laws by bam aquino

Sen. Bam: Bicam to tackle free tuition in SUCs

The Senate and House will hold a bicameral conference committee tomorrow (Wednesday) to reconcile their respective versions of the measure that will provide free tuition fee in state colleges and universities (SUCs).

“We hope to finalize a version that will fulfill the intention of the measure to provide underprivileged students a chance to finish college and give them a better chance for a brighter future,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of Senate Bill No. 1304.

Once the bicameral conference approve the final version, it will be ratified by both Houses of Congress before transmitting to Malacanang for President Duterte’s signature.

“Umaasa tayong maisasabatas ito sa lalong madaling panahon upang mapakinabangan na sa susunod na school year,” added Sen. Bam, who defended the measure in plenary debates and interpellation during his short stint as chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Sen. Bam will be the co-chairman of the Senate delegation to the bicameral conference committee, together with new Committee on Education chairman Sen. Francis Escudero. Other members of the Senate panel are Sens. Sherwin Gatchalian and Ralph Recto.

 The measure aims to institutionalize free tuition in SUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree.

It will also streamline and strengthen all Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), making it available to students who want to pursue higher education in private institutions, as well as subsidizing other expenses of SUC students.

 “Sa pamamagitan nito, magkakaroon na ng katuparan ang hangaring mabigyan ng edukasyon ang lahat ng Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

 

Sen. Bam opens ARMM’s first Negosyo Center in Marawi City, now over 500 nationwide

The first Negosyo Center in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has been inaugurated in Marawi City, giving entrepreneurs in the city and nearby areas a reliable ally in helping them start and develop their business.

“Ngayong mayroon na tayong Negosyo Center sa Marawi City, inaasahan na natin ang paglago ng negosyo sa siyudad at sa mga kalapit pang bayan,” said Sen. Bam, who led the inauguration together with DTI and local officials, headed by Lanao del Sur vice governor Bombit Adiong.

The Marawi City Negosyo Center is the 508th Negosyo Center established since the passage of Republic Act No. 10644 in 2014. It is located at TLDC Building, Lanao People’s Park in Marawi City.

“Matagal na naming tinatrabaho ito with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) kaya natutuwa tayong ito’y naging isa nang katuparan,” added Sen. Bam, principal author and sponsor of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act in the Senate. It was the first of 17 laws passed by Sen. Bam in the 16th Congress.

Vice governor Adiong expects the Negosyo Center will help local products flourish, not just in nearby markets, but also in the national stage.

Local officials and the military said the Negosyo Center can also boost local economy, which will ultimately pave way for peace in the area.

Before attending the Marawi City Negosyo Center inauguration, Sen. Bam visited the Negosyo Center situated at the MSU Iligan Institute of Technology.

During his visit, Sen. Bam witnessed how the Negosyo Center’s digital fabrication laboratory or FabLab helps entrepreneurs in creating designs for their products. Sen. Bam also interacted with Iligan City entrepreneurs, who are regular clients of the Negosyo Center.

“Ito pong pag-iikot natin ay upang matiyak na nabibigyan ng Negosyo Center ng karampatang serbisyo at tulong ang mga maliliit na negosyante sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa,” said Sen. Bam.

The Go Negosyo Act mandates the establishment of Negosyo Centers in all municipalities, cities and provinces that will assist micro, small and medium enterprises in the country.

The Negosyo Center will provide access to markets and financing for businesses, training programs, and a simplified business registration process, thus helping ease of doing business and fast-track government processes in putting up a business.

Sen. Bam: Gov’t, private sector no more excuses for poor Internet quality

With the imminent passage of the Free Internet in Public Places Act, the implementation of the Philippine Competition Act and the proposed National Broadband Plan (NBP), the government and the private sector will have the necessary platform to improve the country’s internet quality and access.

“We’re breaking down barriers to improving the Internet through our policies. Now, the ball is in the executive and private sector’s court,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology. He also pushed the measure in the Senate as principal sponsor and co-author.

 “Our hearings have exposed the lack of infrastructure that we have. So we’re reducing red tape for the private sector and we’re also allotting the necessary budget para ang gobyerno mismo ang mamuhunan sa internet infrastructure sa ibang lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator said the challenge of implementation now falls on the shoulders of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the private sector.

“The DICT needs two-and-a-half years for the NBP while the sector needs to be opened up to new players to strengthen competition in the market,” said Sen. Bam.

The final version of the Free Internet in Public Places Act has been approved by the bicameral conference committee. After the final version is ratified by both houses of Congress, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’ signature.

 Sen. Bam also believes that the Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act will encourage the entry of more players in the telecommunications industry, leading to improved Internet service at affordable prices.

“The Philippine Competition Act will usher in such competition for the benefit of Filipino consumers for the long term,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of Republic Act 10667 or the Philippine Competition Act

 If finished quickly, the NBP can hasten the rollout of the implementation of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act. It will be put up starting 2018 and expected to be fully operational by 2020.

Sen. Bam: Youth Entrepreneurship Act implementation long overdue

A legislator called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to implement the law encouraging students and graduates to venture into business.
 
“Nananawagan tayo sa Department of Education na ilabas na ang Implementing Rules and Regulations para sa Youth Entrepreneurship Act upang mapakinabangan na ng ating mga kabataan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino.
 
The Youth Entrepreneurship Act or Republic Act No. 10679 was passed August 2015 but no IRR has been released. The law mandates that the IRR be promulgated within one hundred twenty (120) days from its effectivity.
 
The law encourages young would-be entrepreneurs to establish their own business by providing them access to capital and other support.
 
It also creates financial literacy modules in all levels of Philippine education, to inculcate a culture of enterprise development among the Filipino youth.
 
“Gusto nating makakita ng trabaho ang ating mga graduates ngunit mayroon din silang opsiyon na pumasok at magtagumpay sa pagnenegosyo. Matutulungan sana ang ating kabataang magtagumpay sa negosyo kung ma-implement ng maayos ang iilang mga batas na ating isinulong noong 16th Congress,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Sen. Bam was the author and principal sponsor of the Go Negosyo Act (Republic Act 10667), his first law in the 16th Congress, and the co-author and principal sponsor of the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.
 
The senator pursued the passage of these two laws during his time as chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress to cater to the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
 
“These two laws provide MSMEs a conducive environment they need to succeed. At the same time, they also help provide fresh jobs and other livelihood opportunities for their fellow Filipinos,” stressed Sen. Bam, adding that MSMEs account for 66 percent of jobs in the country.
 
At present, Sen. Bam said 470 Negosyo Centers are already up and running in different parts of the country, catering to the needs of MSMEs.
 
In the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 169 or Small Business Tax Reform Act, which provides small businesses with lower income tax rate, VAT exemption and other privileges.
 
Sen. Bam has also submitted Senate Bill No. 175 or the Innovative Startup Act seeking to ease restrictions and provide incentives for startups in the Philippines.

Sen. Bam sees more access to higher education, high-paying jobs for Filipinos

If measure on free tuition in SUCs is enacted into law

If enacted into law, the measure providing free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs) will lead to more college graduates and higher paying jobs, giving underprivileged students a chance at a brighter future, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

“We’ve already passed the Affordable Higher Education for All Act in the Senate and we’re confident it will become law within the year,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of Senate Bill No. 1304.

“Kapag ito’y naisabatas, mas malaki na ang pagkakataon ng ating mga estudyante na makatapos ng kolehiyo at magkaroon ng magandang trabaho,” he added.

During his short stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam defended the measure on the floor during plenary debates and interpellation. The measure was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via an 18-0 vote.

After the House passes its own version of the bill, a bicameral conference committee will be held to consolidate both versions. If the final version is ratified by both Houses, it will be transmitted to Malacanang for the President’s approval.

The measure aims to institutionalize free tuition in SUCs all over the country, giving underprivileged students a chance to earn a college degree.

 It will also streamline and strengthen all Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP), making it available to students who want to pursue higher education in private institutions, as well as subsidizing other expenses of SUC students.

Sen. Bam clarified that the measure is different from the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) released recently by the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Budget and Management.

The senator said the IRR issued by the CHED and DBM was for the P8 billion earmarked in the 2017 budget for the free tuition fees in SUCs. 

The senator stated that under the currently allotted budget, only around half of the students in SUCs stand to benefit from free tuition.

However, if Senate Bill No. 1304 is passed into law, every SUC student can avail of free tuition. There will also be a mechanism for more financially-abled students to opt to pay for their tuition fee.

Bam: MFI NGOs provide lower-interest, no-collateral loans to poor, micro-businesses

Rather than be burdened by high-interest loans collected by loan sharks and other informal lenders, Sen. Bam Aquino encouraged the public to approach m​icrofinance non-government organizations (​MFI ​NGOs) for lower-interest and no-collateral financing.

“Madali nga ang proseso ng pangungutang sa 5-6 subalit pinapatay naman tayo sa laki ng interes sa kanilang mga pautang,” said Sen. Bam.

 “Upang hindi na tayo mabigatan sa malaking interes, subukan nating lumapit sa mga MFI NGOs sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa na nagbibigay ng pautang sa mas mababang interes at walang kolateral,” added Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam explained that some micro-business owners were forced to close shop due to the high interest being collected by loan sharks. But businesses flourished after obtaining loans and undergoing training from different MFI NGOs in the country.

 “Huwag sayangin ang kita sa malaking interes na sinisingil ng 5-6,” said Sen. Bam.

 Aside from low-interest loans, MFI NGOs also provide clients with trainings and other business development skills that they can use to grow their livelihood. MFI NGOs also help in community organizing and values formation and offer other services like insurance and education and health-related loans to their regular clients.

Before he was elected as senator, Sen. Bam worked with MFI NGOs as a social entrepreneur.

During his term as chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship in the 16th Congress, Sen. Bam sponsored and co-authored Republic Act 10693 or the Microfinance NGOs Act to ensure MFI NGOs continue to operate and serve poor Filipino communities.

 Sen. Bam said the MFI NGOs Act will help eradicate 5-6 by giving Filipinos an alternative means to obtain low-interest, no-collateral loans.

Republic Act 10693 gives incentives to MFI NGOs to continue helping Filipinos overcome poverty not just through financing but also through financial literacy, livelihood, and entrepreneurship training.

The law also provides MFI NGOs needed support and incentives that includes access to government programs and projects, technical assistance and exemption from taxes.

 In addition to the MFI NGOs Act, Sen. Bam will be looking into other measures where government can further support the MFI sector.

 Microfinance NGOs have been operating in the country since 1986. According to latest data, MFI NGO members of the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) have five million active borrowers.

 For a full list of MFI NGOs in the country, please visit http://www. microfinancecouncil.org/ regular-members/.

Bam: Ensure full implementation of Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act

With the graduation season coming up, a senator called for the strict implementation of the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act to ensure fair treatment and opportunities for everyone.

 “Mauuwi lang sa wala ang layunin ng batas na ito kung hindi lang ito maipatutupad nang husto,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, a co-author of the measure in the Senate during the 16th Congress.

“With graduation season coming up, more Filipinos, young and old, will be competing for available jobs. Let’s ensure that there is equal opportunity for all,” added Sen. Bam.

Republic Act 10911 or the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act seeks to promote equality in the workplace by mandating companies –including national and local government, contractors and organizations — to hire workers based on their competence, and not on their age.

The law prohibits printing or publishing any notice of advertisement relating to employment suggesting preferences, limitations, specifications, and discrimination based on age

 It also prohibits job applicants to declare their age during the hiring process and other acts such as declining an applicant, providing less compensation and benefits and denying promotions or training opportunities.

Republic Act 10911 also outlaws forced dismissal of older age workers, imposing early retirement and reducing wage of all employees to comply with RA 10911.

According to Sen. Bam, violators will be fined between P50,000 and P500,000, and will be imprisoned from 3 months to two years, at the court’s discretion.

Bam: Measure on free internet in public spaces hurdles Senate

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a measure that will establish free internet in public places and help fast-track the processing of permits for needed infrastructure and equipment to boost connectivity.
 
Via 18-0 vote, the Senate passed Senate Bill No. 1277 or the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which aims to provide internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.
 
“Access to the Internet is also access to more opportunities when it comes to livelihood, education and business. We want quality internet to be available to every Filipino,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, who sponsored and co-authored the measure as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology.
 
Under the measure, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the rollout of this program.
 
The measure also authorizes the DICT to cut red tape and streamline the process for the application of permits and certificates for the construction of infrastructure and installation of necessary equipment, in coordination with national government agencies and local government units.
 
In previous committee hearings, Sen. Bam said telecommunications providers have lamented the tedious and slow process in getting the needed permits and certificates for their infrastructure and equipment.
 
“Matapos maisumite ang kumpletong requirements, may pitong araw lang ang isang ahensiya o tanggapan na ilabas ang resulta ng aplikasyon. Kapag sila’y nabigo, maituturing nang aprub ang aplikasyon,” said Sen. Bam.
 
Aside from Sen. Bam, other authors of the measure are Sens. Francis Pangilinan, Manny Pacquiao, Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva and Cynthia Villar. Co-sponsors were Sens. Grace Poe, Recto and Pangilinan.

Students back free tuition in SUCs, call it way to better future

“We now have a chance to rise from poverty and have a better future”.

 Thus said Jen Mark Calub, an aviation communication student at the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), as he welcomed the proposed free tuition in state colleges and universities (SUCs).

 As a student regent, Calub is aware of the situation that financially challenged students undergo, especially when it comes to payment of tuition fee and other school charges.

 “Every enrollment, students asking for more time to pay their tuition fee due to lack of financial capacity is a common sight in our school,” said Calub.

 “The most common reason is the meager salaries of their parents while other students have to work for their tuition fee,” added Calub.

 Calub said PhilSCA students are now optimistic about finishing their college degree through the help of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, principally sponsored by Sen. Bam Aquino.

Currently being tackled in the plenary, the measure seeks to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 “When we learned about the measure, we now believe that there is still hope for those who want to continue with their education at PhilSCA,” said Calub.

Tristen Jamon, supreme student council president at PhilSCA’s Basa Palmayo Campus, echoed Calub’s view, saying the measure will inspire students to finish their dream degree.

“Ito ang magbibigay sa amin ng pagkakataon upang makamit ang aming mga pangarap at magsisilbing motibasyon upang pagsikapan pang lalo ang aming pag-aaral,” he said.

 A student from the University of the Philippines-Diliman who requested anonymity, said the measure, if passed into law, will help Iskolars ng Bayan like him hurdle financial obstacles that hamper their studies.

 Aside from Sen. Bam, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

Bam: Education for youth is the best investment

Education for the youth is the best investment our government can make.

Sen. Bam Aquino issued the pronouncement after several government agencies opposed the measure that seeks to provide free tuition fee in all SUCs. 

The senator affirmed the government’s commitment to provide free tuition in state colleges and universities, saying “If we have the money, why not invest in the future of our youth?”

 “The Senate has chosen this as one of its main priority measures in the 17th Congress,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “Too many students fail to graduate college because of financial problems. Suportahan natin ang mga estudyante na makapagtapos. Let’s give them a chance at a better life through education,” added Sen. Bam.

 “If we’re willing to spend over P15 billion to host the ASEAN anniversary this year, why shouldn’t we spend roughly the same amount to make tuition free for our students in SUCs?” the senator pointed out.

 Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, which is currently being tackled in the plenary.

 Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 177 was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1304 together with other similar measures, which seek to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from the Pagkaing Pinoy Bill, the Free Higher Education for All has received the most support in the 17th Congress.

 Along with Sen. Bam Aquino, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

 Sens. Recto, Ejercito, Angara, Legarda, Villanueva, Gatchalian and Zubiri co-sponsored the measure.

 Providing free tuition fee in SUCs is only one of many reforms Sen. Bam is pushing in the field of education.

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