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Microfinance ‘Nanays’ back Sen. Bam’s re-election bid, thank him for making free college a reality

TACLOBAN CITY — Hundreds of Microfinance ‘Nanays’ declared their support behind the re-election bid of Sen. Bam Aquino, saying he helped uplift their lives through his Free College Law and other laws in support of micro entrepreneurs.

The Microfinance ‘Nanays’, or microfinance beneficiaries, expressed their backing for Sen. Bam during a sectoral meeting here on Wednesday.

“At home na at home ako dito. Nakauwi ako sa sektor na malapit sa puso ko at pinaglingkuran ko noon, ang mga nanay sa komunidad na tinulungan namin sa Hapinoy na magnegosyo,” said Sen. Bam, referring to work with the microfinance sector during his time as social entrepreneur before becoming a senator.

In his speech, Sen. Bam said he drew inspiration from community-based mothers in pushing for the passage of the Free College Law, saying he wants to fulfill their dreams of seeing their children obtain a college degree.

“Ang pangarap ng mga magulang na makatapos ang kanilang anak sa kabila ng hirap sa buhay ang nagtulak sa akin na isulong ang Libreng Kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam, who pushed for the passage of the landmark law as principal sponsor.

“Madalas kong nairirinig sa mga nakakausap kong magulang na simple lang ang pangarap nila, huwag maranasan ng mga anak nila ang hirap na dinanas nila,” he added.

If he wins a second term, Sen. Bam promised to push for the passage of his Trabaho Center Bill, which is aimed to solve the prevalent problem of jobs mismatch and high unemployment rate in the country.

“Kung makakabalik tayo sa Senado, isusulong ko ang Trabaho Center Bill kung saan pagtatagpuin ang mga naghahanap ng trabaho at ang mga kumpanyang naghahanap ng empleyado,” Sen. Bam said.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the Trabaho Center Bill is the next best crucial reform after the Free College Law to help uplift the lives of Filipinos, especially the poor.

Aside from the Free College Law, Sen. Bam also pushed other measures that support micro, small and medium enterprises and microfinance sector, such as the Go Negosyo Act, Microfinance NGOs Act, Credit Surety Fund Cooperative Act, and Personal Property Security Act.

MFI NGOs back Sen. Bam’s candidacy for his work in strengthening sector

An overwhelming number of microfinance non-government organizations (MFI NGOs) want re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino back in the Senate for his solid track record in helping the sector develop and expand their capacity to extend assistance to more Filipinos.

SEDP-Simbag sa Pag-asenso, Inc., led by its president and CEO Fr. Jovic Lobrigo, was among the first to express support behind Sen. Bam, saying he was instrumental in passing Republic Act 10693 or the Microfinance NGOs Act benefiting millions of women and their families.

“Praying that he can continue his work in the Senate,” the group said in a statement posted on Facebook. 

Eduardo Jimenez, president of Kabalikat para sa Maunlad na Buhay, Inc. (KMBI), promised to definitely vote and campaign for Sen. Bam, who, he said, collaborated and supported microfinance players even before becoming a senator.

Jimenez added that Sen. Bam’s RA 10693 supported and strengthened the work of MFI NGOs that ultimately helped micro-entrepreneurs in the country.

Mercy Abad, president of Ahon sa Hirap, Inc (ASHI), said Sen. Bam has done a lot for the “common tao”, adding that the Microfinance NGOs Act has “helped our sector serve thousands of families.” 

“We in the microfinance industry cannot thank him enough for what he has done to assist us in our work,” said Abad, believing that the country needs leaders like Sen. Bam in the Senate.

“Intelligent, with integrity (naku sigurado kayong hindi kurakot), fearless, and hard working for our country, especially for the poor. Please include him in your vote,” added Abad.

Gomby Maramba, manager for Research and Development of the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, also expressed gratitude to Sen. Bam for pushing for the passage of RA No. 10693 as principal sponsor and co-author. 

“The impact of this bill is huge for the over seven million microfinance clients and their families in the Philippines,” said Maramba.

“It allowed us to continue with our non-financial services and at the same time, all microfinance NGOs are now regulated to better serve its clients,” he added.

The law sets performance standards and provides preferential tax treatment for MFI NGOs to enable them to continue to operate and serve poor Filipino communities through financing, financial literacy, livelihood, and entrepreneurship training.

Aside from the MFI NGOs Act, Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of other laws for the development of micro, small and medium enterprises, such as the Go Negosyo Act, Youth Entrepreneurship Act, Credit Surety Act and the Personal Property Security Act.

Sen. Bam: Address jobs mismatch to help solve unemployment

Re-electionist Sen. Bam Aquino reiterated the need to connect workers to the available jobs in the market to help address the unemployment problem in the country.

“Kailangang pagtagpuin ang mga kumpanyang naghahanap ng empleyado at ang mga taong naghahanap ng trabaho,” said Sen. Bam, adding that he will push for the passage of the Trabaho Center Bill if he wins a second term in the Senate.

“Kaya pagkatapos ng Libreng Kolehiyo, isusunod natin isusulong ay ang batas para sa siguradong trabaho sa pamamagitan ng Trabaho Centers,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the Trabaho Center Bill is the necessary best reform after the Free College Law, which he pushed as principal sponsor, to ensure employment for all graduates.

“Ang bawat Pilipinong nakinabang sa libreng kolehiyo ay dapat may siguradong trabaho. Iyan ang sisigiruhin natin kung papalarin tayo ng isa pang termino,” said Sen. Bam.

The measure seeks to establish Trabaho Centers or Job Placement Offices (JPOs) in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation.

“Aayusin nito ang ugnayan ng mga kumpanya at industriya sa mga eskwelahan para tiyaking angkop sa pangangailangan ng employers ang edukasyon at training na ibinibigay ng mga academic institution,” said Sen. Bam.

Through the Trabaho Centers, Sen. Bam said college and K-12 students will be employment-ready by the time they receive their diploma.

Sen. Ping lauds Sen. Bam’s determination in pursuing free college law for poor Filipinos

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson lauded Sen. Bam Aquino’s hard work to make the free college law a reality, giving poor Filipino families a chance to have a bright future.

“Kapag napapag-usapan ang libreng matrikula sa kolehiyo, ang unang naiisip ko, si Senador Bam Aquino. Alam kong siya ang nagtiyagang itulak ito sa Senado bilang author at Principal Sponsor ng Free Tuition Law,” said Lacson in an interview.

“According to Sen. Lacson, Sen. Bam worked hard for the passage of the law as its principal sponsor and co-author, defending it from scrutiny of his fellow lawmakers.

“Iyong pagiging author, susulat mo lang yun, ipa-file mo. Pero ang magde-defend, iyan ang napakahirap, kasi napakaraming pilosopo kaming kasama doon, tatanungin ka ng kaliit-liitang detalye ng panukalang batas, o yung bill, na dinedepensa mo,” added Lacson, who also supports the re-election bid of Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam said the free college law gives Filipinos, especially the poor, an opportunity to obtain a better life through education.

“Ang libreng kolehiyo ay isang daaan para magkaroon ng magandang buhay at umangat ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na ang mahihirap,” said Sen. Bam, who worked for law’s passage during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam said he pushed for the passage of the free college law after meeting with parents who dream of seeing their kids earn a college degree, but cannot afford to send them to school. 

“Maraming nanay, lalo na iyong mga nakasama ko sa mga Konsultahang Bayan, na nais mapagtapos sa kolehiyo ang kanilang mga anak ngunit kapos sa pera. Ang tanong nila sa akin, ano po ang inyong magagawa para kami’y matulungan,” said Sen. Bam.

“Kaya hiningi natin ang chairmanship of the Committee on Education at pinursige ang batas sa libreng kolehiyo para sa kanilang kapakanan. Ngayon, kahit kapos, makapagtatapos,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t can fund free college even without TRAIN Law, Duterte being misled by economic managers

Sen. Bam Aquino believes the government can fund free college even without the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, insisting that President Duterte is being fed wrong information by his economic managers.

“Hindi po totooong walang pagkukunan ng pondo ang gobyerno para sa libreng kolehiyo at ibang serbisyo kung ititigil ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, one of four senators who opposed the ratification of the TRAIN Law.

“Mali ang ibinibigay na payo ng economic managers ng gobyerno kay Pangulong Duterte,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the free college law.

In fact, Sen. Bam said that in 2017, the Senate allocated funds for the first year of implementation of the free college law for 2018, even before the TRAIN Law was passed.

Sen. Bam emphasized that the government economic managers are trying to divert funds for other purposes, based on an earlier pronouncement by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that he has identified around P410.98 billion from the 2019 national budget allotted for pork barrel.

“Sapat ang pondo ng gobyerno para sa mga proyekto. Ang problema, ang ibang pondo, nagagamit sa ibang bagay para sa kapakinabangan ng iilang tao,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has been pushing for the suspension of excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law, filing the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill last May 2018 to help ease the burden of Filipino people on high prices of food and other goods.

Sen. Bam’s  measure seeks to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.

“Tama na po dagdag-pahirap sa mga kababayan nating nalulunod sa taas presyo. Bigyan naman natin ang mamamayan ng ginhawa,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam calls for independent Senate, asks voters to pick candidates who will amend TRAIN Law

Sen. Bam Aquino stressed the need for an independent Senate that will protect the interest and welfare of the Filipino people, and not beholden to those in power.

“Ang kailangan po ng ating bayan ay isang Senado na independent, hindi po sunud-sunuran sa mga taong nakaupo at bagkus, kinakampihan ay ang tao po mismo,” Sen. Bam said during the ABS-CBN senatorial debate.

“Kailangan natin ng isang Senadong magsisigurado na ang pangangailangan ng bawat Pilipino ay matutugan — edukasyon, kalusugan, pagbaba ng mga presyo ng bilihin at hustisya,” added Sen. Bam.

Aside from working for the welfare of the Filipino people, Sen. Bam pointed out that an independent Senate will fight the passage of any measure that will burden the public.

“Kailangan natin sa Senado na iyon ang itataguyod, at siyempre kailangang lumaban din sa mga panukalang magsisilbing pabigat sa taumbayan,” added Sen. Bam, one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law.

 During the debate, Sen. Bam encouraged voters to choose candidates who will work for the amendment of the TRAIN Law to help lift the burden of high prices of food and other goods on the public, especially the poor.

“Iboto natin ang mga senador na willing mag-commit na amyendahan ang TRAIN Law,” said Sen. Bam, who, as early as May 2018, filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the TRAIN Law.

Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law, but he stressed that more work needs to be done to ensure employment for all graduates.

“Kung papalarin, we will build on reforms on education. Naipasa natin bilang principal sponsor ang libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa. Ngayong mas madali nang mag-graduate ang ating kabataan, siguraduhin natin na ang bawat graduate ay may magandang trabahong naghihintay sa kanila,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam also committed to work on other education reforms, such as improvement of facilities and benefits for teachers.

Sen. Bam’s bills for startups, scientists and students one signature away from becoming laws

Three measures principally sponsored and/or authored by Sen. Bam Aquino moved closer to becoming laws after their bicameral conference committee reports were ratified by the Senate late Wednesday. 
 
On the last day of regular session, the Senate adopted and ratified the bicameral conference committee report on Senate Bill No. 1532 or the Innovative Startup Act and Senate Bill No. 1534 or the Magna Carta for Scientists.
 
The Senate also ratified the bicameral conference committee report on Senate Bill No. 1597 or the Student Fare Discount Act, which was principally authored by Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Senate Bill No. 1532 as principal author and sponsor and of Senate Bill 1534 as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.
 
The three measures will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature. 
 
If enacted into law, Senate Bill No. 1532 will provide support to innovative and tech startups, which pertain to businesses that provide unique and relevant solutions to pressing problems, such as transportation, financing, agriculture and healthcare.
 
Under the measure, host agencies, including DOST, DICT and DTI, are authorized to provide subsidies to innovative startups to help defray the costs of business registration, and the use of space, facilities, equipment and other services for their operations. Start ups will also receive subsidies for travel costs related to their participation in local and international start up events and competitions. 
 
In addition, the law creates a Start Up Grant Fund administered by DOST, DICT, and DTI to provide grants-in-aid for research, training, expansion, or scaling up and a Start Up Venture Fund administers by DTI to fund match investments in start ups by investors.
 
Senate Bill No. 1534 eyes to remove set limits on additional honoraria sourced from externally funded grants for S&T professions and foster ease in accessing benefits for S&T personnel in departments and agencies other than the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
 
“Malaking tulong ang dalawang panukalang ito upang lalo pang mapalakas ang sektor ng Science and Technology at para mabigyan ng tamang suporta ang entrepreneurs na may hatid na solusyon sa mga problema sa bansa,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Senate Bill No. 1597, for its part, grants mandatory 20-percent fare discounts to students on all land, air and water transportation, even during weekends and holidays.
 
In almost six years as lawmaker, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name, including the landmark free college law and the Go Negosyo Act.

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: 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 to CHED: Release full budget for TES program

While he welcomes the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) release of around P4.8 billion for its Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program, Sen. Bam Aquino said the allocated budget for its full implementation should be distributed immediately to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

“I welcome the release of the said amount as it proves the administration’s commitment to implement the program under the law,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he pushed during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

The CHED recently announced the release of P4.8 billion for the TES program under the free higher education law to students in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs).

However, Sen. Bam stressed that the remaining P11.2 billion fund allocated for the TES in the 2018 budget should also be released immediately for the benefit of students under the program.

“Siguraduhin natin na ang buong budget na nakalaan para sa TES ay mailabas sa lalong madaling panahon, kasama na rito ang mga scholarship para sa mga estudyante ng private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),” added Sen. Bam.

Recently, Sen. Bam convinced the CHED to issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

During the CHED’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam informed the department that several SUCs still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931.

“Sana gawin nating New Year’s resolution ang 100 porsiyentong pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo sa lahat ng state university at college. Dapat hindi na maningil ang SUC ng tuition at mandatory fees sa mga estudyante ngayong 2019,” said Sen. Bam.

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