Cabotage Law

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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P-Noy to Sign Landmark PH Competition Act and Amendments to Cabotage Policy into Laws

Two important, historic, game-changing bills to continue pushing the country’s progress and inclusive economic growth will be signed into laws by the President tomorrow.

In a ceremonial signing in the Malacanang Palace tomorrow, July 21, Tuesday, at 10 am, President Aquino will approve the landmark Philippine Competition Act, giving the country its own law that will level playing field for all businesses by penalizing anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players.

The Chief Executive is also expected to sign into law the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, which will now allow foreign ships carrying imported cargoes and cargoes to be exported out of the country to dock in multiple ports.

The Philippine Competition Act is considered the longest-running measure in Congress, taking 25 years before hurdling the legislative mill.

“The Philippine Competition Act will usher in a new era of doing business in the country,” said Sen. Bam, co-author and principal sponsor of the measure.

Under the law, a Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) will be established with the Chief Executive appointing a chairperson, four commissioners and an executive director.

“Businesses, whether big or small, will now be on equal footing as the law penalizes anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players,” stressed Sen. Bam, adding that cartels will also be eliminated under the law.

As an independent quasi-judicial body, the PCC will look into anti-competitive behaviors, abuses in dominant positions, and anti-competitive mergers and acquisitions.

“This will lead to an efficient market economy and a level playing field for all businesses,” added Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

The PCC can impose administrative penalties of a maximum fine of P100 million on the first offense and P250 million for the second offense for anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position.

Moreover, courts can impose criminal penalties of imprisonment from two to seven years and a maximum penalty of P250 million for anti-competitive agreements done between and among competitors.  The imprisonment will be imposed to responsible officers and directors of the entity.

Aside from the Philippine Competition Act, the Chief Executive will also sign into law the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act, another measure sponsored by Sen. Bam.

The Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act will reduce logistics costs for producers, create a more efficient import and export system, and lead to lower prices for consumers.  The law will also help in decongesting the major ports in the country.

With the approval of his two measures, Sen. Bam will have four laws to his credit. Last year, the President approved the Go Negosyo Act and the Philippine Lemon Law.

In addition, the President is also expected to sign the Youth Entrepreneurship Act soon.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Act, co-authored and principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, is touted to be an effective tool to solve the growing number of jobless youths in the country, which currently stands at 1.32 million.

Financial literacy and entrepreneurship courses will now be included in all levels of education to build an entrepreneurship culture among Filipinos.  A youth entrepreneurship fund shall also be made available to cater to youth entrepreneurs in the country.

Sen. Bam’s campaign promises of spurring jobs and enterprise development, levelling the playing field, and ease of dong business were further fulfilled with these macro economic reforms together with the establishment of Negosyo Centers all over the country through the Go Negosyo Act.

BIDA KA!: Trabaho, Negosyo, Tiwala

Mga Bida, sa huling survey na inilabas ng Pulse Asia, si Senate President Franklin Drilon ang lumabas na pinakapinagkakatiwalaang pinuno ng pamahalaan.

Nabanggit din ni SP Drilon ito noong nakapanayam niya si Karen Davila.  Nabanggit niya na dahil sa tuluy-tuloy na trabaho ng buong Senado, kaya niya nakamit ang rating na ito.

Noon pa man, ilang beses na na­ting sinasabi na upang muling makuha ang tiwala ng taumbayan, kailangan na­ming mga senador na ipagpatuloy ang pagtatrabaho sa gitna ng mga iskandalo upang mas mapaganda ang buhay ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino, lalung-lalo na ang ating mga kababayang naghihirap.

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Kaya naman, sa gitna ng ingay-pulitika kaugnay ng nalalapit na halalan, patuloy pa rin ang pagtutok ng ating opisina sa mga panukalang magpapatibay sa ating ekonomiya at makakatulong na makaahon sa kahirapan ang ating mga kababayan.

Mabigat ang mga ito para sa isang bagong senador, pero dahil mahalaga ito para sa taumbayan, tinutukan ito ng inyong lingkod.

Kamakailan, inaprubahan ng dalawang sangay ng Kongreso ang tatlong mahahalagang panukala at naghihintay na lang ng pirma ni Pangulong Noynoy Aquino upang maging mga batas.
Kapag naging batas, malaki ang maitutulong nito sa paglago ng ating kabataan at maliliit na negosyante, mabawasan ang bilang ng walang trabaho at sa paglakas ng ekonomiya ng bansa.

Una, naratipikahan na ang Youth Entrepreneurship Act, na la­yong tugunan ang lumalaking bilang ng kabataang walang trabaho sa bansa.

Sa ulat ng Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) at National Statistics Office (NSO), may 1.32 milyong kabataang may edad mula 15 hanggang 24-anyos ngayon ang walang trabaho.

Sa nasabing panukala, magtuturo na ng financial literacy at pagnenegosyo sa ating mga eskuwelahan upang masimulan na ang kultura ng pagnenegosyo sa ating bansa.

Pangarap natin na lalo pang  dumami ang mga nagnenegosyo sa ating mga kababayan habang lumalago ang ating bansa, at mainam na simulan na ito habang bata pa.

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Ikalawa, inaasahan sa Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act na maka­tutulong na mapababa ang presyo ng shipping ng mga produkto sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

Sa ilalim ng nasabing panukala, papayagan na ang mga dayuhang barko na galing sa international ports na dumaong sa iba’t ibang pantalan sa bansa para magbaba at magsakay ng kargamentong in-import at ie-export.

Sa gayon, wala nang double handling na gagawin at mumura ang presyo ng logistics sa bansa.

Alam ninyo, mga Bida, ang malaking bahagi ng presyo ng bili­hin ang napupunta sa logistics kaya inaasahan namin na bababa ang halaga ng produkto sa merkado.

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Huli, humigit-kumulang na 25 taon din itong nabimbin sa Kongreso, pero sulit naman ang paghihintay ngayong naipasa natin sa Kamara ang Philippine Competition Act.

Sa tulong nito, magkakaroon ng patas na pagkakataon ang lahat ng negosyo, mawawala ang lahat ng mga cartel, mga nag-price fixing, nagtatago ng supply upang tumaas ang presyo, iba pang anti-competitive agreements at abuso ng malalaking kompanya.

Mga Bida, kapag may nang-aabuso sa merkado, ang talo riyan ay ang mga mamimili. Nawawalan sila ng pagkakataong pumili ng produkto, nagmamahal ang presyo ng bilihin at nahihirapang makapasok ang bagong mga kompanya na maaaring magbigay ng mas magandang serbisyo at produkto sa merkado.

Sa batas na ito, bababa ang presyo ng bilihin, mas marami nang pagpipilian at mas maraming innovation na makikita ang mga mamimili sa merkado.

Susuportahan din nito ang ating maliliit na negosyante, ha­yaan silang lumago at magbigay ng maraming trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan.

Mga Bida, maraming salamat sa inyong tuluy-tuloy na suporta. Patuloy tayong maghahain ng mga panukala para sa kapaka­nan ng nakararaming Pilipino!

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Para sa reaksyon o suhestyon, mag-email sa bidakacolumn@gmail.com o mag-iwan ng mensahe sa www.facebook.com/BenignoBamAquino.

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Subaybayan si Sen. Bam Aquino sa kanyang bagong radio show, Status Update, tuwing Miyerkules, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm, sa RMN Manila DZXL 558.

 

First Published on Abante Online

 

 

Bam on Foreign Ships Co-Loading Bill (Transcript of Interview)

Senator Bam Aquino (third from left), chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, poses with (from left) Reps. Anthony del Rosario, Mark Villar, Miro Quimbo, Teddy Baguilat Jr., Raneo Abu and Cesar Sarmiento after the Foreign Co-Loading of Cargoes Act hurdled the bicameral conference committee.

“We were able to finish the bicameral conference committee regarding the bill allowing foreign vessels to dock in multiple ports and co-load.

We’re quite happy with this bill. We’re hoping that the objective of this bill, which is to lower the cost of logistics in the Philippines, can be achieved.

This is quite a landmark bill in terms of opening up our shipping industry to foreign players, which hopefully can bring down prices of goods as well, which will be to the benefit of our consumers.

There were some cleaning up of language, harmonization of definition of terms but more or less, it was the same spirit from our committee report.

 Initially, the House version was only for container vans. The Senate version was for all foreign cargoes. We had a larger scope from theirs and we were able to harmonize by accepting the Senate version which is having a larger scope for foreign cargoes.

This is a landmark bill so we’re hoping it would be signed into law as soon as possible.”

Republic Act No. 10668: Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act

Currently, inter-island shipping is exclusively reserved for ships bearing the Philippine flag. Internationally, this principle is known as the Cabotage Principle, which is implemented to protect the country’s local shipping industry.

Unfortunately, this exclusive right incurs an extra cost for our importers of raw materials and for Philippine exporters of goods. Thus, we are pushing today for allowing foreign ships coming from international ports to dock into multiple ports all over the country.

This reform will provide our producers and entrepreneurs the following benefits and these are: 1) the lowering of production costs; 2) the easing of doing business in the maritime transport industry; 3) the decongestion of the Manila Port; and 4) the further leveraging of our strategic location in the ASEAN market.

 PDFicon DOWNLOAD RA 10668

Sponsorship Speech on Access of Foreign Ships to Domestic Ports Bill

Senate Bill No. 2486 under Committee Report No. 91
An Act Exempting Carriage of Container Vans from the Provision of Section 1009 of Presidential Decree No 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 and for other Purposes

 Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV
16th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, 28 January 2015

Good afternoon, Mr. President, my distinguished colleagues, mga kaibigan, mga kababayan.

It is my great privilege to stand before you today to support the development of the Philippine martitime transport industry, as I sponsor Senate Bill No. 2486, under Committee Report No. 91, entitled An Act Exempting Carriage of Container Vans from the Provision of Section 1009 of Presidential Decree No 1464, or otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 and for other Purposes, otherwise known as Access of Foreign Ships to Domestic Ports Bill.

Given that the Philippines is an archipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands, the transport of goods relies heavily on sea routes interconnecting the islands.  Shipping costs impact the movement of trade goods, and more importantly, the price that consumers will ultimately pay for.

Currently, inter-island shipping is exclusively reserved for ships bearing the Philippine flag. Internationally, this principle is known as the Cabotage Principle, which is implemented to protect the country’s local shipping industry.

Unfortunately, this exclusive right incurs an extra cost for our importers of raw materials and for Philippine exporters of goods. Thus, we are pushing today for allowing foreign ships coming from international ports to dock into multiple ports all over the country.

This reform will provide our producers and entrepreneurs the following benefits and these are: 1) the lowering of production costs; 2) the easing of doing business in the maritime transport industry; 3) the decongestion of the Manila Port; and 4) the further leveraging of our strategic location in the ASEAN market.

Mr. President, the change that we are proposing today is part of a larger effort in reforming our shipping industry to be more modern, more equipped and more competitive with our ASEAN neighbors.

The reforms also involve an establishment of a better regulatory framework that will ensure that foreign ships will only carry goods that are going in and out of the country.

Lower Production Costs

Firstly, the state think-tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) emphasizes the need for a comprehensive review and amendments to the Cabotage policy of the country to lower local shipping costs.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang isang exporter mula Cagayan de Oro na nagpapadala ng kargamento papuntang Hong Kong ay kailangang magbayad ng dalawang beses: US$1,120.00 para sa biyahe ng kanyang kargamento mula CDO papuntang Maynila sa isang lokal na barko at US$144.00 pa para sa biyaheng Maynila papuntang Hong Kong sa isang dayuhang barko. 

Ang total shipping cost ng ating exporter sa kasulukuyang pamamaraan ay US$1,264.00.

Kung ipapasa natin ang ating reporma ngayon, ang ating exporter ay magbabayad na lamang ng US$500.00 para sa isang dayuhang barkong didiretso mula CDO papuntang Hong Kong.

 Ang US$764.00 na matitipid ng isang exporter ay maaaring magamit upang mas mapaganda pa ang kaniyang produkto, mas mapalaki pa ang kanyang kapital, at mas mapalago pa ang negosyo nang mas makapagbigay pa siya ng mas maraming trabaho sa kaniyang komunidad.

Ganoon din para sa ating mga importer ng raw materials.  Ang ating importer mula CDO ay kailangang magbayad ng dalawang beses para sa kanyang kargamento: US$159.00 para sa biyahe ng kanyang kargamento mula Kaohsiung sa Taiwan papuntang Maynila sa isang dayuhang barko at US$1,120.00 para sa biyaheng Maynila papuntang CDO sa isang lokal na barko.

Ang total shipping cost ng ating importer sa kasulukuyang pamamaraan ay US$1,279.00.

Kung ipapasa natin ang ating reporma ngayon, ang ating importer ay magbabayad na lamang ng US$360.00 para sa isang dayuhang barkong didiretso mula Taiwan hanggang CDO.

Ang US$919.00 na matitipid ng ating importer ay maaaring magamit upang makabili pa siya ng mas maraming raw materials o di kaya ay mapababa ang presyo ng kanyang binebentang mga produkto sa merkado.

Ayon naman sa Joint United States Government and Government of the Philippines Technical Team, mas mahal ng dalawang daan at limampung (250) porsiyento ang halaga ng lokal na shipping cost kumpara sa Indonesia kada nautical mile.

Ang mga numerong ito ay hindi katanggap-tanggap dahil ang halaga ng shipping costs ay ikakarga lang ng mga negosyante sa kanilang gastusin, at sa huli ay papasanin din ng ating mga mamimili.

Ease of Doing Business

Secondly, Mr. President, although co-loading of goods is already allowed as a practice in the market, the processing of documents and getting clearance from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is necessary to allow foreign cargoes to co-load foreign containers in multiple ports.

To avail of a special permit from MARINA, foreign shipping companies usually take 15 days or more for their papers to be processed. Hence, most foreign shipping agencies would rather avoid this particular step to be more efficient and productive.  In practice, they choose to have a transshipment point rather than get a clearance from MARINA.

For example, instead of dropping cargoes in Manila, securing the necessary approvals and documents, and then, carrying the same set of cargoes themselves to other local ports, foreign ships just choose to drop off their cargoes in Manila.  Then, the cargoes are picked up by local ships to be transported to other domestic ports in the country.

With our proposal, we aim to streamline our processes, make our ports more efficient and easier for doing business.

Thus, if there is a foreign cargo that is intended to be shipped to Manila and Cagayan de Oro, the foreign ship that carries the said cargo, with our reform, will be allowed to go directly to Manila, then CDO instead of the present procedure of unloading in Manila first, then transhipping its goods to a local carrier to CDO.

In the same way, our entrepreneurs who are exporting goods from Subic, Cebu, CDO and Davao, would be able to co-load in one ship before heading out of the country directly in a more efficient and cost-effective manner, instead of, again, having to pass by Manila.

The bill encourages for our micro, small and medium entrepreneurs to think globally since importing raw materials and exporting Filipino goods would be cheaper.

Addressing the Manila Port Congestion

Thirdly, we learned from our recent investigations and hearings that the Manila International Container Terminals (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor, the main hubs for transshipments in the country, have been experiencing congestion in the past few months.

Almost all of the goods in the country are shipped to MICT and to the Manila South Harbor.  Last December, these ports operated at an average level of 75-85%, which is more than the ideal 60% serviceable level.

By allowing foreign ships to go directly to other domestic ports around the country, it will free up space in the container yards in the Greater Manila Area.  This will save time, costs and energy for our exporters and importers in sending their raw materials, and goods and products in and out of the country.

In addition, by allowing more foreign ships to dock on other ports all over the country, there will be an increased economic activity in the countryside.  This will lead to growth for businesses and entrepreneurs in the regions, and more jobs for our Filipino people.  It will then bring us a step closer from achieving our dream of inclusive growth for our countrymen.

 

Leveraging on the Country’s Strategic Location

And lastly, Mr. President, we need these reforms as part of a larger effort to further capitalize our strategic location in the ASEAN market.

South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs published a report entitled, “Formulating an ASEAN Single Shipping Market Implementing Strategy,” which mentions the Philippines’ low investment in ports and road infrastructure, which hampers the promotion of intermodal transport.

The study concludes that our country’s strong cabotage policy that only allows foreign-flag vessels to call at one Philippine port, hinders our economic development.

The report stresses that foreign ships docking on various ports all over the country is needed for the country to achieve sustainable growth, and more importantly, to achieve a single ASEAN market.

In line with the ASEAN Economic Integration this year, the region will be implementing a single shipping market where member-countries are expected to deliver quality service at a competitive price.

Mr. President, kapag ito’y tuluyang naipatupad, mahalaga na magkaroon ng sapat at maayos na imprastruktura at mga pasilidad sa pantalan, magagandang kalsada para sa mas mabilis na paghahatid ng produkto, at higit sa lahat, mababang presyo ng pagpapadala ng mga kargamento.

Kailangan nating makapagpatayo ng mga pantalang na kayang makipagsabayan sa mga pantalan ng Singapore, Thailand at Indonesia – mga modernong pantalan na sytematic at computerized, na kayang mapabilis ang mga pagpoproseso ng mga dokumento at galaw ng mga kargamento.

 Kasama ng repormang ito ang ating pagkilos para hindi na maulit ang pagsisikip ng ating mga pantalan.  Sinimulan na ang NLEX-SLEX connector road upang lalong maibsan ang traffic sa Kamaynilaan at mapabilis ang galaw ng mga kargamento papuntang hilaga o timog Luzon.

Ang pagpapatuloy ng mga repormang ito ang mga hamon na ating kakaharapin sa mga susunod na buwan. Napakahalaga na maabot natin ang mga ito upang makasabay tayo sa mga kapitbahay nating bansa na may mas moderno at mas maayos na sistema sa kanilang mga pantalan.

It will be a win-win situation for both our importers and exporters.

Dadami at mas magmumura ang pagpasok ng raw materials mula sa ibang bansa na mapoproseso ng ating mga kumpanya rito.  

Mas magiging mura ang halaga ng pag-export ng ating mga produkto sa merkado ng mundo.

Sa mas efficient na maritime transport industry, patuloy na tataas ang kalidad ng produkto at serbisyo, patuloy na bababa ang presyo, at ang taumbayan ang siyang panalo.

As we continue to develop from a low-income to a middle-income economy, we need to revisit our policy environment to be able to support this growth that we are experiencing as a country.

This is our first response to the call of the President and various stakeholders to enhance the Philippine maritime transport industry.

This is our first step in our effort to further unlock the industry, let it grow and thrive, and make it as efficient as possible as we anticipate more trade, more economic activity, and real inclusive growth for the Filipino people.

Nang dumating ang mga unang Malay sa ating mga baybayin mula Borneo, nakasakay sila sa mga sinaunang bangka na ang tawag ay balangay. Sa balangay natin hinango ang barangay, na siya nating kinikilala bilang ang ating pormal na komunidad.

Dala-dala ang mga produktong kopra, mais at iba pa, sinuong natin ang karagatan para maabot ang iba’t ibang isla.  Sa karagatan natin nabuo ang ating mga komunidad. Sa paglalayag natin nabuo ang ating bansa. 

At sa reporma na tinutulak natin ngayon, maisasakay natin ang ating mga pamilya, mga komunidad at ang ating buong lipunan sa mga bangkang  patungo sa magandang kinabukasan.

Mga kaibigan, bumibiyahe na tayo ngayon tungo sa kaunlaran.  Iniimbitahan ko kayong lahat na patuloy tayong magtulungan, sama-samang magsagwan upang mabigyang pagkakataon ang mga negosyo ng ating mga kababayan na lumago at makipagsabayan sa mundo.

Dahil ito po ang tamang panahon sa pag-ahon natin bilang isang bansa at marating natin ang baybayin ng kasaganaan para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino. Maraming salamat po at magandang hapon sa ating lahat!

Sen. Bam lauds Malacanang for Including Measures for Small Businesses in Priority Legislation

Senator Bam Aquino has lauded Malacanang for including his two priority measures that will further help in the development of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country in its legislative agenda.

 “We thank Malacanang for including the Cabotage Law and the Fair Competition Act in its legislative agenda,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

 “Through this, I expect the swift passage of these measures that I see as crucial to our economic growth, job generation and level playing field for all businesses,” the senator stressed, adding that he is committed to work for the passage of the two measures.

“These measures have been in the legislative pipeline for a long time. Finally, some political will to get difficult reforms passed which are pro-poor, pro-business and will lower cost of goods,” he added.

Passed by the Senate on third and final reading, Senate Bill No. 2282 or the Fair Competition Act of 2014 aims to shield small business owners and consumers from companies engaged in unfair business practices, which usually lead to increase in prices of basic goods and services.

Aquino said a fair competition policy will level the playing field for Filipino businesses and allow more Filipinos to exercise their entrepreneurial spirit.

 “The bill puts in place measures that will protect the welfare of businesses and protect honest, hard-working entrepreneurs against abuse of dominance and position, and other unfair practices that put both Filipino businesses and their consumers at risk,” Aquino said.

If passed into law, the senator said Filipinos will enjoy a wider range of high-quality products and services at reasonable prices.

Aquino also filed Senate Bill No. 2364, which seeks to amend Section 1009 of the Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, to lower local shipping cost in the country.

If enacted into law, foreign ships will be allowed to call in multiple ports provided that their cargoes are intended for import or export and duly cleared by the Commissioner of Customs, leading to lower cost.

The senator has filed the bill in response to President Aquino’s call to relax the country’s policies on cabotage.

It was discovered that it is cheaper to send products from other countries to the Philippines than to ship goods within the country.

For example, the cost of shipping a 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) from Kaoshiung, China to Cagayan de Oro is $360 or P16,000 only.

However, the cost of shipping the same cargo from Manila to Cagayan de Oro will take $1,120 or almost P50,000.

“We’d like to put these policies in place this year to sustain the momentum of our growth we’ve experienced the past few years,” Aquino added.

Transcript of Senator Bam Aquino’s DZMM “Garantisadong Balita” interview with Gerry Baja

Q: Kumusta ho kayo sa Senado? Kumusta ang hearing sa Senado?

A: Maayos naman Gerry. Today actually ang pagbabalik ng Senate. First day ng session namin. Galing lang kami sa two-week break. So mamaya balik na naman tayo sa mga pangyayari sa Senado. Tayo naman, of course, alam mo naman ang focus namin ay trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, iyon ang ating committee.

During the break, nagkaroon tayo ng hearing sa port congestion. Siguro, sa ibang araw puwede rin pag-usapan iyon kasi kakaiba rin ang usapin diyan.

 

Q: Mukhang may epekto ho iyan sa presyo natin ngayong papalapit na ang Christmas season?

 A: Iyon talaga ang binabantayan ng Task Force Pantalan at ng ating komite na itong port congestion natin kapag naresolba na sana at the soonest possible time, hindi makakaapekto sa presyo ng bilihin. Kasi iyon naman talaga ang ayaw ng mga tao, ang tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

Nandiyan din ang competition bill na isang napakabigat na bill. Ito iyong anti-monopoly, anti-trust bill at mamaya tatalakayin na naman natin ito. Ito ang isa sa mga priority bills ng Malacanang at priority ng ating komite.

Meron din kaming tinatawag na cabotage bill. Hindi iyan tungkol sa cabbage gaya ng sinasabi ng ilang tao. Ang cabotage bill po ay isang panukala na kumbaga, hindi puwedeng pumunta sa local ports natin iyong mga foreign vessels.

Of course, ginawa po yan dahil sa security concerns pero nakakataas din po ito ng presyo ng bilihin dahil tumataas po ang presyo ng logistics natin. In the end, napakataas po ang pag-ship ng produkto. So again, babalik po ito sa presyo ng bilihin.

Of course, binabantayan din po natin ito. We’re hoping that with some reforms, mapababa po natin ang presyo ng pag-ship ng produktong mula sa iba’t ibang lugar sa Pilipinas.

 

Q: Marami po pala kayong tinututukan diyan Senator Bam. Pero ang marami sa ating kababayan, nakakatawag lagi ng atensiyon diyan sa Senado ay iyong hearing ng sub-committee ng Blue Ribbon?

A: Hindi po ako miyembro ng sub-committee pero puwede po akong dumalo.

 

Q: Pero bakit hindi po kayo dumadalo?

A: Unang-una, ang dami nating ginagawa. Of course, pagdating kasi sa pahayagan at sa media, parang iyon na lang ang ginagawa ng Senado. Pero ang totoo, maraming ginagawa, maraming tayong bills na tinatalakay. Palagay ko ang tatlo nating kasama, sina Senators Koko, Allan at Trillanes, talagang binigyan nila ito ng buong pansin. They put a lot of focus on this, kaya palagay ko sila na lang.

Ang stand ko diyan, kahit anong isyu ng corruption puwedeng imbestigahan iyan ng Senado. Kahit vice president pa iyan, presidente pa iyan, kahit barangay captain iyan, ganon po kalawak ang kapangyarihan ng Blue Ribbon.

Lahat kaming government officials, kung may mga akusasyon sa amin, kailangan naming harapin talaga.

 

Q: Mayroon hong second invitation yata ngayon kay VP Binay para umattend. Kung kayo ang tatanungin, dapat po ba siyang humarap sa imbestigasyon ng Senado?

A: Palagay ko, ang ginagawa niya sinasagot niya ang isyu through his lawyers, sa mga presscon. Palagay ko dapat per point masagot naman niya, kasama na doon lahat.

In fact, kanina na-mention mo, bakit iyong Malampaya wala pa. Ako, kahit iyon kailangang imbestigahan natin. Hindi naman puwedeng mawala ang isyu na iyon.

Iyong issues diyan, simple lang. Kung may mga ganyang klaseng akusasyon to anyone, kahit sino pa iyan, dati o ngayon, kailangang harapin niya.

 

Q: Kayo po ay miyembro ng Liberal Party. Napagbibintangan ho dito sina Senator Cayetano na NP, si Senator Trillanes NP at si Senator Koko PDP, wala hong LP pero ang sinasabi ng Binay camp, ito’y kagagawan ng LP. May nalalaman po ba kayo roon?

A: Hindi po namin napag-usapan ang hearing ni VP Binay. We’re given the respect of our having our own independence. Kung makikita mo naman ang mga moves natin, ang mga panukalang hinahain namin, it’s really more of an individual basis at hindi block voting.

Hindi ko alam kung saan sila nanggagaling pero makikita mo naman, hindi aktibo ang Liberal sa hearing na iyan. Pero kung umabot man iyan sa main committee, gaya ng panahon ng PDAF na buong komite ng Blue Ribbon ang duminig ng issues diyan, handa naman kaming makasama at makilahok sa mga pangyayari.

 

Q: Si Mayor Junjun Binay mukhang dedesisyunan na ho dahil hindi na siya uma-attend ng hearing.  Ano ho ba ang pagkakaalam niyo sa rules ng Senado, puwede bang i-cite for contempt ang isang local chief executive na ayaw umattend ng hearing?

A: Alam mo Gerry, hindi ako sigurado sa exact na panukala. Of course, ang kapangyarihan ng Blue Ribbon Committee napakalawak niyan. I’m sure kung ano man ang i-decide ng sub-committee, baka i-raise pa iyan sa main committee, kung ganon na katindi iyan na may mga contempt charges na or mga subpoenas na ibibigay.

 

Q: Senator Bam, ano ho itong Senate Bill 2122?

 A: Na-file po namin ito noong February 12, 2014. Ito ang tinatawag nating anti-discrimination bill. Sa totoo lang, ang sakop nito ay larger than the LGBT community dahil kasama po dito ang social class, race, religion, ethnicity, civil status, medical condition status at iba pa po.

Basically, ang sinasabi po nito, hindi po puwedeng mag-discriminate based on these issues. For example, mayroong establishment, kunwari hindi ka puwedeng pumasok sa restaurang na ito dahil bading ka o iba ang relihiyon mo, o dahil mukha kang busabos. Bawal po iyon at puwede silang sampahan ng kaso.

Sa totoo lang po, nasa Constitution naman natin iyan na mayroon tayong equal protection at dapat walang discrimination pero wala pong batas na masasabi natin na nagbibigay ng penalties ukol dito.

Noong binuo po namin ang bill na ito, hindi pa po namin nasa isip talaga ang hate crime kasi ito pong isyu ni Jennifer Laude, ito lang po ang nagbigay sa amin ng ideya na maglagay ng hate crime dito.

The bill, as filed, wala pang hate crime na nakalagay. Nakatuon siya sa trabaho at government services. Na kunwari, iba ang relihiyon mo, and you’re denied basic services because of race, religion, ethnicity, LGBT, medical condition status, puwede po kayong magsampa ng kaso against all entities.

 

Q: Sino ang kakasuhan?

A: Iyong offending party. Kung sinuman ang nagdi-discriminate. Sa totoo lang po, iyong ganitong klaseng batas, hindi naman po ito bago pero sa bansa natin, bago po ito. Sa ibang bansa, pangkaraniwan na po iyan na kapag nagdi-discriminate ka, puwede ka talagang parusahan.

Ngayon pong nangyari kay Jennifer Laude na nakita naman natin na karumal-dumal na krimen, isipin niyo po kung gaano ka-grabe iyon, puwede po nating masabi na kung ang krimeng iyon ay ginawa dahil siya ay isang LGBT, puwede pong tumaas ang penalty sa probisyon na balak natin isama.

In other countries gaya po ng Estados Unidos, ang kanilang hate crime legislation, matagal na po iyan, more than one hundred years na. Doon po, kung mayroon kang krimen na ginawa sa isang minoridad, dahil siya ay isang minoridad, matindi po ang isyu ng race sa United States sa tinatawag na African-American or American-Indian. Kung gawin mo ang isang krimen, especially pag violence po ito, binugbog mo o pinatay po. Dahil may kasamang aspeto na ginawa ito sa isang minoridad, tumataas ang penalties.

Iyon po ang gusto naming idagdag dito sa batas na ito although admittedly, wala pa po itong committee hearing. Balak po naming isama po iyon na kung mayroon mang krimen corresponding to violence, assault or even murder, in this case, kapag mayroon pong elemento dahil ikaw ay isang minoridad, puwede pong itaas ang penalties na ibigay sa iyo dito.

 

Q: Pati sa edad sinabi niyo sa trabaho?

A: Iyong edad po, wala pa siya sa version na ito. Pero may ibang laws na currently pinag-uusapan natin, iyong age discrimination, isasama natin iyan pag nag-committee hearing na tayo.

 

Q: Na dapat hindi i-discriminate sa trabaho kahit may edad na?

A: Nang walang rason. Kasi po makikita niyo sa ibang fastfood. Looking for hire, cashier must be 25 and below. Walang rason. Bakit iyong 26, 27 o kahit sabihin mong 50 years old, hindi ba puwedeng magtrabaho iyon.

In a hearing, diniretso na po namin ang DOLE, puwede po ba ito o hindi. Sabi nila, hindi po puwede iyan, gumagawa ka ng discrimination sa edad nang walang rason.

Pero sabi ng DOLE, wala naman kasing batas na nagbibigay ng penalty. Ito po ang batas na magbibigay ng penalty.

Of course, iyong trabaho na pinapasukan po natin, mayroon talagang rason kung bakit kailangang ganun katanda o kabata, iba po iyon.

If there are jobs na wala naman talagang reason kung bakit kailangan 25 years old, 26 years old and below, diskriminasyon na rin po iyon.

 

Q: Malawak po talaga itong panukalang batas ninyo Senator Bam. Masasaklaw na niya lahat ng klase ng diskriminasyon, mapa-trabaho, eskuwela at sa government services. Halo-halo na.

A: Kapag nag-hearing na po tayo dito, we hope na iyong iba’t ibang grupo, na ang feeling nila kulang pa ito, puwede silang lumabas o may mga iba na magsasabing sobra naman iyan, huwag nang isama ang civil status o political inclination, public hearing naman po iyan, puwede naman pong magtalakayan ang iba’t ibang grupo doon.

 

Q: Nabanggit niyo po ang civil status, hindi kaya maging daan ang panukalang batas niyo para magkaroon ng same-sex marriage sa atin?

A: Hindi iyon ang intention ng bill na ito. Mayroon na pong isang indibidwal ang lumapit sa atin at nagsabi na baka maging inroad iyan sa same sex marriage. Ang sabi ko naman sa kanya, alam mo ang same-sex marriage, matinding talakayan iyan that needs a separate discussion altogether. Ang bill na ito ay tungkol sa diskriminasyon at ito ang nararamdaman ng maraming Pilipino sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay.

 

Q: Ang sabi ng iba, diskriminasyon daw hong maituturing kapag ayaw mong payagan na mabigyan ng kasal ang dalawang nagsasama na pareho ang kasarian. Diskriminasyon ba iyon para sa inyo?

A: Alam mo sa totoo lang, iyan ang isang bagay na kailangan pa talaga ng talakayan sa Senado at sa Kongreso.  Kasi, kung tutuusin ang usapin ng RH, lasted 20 to 30 years. Talagang mabigat ang usapan at noong nagkaroon ng botohan, talagang masabi natin na na-divide ang lipunan.

Any discussion on same-sex marriage will need the right type of debate and discussion in Senate and Congress. Open debate, in the same way na iyong mga  mabibigat naman na isyu sa isang democratic country, kailangan talaga pag-usapan  iyan na open, public at iba’t ibang grupo ang puwedeng mag-share ng saloobin.

Iyong same-sex marriage, sa totoo lang, will need amendments. May ibang nagsasabi na kailangang Konstitusyon din daw. Kailangan talagang pag-aralan pa, even the Family Code will have to change. That needs further discussion.

But itong anti-discrimination bill, palagay ko mabigat na ito, dapat pag-usapan na. Nangyayari na ito sa pang-araw-araw na buhay ng tao.

 

Q: Baka lapitan kayo ng mga miyembro ng LGBT dahil may kinalaman din laban sa diskriminasyon ang inyong panukala.

A: Actually, iyong LGBT community nag-consult naman kami sa kanila on this bill. They are in favor of this bill. In fact, marami ngang nagsasabi na dapat matagal na ito.

In our society, I’d like to think, we’re loving and caring society. Basta’t kapwa Pilipino natin, kapwa human being natin iyan, dapat maayos ang trato natin sa isa’t isa.

 

Q: Salamat po Senator Bam, magandang umaga po. Kami po’y natutuwa sa inyong pagbisita sa studio.

A:  Salamat po Gerry, at sa mga nakikinig sa atin, maraming salamat po.

Alam niyo po, itong bill, isa lang po ito. Of course na-mention ko na po iyong ibang bills natin.

Iyon isa pa pong tinututukan natin, iyong IRR ng Philippine Lemon Law, ngayon po ay binubuo na, at iyong Go Negosyo Law, na isa pong batas na magbibigay tulong sa maliliit nating negosyante.

Kahit po iyon, binubuo na po iyong IRR, pareho po ng Department of Trade and Industry. Binabantayan po natin iyan upang ma-implement at the soonest possible time.

 

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview after the Cabotage Bill Hearing

Lowering of Logistics Costs

I’d like to know specifically if they (DTI) have a study already and how much this measure can lower costs (of logisitics). Kasi at the end of the day, ang pinaka-pakay naman ng bill and all of the things that we are talking about is lower the cost of logistics.

Many people have commented and I think it’s largely accepted already that our cost of logistics is higher that a lot of our countries, iyong pagship natin ng mga produkto.

This hearing was conducted to check ways how we can lessen costs of our logistics. This proposal came from DOTC and is supported by everyone here.

Before proceeding, I would like DTI and even other agencies here to at least give a forecast pag pinasa natin ito, how much ang puwedeng ibaba ng presyo ng ating bilihin, number one.

Number two, I think malinaw rin that if we even file this bill, this is just one of many reforms na kailangang gawin. We have to look at costs in our ports, even in taxes currently being collected from shipping industry and even the operational costs of the shippers themselves.

The suggestion of Atty. Banez was to benchmark this across the ASEAN para makita natin how competitive we really are.

One of slides that they showed earlier showed na pagdating sa taxes, ang taas ng tinatax natin sa mga shippers natin. When we tax the shippers, they charge it to their clients.

At the end of the day, babagsak din ito sa mga Pilipino.

 

Policy Direction on Taxes 

We’d like to also have a clarified policy regarding, is the policy to collect more in taxes or is the policy is lower the cost of prices.

In this case, posibleng magkasalungat ang mga polisiyang iyon. We want to get a clearer picture from our friends from DOTC, MARINA, PPA and DOF.

If through this measure, if we can lower the cost of logistics even by five to ten percent, that will have an impact sa cost of goods natin.

Most goods in the Philippines pass through logistics and shipping industry because were islands. If you look at the different components that comprise the cost of a product, we’re tackling the logistics part doon.

 

President’s Agenda

Apart from the President pointing this out in his SONA na kailangang magpasa tayo ng policies which will lower cost, many people commented na just to ship products from the Philippines, it’s cheaper to send it to another country than to send it to another port.

In fact, one of the resource speakers mentioned that she hopes that we don’t stop here. We start with this bill, we look at the costs, we look at the taxes and eventually, we really push for long-term vision with regard to our port situation.

The current problem sa ating Port of Manila, hindi natin nalagyan ng long-term thinking that in an economy that’s growing, ang liit-liit naman ng port mo. Hindi ka gumagawa ng mga measures na palakihin at palakasin ito.

Hopefully, this will also lead to a serious reflection on our infrastructure in the Philippines and see if even now, we can really start the process of planning ahead.

We’re a growing economy. I believe that we can be a middle-income economy in a decade but that means that our ability to trade needs to be protected also and to be safeguarded. That means a long-term vision to our port infrastructure.

Ang mga usaping ito, it all leads to that. Kumbaga, nagtatahi-tahi ang issues. We have short-term solutions, we have policies that we can push but at the end of the day, ang hinahanap talaga natin ay mas mahabang pagtingin sa situation ng mga port natin.

 

Q: How will this solve port congestion?

Technically, the goal of this hearing is to lower prices. Kung ang port mo congested, tataas talaga ang presyo mo dahil very inefficient ang ports natin.

In short, if our ports are congested and we haven’t solved that problem, even if we pass this bill, haharapin pa rin tayo ng problema ng congestion.

But hopefully, if we able to decongest the ports and have a better policy framework for shipping, mas mura ang cost natin, posible talagang bumaba iyong presyo ng bilihin because of this measures.

But if our ports continue to be congested, maliliit, inefficient at any single point, posibleng magkagulo dahil kulang talaga ang infrastructure, then prices will go up.

If we have better infrastructure there at kung maipasa ang mga polisiyang ito, bababa naman ang presyo ng bilihin. Of course, ang hinahanap ng maraming Pilipino, bumaba ang presyo ng bilihin.

 

 

High Local Shipping Cost Increases Prices of Goods – Sen. Bam

The costly and cumbersome inter-island shipping is one of the roadblocks in increased prices of goods that will be a burden for consumers and will hamper the growth of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country, a senator said.

“As an archipelago composed of more than 7,100 islands, the country relies heavily on sea routes interconnecting the islands. Inter-island shipping is crucial in the transport of goods especially this coming Christmas season,” said Senator Bam Aquino.

However, inter-island shipping is exclusively reserved for ships bearing the Philippine flag and shipping cost impacts the movement and price of traded goods in the country.

“While this helps the domestic shipping industry, the cost of shipping is hampering trade especially for the MSMEs,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

As a response to the call of the President and key stakeholders, Aquino has filed a bill seeking to allow foreign ships to call in multiple ports provided that their cargoes are intended for import or export and duly cleared by the Commissioner of Customs.

Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 2364 will amend Section 1009 of the Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of 1978 to introduce reform in the shipping industry.

During one of the committee hearings, it was discovered that it is cheaper to send products from other countries to the Philippines than to ship goods within the country.

For example, the cost of shipping a 20-foot equivalent unit (TEU) from Kaoshiung, China to Cagayan de Oro is $360 or P16,000 only.

However, the cost of shipping the same cargo from Manila to Cagayan de Oro will take $1,120 or almost P50,000.

“MSMEs who are importing or exporting goods will be able to access a cheaper alternative in transporting their goods through co-loading in foreign ships. Ultimately, this leads to lower prices of goods for the Filipino public,” Aquino said.

If passed, the bill will allow importers and exporters to co-load in foreign ships going in or out of the Philippine jurisdiction.

Moreover, this bill gives clarification on the definition of common carriers and public service in the shipping industry.

With this bill, foreign cargoes shall not be subjected to the law concerning common carriers and public services as defined in the Civil Code and the Domestic Shipping Development Act, respectively.

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