at iba pang kayamanan – kayamanang pag-aari ng ating taumbayan.

Ngayon napanalo na ng Pilipinas ang kaso laban sa China sa International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas o ITLOS at kinlaro na sa mundo ang ating exclusive economic zone sa West Philippine Sea, anu-ano ang paraan kung paano po mapoprotektahan itong sariling atin?

Just to remind everyone, based on satellite photos obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer in February 2018, China appeared to be in the final stages of constructing air and naval bases in seven reefs in the Spratlys Region, including Mischief or Panganiban and Subi or Zamora Reefs, over which the Philippines has exclusive right and jurisdiction as ruled by the UN Tribunal.

Worse, last May 2018, US Intelligence reports revealed that China had installed anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles on these reefs. Again, let me clarify Mr. President, these are missiles installed within our own country – within the Philippines’ jurisdiction.

To this incident, President Duterte was quoted in saying: “In the play of politics, now, I will set aside the arbitral ruling. I will not impose anything on China.”

However, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Peter Cayetano said: “We have to put aside our territorial and sovereign rights claims but not abandon them. The preliminary agreement is based on: let’s cooperate first, and let’s talk about who owns what, and who has jurisdiction, later on.”

Clearly, Mr. President, mayroon talagang paglilinaw na dapat gawin sa ating pakikitungo sa China.

Napakahalaga rin kwestyunin ang legalidad ng militarization ng China sa West Philippine Sea.

Uulitin ko po, mayroon Chinese air and naval bases sa loob ng ating karagatan. Mayroon pong anti-ship at surface-to-air missiles ang China sa loob ng karagatan ng Pilipinas.

Ang isa sa mga tinayuan ng Chinese military base ay ang Mischief o Panganiban Reef na 250 kilometers lang ang layo sa Palawan. Ito’y kasing layo ng Baguio sa dito ngayon sa Senado – a 4-hour drive ang layo.  In fact, kung iisipin natin, 250 kilometers mayroon nang missiles at armas dito.

I will also clarify that Article XVIII, Section 25 of our 1987 Constitution it states that – and I quote – “…foreign military bases, troops, or facilities shall not be allowed in the Philippines except under a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate and, when the Congress so requires, ratified by a majority of the votes cast by the people in a national referendum held for that purpose, and recognized as a treaty by the other contracting State.” – end quote.

That said, is it not prohibited under the Philippine Constitution to consent to the presence of Chinese air and naval bases, now armed with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles, unless a treaty is signed with China? Hindi naman siguro masamang usisain ang legalidad ng mga military base na ito.

Ito pong isyu na ito, diretso po sa tingin po namin, ang contradiction sa ating Saligang Batas. Mahalaga po na maklaro agad kung mayroon ngang violation sa ating Constitution ang pagpayag dito sa China air bases sa ating teritoryo.

This leads us to even more painful and personal questions – mga tanong tungkol sa pang-aabuso ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino, sa pananakot sa ating media at mga reporter, at sa pagbibigay ng trabaho sa mga Tsino imbis na mga Pilipino.

Just last November 8, China stopped a Filipino TV crew from conducting interviews in the West Philippine Sea, stating that the Filipino reporters cannot proceed without the permission of China.

Ang sabi ng isang miyembro ng Chinese Coast Guard kay Jun Veneracion ng Reporters’ Notebook: “Without the permission of China, you cannot carry out the interview here.”

Earlier this year, on May 20, a video showed two men boarding the boat of a Filipino fisherman.

Sinabi po ng ating mangingisda: “Wala po silang paalam. Halungkatin nila ‘yun, basta maghalungkat sila, Sir. Kukunin nila ‘yung gusto nila. Ilagay nila sa plastic, magaganda pa ang kunin nila.” I’m assuming that he’s talking about the fish na hinuli ng ating mangingisda.

Sabi pa ni Manong Rony, na isa ring mangingisda: “Sa tingin ko po parang sila rin ang boss dito. Sila po ang nasusunod eh. Wala po kaming magagawa kung sabihin nilang aalis kami. Wala kaming power na ipaglaban ‘yung sarili namin. Batas din nila yung nasusunod dito sa Scarborough.” (Reporter’s Notebook)

Hindi naman po masamang tanungin kung tama ba itong nangyayari sa ating media, kung tama ba ang nangyayari sa ating mangingisda, sa ating mga kababayan sa sarili po nating teritoryo.

Punta rin tayo Build-Build-Build na malaki ang koneksiyon sa China.

Ilang proyekto na ang nabigyan ng go-signal?

Ilan na po ba ang nasimulan na?

Kailan po ba matatapos ang mga ito?

Anong part ng Build-Build-Build program ang uutangin sa China?

Ano ang napagkasunduang terms at interest rate?

Kasama ba sa kontrata na mga Tsino at hindi Pilipino ang magtatrabaho sa mga proyektong ito?

Ilang trabaho ba ang nakalaan talaga sa mga kababayan nating Pilipino?

So far, Mr. President, this is what we do know:

One: In 2016, the President visited China and came home with $24 Billion of Chinese loans and investment pledges for Build Build Build. So far, only 2 bridge projects worth 62.28 million U.S. dollars, and these are grants, and one irrigation project worth 62.09 million U.S. dollars are ongoing.

Second: The government’s Pipeline of Programs and Project for Official Development Assistance as of September 28, 2018 includes 16 projects that will be funded with loans from China amounting to a total of 740.45 Billion Pesos.

Three, Mr. President: Chinese loans are not only “tied” loans or loans with conditions, but they have a higher interest rate roughly anywhere up to 3% than the “untied” loans we are getting from other countries like Japan.

Isang Pandora’s Box po talaga ang nabukas dito po sa ating pagkiling natin sa China.

At mga kaibigan, kailangan talagang maklaro sa ating mga kababayan ang mga sagot sa mga tanong na ito.

Pagdating sa paglaban sa ating teritoryo, pagdating sa paglaban para sa ating mangingisda, pagdating po sa mga proyekto na posible pong pumasok sa ating bansa at narinig na rin natin ng debt trap gaya ng Sri Lanka na kung saan iyong mga bansang nabaon sa utang ay nangangailangan na magbigay o magpaubaya ng kanilang kasarinlan.

Isa pong Pandora’s Box ng mga tanong mga kaibigan, at tingin ko po ang Senado ay may kapangyarihan at mayroong tungkulin na isara ang isyung ito , na sagutin ang mga isyung ito tungkol sa China sa pamamagitan ng paghanap at paghingi ng makatotohanang mga sagot.

The Senate does not only have the power and privilege to search for these answers; we have a duty to shed light on these issues and ensure that the government is in the favor of the Filipino people and not in favor of China in its dealings.

Mr. President, let me share a short history lesson. In September of 1991, Philippine senators made history by ending years of U.S. military presence in the Philippines, even when many believed that the presence of U.S. bases was good for livelihood and for the economy, and, therefore, in the best interest of the Filipino people.

It was a difficult decision then, Mr. President. Sen. Gordon is here, my aunt President Cory Aquino was on the side of retaining the US bases. But the Senate at that time, Mr. President, made a fateful decision.  To this day, that decision is lauded as one that upheld the independence of our country.

Ngayon po, tinatawag tayo muli ang Senado na mamuno at pumanig sa kapwa nating Pilipino. We are again called to take the lead in terms of transparency, sovereignty and national security.

Umaasa po kami na kaya po ng Senado na klaruhin ang mga tanong na ito upang mapanatag naman ang kalooban ng ating mga kababayan na sa ating teritoryo, para sa ating kabuhayan, trabaho, imprastruktura, mga kontrata at mga benepisyo – sigurado po na dapat una ang Pilipino at panalo ang Pilipino dito sa sarili nating bansa at sa anumang pakikitungo sa anumang bansa dito sa ating mundo.

Umaasa ang ating mga kababayan na dito sa Pilipinas, mauuna ang Pilipino.

Let the Senate hopefully, Mr. President, take the lead and shed light on the myriad issues on China for fellow Filipinos, for our country, and, of course, for the future of our children. Maraming salamat po, Mr. President. Thank you.

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