Philippine Competition Act

Regaining public trust

The major slump in trust and sincerity ratings experienced by the Senate during the corruption scandals last year makes Senate President Franklin Drilon’s current standing as one of the most trusted government officials a legitimate cause for celebration.

The latest Pulse Asia surveys put Senate President Franklin Drilon in the top three most trusted government officials in the Philippines.

In a recent interview, he attributed this turnaround to the hard work of the Philippine Senate – senators and their staff who have been working assiduously since the PDAF scandal last year.

Once, during the height of the scandal, young leaders visiting the Senate asked me, “How can the Senate regain the trust and faith of the nation?”

My answer was, “The only way to regain the trust of our fellow Filipinos was to work hard and provide policies that will benefit the majority of Filipinos.”

On our second year in the Philippine Senate, we were able to successfully push for three major bills that have now been ratified and are awaiting the President’s signature.

One measure is the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, which incorporates financial literacy training and entrepreneurial courses in the curriculum of elementary, secondary, and tertiary schools across the country and gives promising young Filipinos access to grants and financing, mentoring, and training on enterprise development.

Furthermore, a youth entrepreneurship fund shall be made to cater to youth entrepreneurs in the country.

Training in financial literacy and entrepreneurship can equip students with the mindset and the skills to start businesses, which would have them create more jobs instead of compete for them.

This is a means to reduce the alarming number of unemployed youth, reported to be at 1.32 million as of January this year.

A second major policy awaiting the President’s signature is the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act.

Finally, foreign vessels will no longer be limited to one port in the country and shall be allowed to pick up cargoes to be exported or drop off foreign cargoes for import in various ports around the Philippine islands.

This rudimentary amendment hopefully drives down shipping and logistics costs ultimately shouldered by consumers like you and me.

That drop in shipping expense can be used by our Filipino entrepreneurs to improve the quality of their products, expand their services, innovate, and bring prices down.

At the end of the day, it is the Filipino consumer who reaps the benefits of the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act.

The third and biggest win for our team is the Philippine Competition Act, a measure that also benefits both consumers and business owners alike.

Three decades in the making, the Philippine Competition Act has finally been ratified and, hopefully, will be signed into law in the next few months.

The last country from the ASEAN-5 to establish a competition law, our country will finally have a judicious policy that penalizes cartels, abuse of dominant positions and anti-competitive agreements.

Once enacted into law, this measure will create a level playing field for all businesses, start-ups, micro, small, medium, and even large businesses.

With more products and services to choose from, companies will be forced to improve product quality and, at the same time, drive prices lower.

These three policies will improve financial literacy among Filipinos, cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship, and ensure a stable, fair, and healthy business environment for all businesses.

We worked tirelessly to move these measures forward in the hopes of ushering in an era of inclusive economic growth, an era where no Filipino is left behind.

Hopefully, these three new policies will continue the momentum of regaining trust in our institution; trust we should continue to build in the next administration and beyond.

 

First Published on Manila Bulletin

3 out of 6 Major Bills in 2015 c/o Bam

Sen. Bam Aquino, the youngest senator of the 16th Congress, made an impact during the second regular session as he sponsored three out of the six major measures ratified during the period.

Foremost of Sen. Aquino’s bills was the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark measure seeking to level the playing field for all business, and eliminate anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the market.

The Philippine Competition Act was finally passed under Sen. Bam’s watch as chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship after 25 years of gathering dust in the legislative mill.

Sen. Bam also co-authored and sponsored the Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act and the Youth Entrepreneurship Act.

 The Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act will now allow foreign ships carrying imported cargoes and cargoes to be exported out of the country to dock in multiple ports. This will reduce logistics costs and lead to lower prices for consumers.

In addition, it will also lead to more efficient port operations and a more competitive Philippines in the ASEAN integration.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Act, for its part, is seen as an effective tool to address the growing number of jobless young people 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.

Last year, Sen. Bam’s Go Negosyo Act and the Philippine Lemon Law were enacted into laws and are now awaiting for the said three bills to be signed by the President.  Once signed, Sen. Bam’s portfolio will consist of five laws in two years. 

 “Hindi mahalaga kung neophyte o beterano sa senado. Ang mahalaga ay kung makakagawa ka ng mga panukala na makakapagpabuti sa buhay ng nakararaming Pilipino,” Sen. Bam said.

Aside from these three measures, the 16th Congress also ratified measures ensuring the safety of children aboard two-wheeled motorcycles travelling along public and private roads, protecting the amateur nature of student-athletes in the country and the establishment of an open high school system in the country.

Bam on 2016 Presidentiables, Anti-Discrimination & Philippine Competition

Mini Press Conference, 23 June 2015

 

On the Philippine Competition, Foreign Ships Co-Loading  and Youth Entrepreneurship Acts

“Mayroon tayong tatlong batas na na-sponsor at na-author na handa na for signing ni Presidente. And we’re hoping bago po yung SONA mapirmahan po ito. Iyong una po diyan at pinakamahalaga ay ang Philippine Competition Act na siyang longest running bill ngayon po sa ating Kongreso.  More than 25 years na po itong naghihintay na maipasa. 

This will finally prohibit cartels, abuses of dominant position tsaka anti-competitive agreements, lahat ng mga nang-aabuso sa ating merkado, nagpapataas ng bilihin ng presyo ng ating mga bilihin. 

Iyong pangalawa po riyan ay ang pagpayag na pumasok po iyong ating foreign ships handling import and export cargos sa iba’t-ibang mga port sa ating bansa.  Isa rin ho itong mahalagang batas dahil pagginawa ho natin ‘to, bababa rin po yung costs ng logistics sa Pilipinas.  Alam ho natin na iyong presyo po ng bilihin natin, malaking porsyento po niyan nasa logistics costs so hopefully bababa rin po yung presyo ng ating bilihin sa batas na iyan.

Iyong pangatlo naman ay ang Youth Entrepreneurship Act at isa po itong malapit na malapit sa aking puso. Alam ho natin na marami pong kabataan ang walang trabaho at nahihirapan po na makipag-engage sa negosyo, so this act will, hopefully, will address youth unemployment sa ating bansa

So we’re hoping po na itong tatlong napakahalagang batas na siya pong sinulong po natin will be signed before the SONA at maging batas na po ito pagdating po ng taong ito.”

Q: Sir, iyong Philippine Competition Act, gaano po katagal sir yung bill na ‘to?

“Well, alam ninyo ‘no naging contentious po ito kasi ito po yung lumalaban sa mga monopolyo, sa mga abuso na malalaking kumpanya at sa mga anti-competitive agreement.

So throughout the years, there’s been a strong lobby against this bill, but this time talagang nakita naman po natin na nagtulungan iyong Kongreso at Senado, and finally we have this landmark bill passed in 2015.”

Q: Sir, how will it affect status quo like the current state of the industry in the Philippines?

“Unang-una iyong mga cartels natin.  Recently, iyong onion and garlic cartels na nakita natin na nag-manipulate ng presyo at nagtaasan po.  Finally may batas na nagsasabi na iyong ginagawa po nila ay siyang mali talaga at pwede silang makulong sa pagmamanipula ng mga presyo ng bilihin.

Pangawala, the Philippine Competition Commission, which will be created through this Act, can look at different industries and puwedeng magbigay ng mga suggestions o reforms, kung paano mas magiging competitive iyong mga industries na ito.”

Q: Sir how will you prove?

“Mayroon namang case law diyan throughout the rest of the world, and that’s already a standard sa ibang mga bansa. In fact, if you look at our neighboring countries, marami sa kanila mayroon nang competition policy.

Europe and the US, mayroon na sila niyan for the past 50, 60, 70 years. So there is already case law na pwedeng tumulong sa ating Philippine Competition Commission para ma-prove kung ano po iyong manipulated prices or ano yung cartel-like behavior.

Marami naman pong examples sa buong mundo. But I think yung mahalaga is that finally, we have a body na puwedeng tumingin sa isang industriya at sabihin, kulang iyong kumpetisyon diyan or hindi fair.

 Kailangan iyong mga penalties or kailangan ng mga bagong reporma sa mga industriyang iyan para mas maging patas yung laban para sa ating mga negosyante.”

Q: Off-hand, ano yung mga industries na ito? Mayroon ba kayong in mind? 

“Well the cartels I think are quite clear, na sa maraming agricultural products kitang-kita na may nagmamanipulate ng prices natin.

In the past couple of weeks some people have pointed to industries na kulang ang competition like the telecommunications industry for example where we only have two major players.

The Philippine Competition Commission can actually look at that industry and say, “Kailangan ng mas maraming kompetisyon diyan, kailangan mas healthy iyong ating markets para mas maraming pinagpipilian iyong ating mamamayan.”

So it affects all industries. At kung ang isang industriya natin healthy ang competition, you will see that prices will go down and quality goes up.”

Q: Paano nangyari na nakalampas kayo dun sa 25 years? I’m sure maraming naglo-lobby.

“Yeah, marami namang naglo-lobby but I think nalagpasan ito dahil the Speaker, the Senate President, and the President all really pointed to this bill as one of the priority measures.

Ang ekonomiya natin nag-mamature, nag-poprogress. Kailangan na natin ng ganitong klaseng mga patakaran, mga regulasyon, rules, rules of the game, para mas maging patas iyong laban para sa ating mga negosyante,.

We have the best economy in the ASEAN now pero wala tayong competition policy. So it’s one of those things na kung gusto talaga natin mag-modernize at mag-move forward as a country, isa ito sa mga batas na kailangan talaga natin.”

Q: Sir, may penalty yan under the admin?

“Yes, meron siyang administrative penalty which are your fines, and meron siyang criminal penalties also. So depende dun sa gawain ‘no, kung ito ay criminal in nature or just administrative.”

Q: Sinong mag-hehead, sir?

“Wala pa, kailangan i-appoint and siguro iyon ang susunod na babantayan pagkatapos itong pirmahan. We need to make sure na yung mga ma-aappoint sa Philippine Competition Commission ay mga taong may integridad, may kapasidad tsaka kaya talagang panindigan yung needs and desires of our consumers.”

Q: Sir, what happens to an industry, like Telco, for example? Paano palalawakin anng competition?

“We need to make sure that players can come in. Iyong pagpasok ng mga players depende yan sa regulation, sa rules, maybe even incentives, kung kinakailangan.

Looking at an industry and determining kung kulang iyong kumpetisyon will be the job of the commission. If they determine na kulang nga ang kumpetisyon, gagawa sila ng recommendations how to have that industry open up and allow more players to come in.”

Q: Sir, under the bill, bawal na yung mga no-players bibili ng big time kumpanya?

“May probisyon diyan about mergers. Kung ang merger ay makakabawas sa kumpetisyon sa merkado in a great way, in a substantial or unreasonable way, then pwedeng ipagbawal yung merger na iyon.”

Q: Sir, hindi po ba parang redundant na may trabaho na yung DTI tsaka SEC?

“Actually wala silang competion mandate. So the DTI is usually about consumer complaints, SEC naman is looking at the nature of your business. But specifically kumpetisyon, wala pa talagang body in the Philippines na naka-focus diyan.”

Q: Sir, saan papasok yung penalties sa mga cartel lang?

“Anti-competitive agreements, which kung cartel tayo we agree na itataas natin iyong presyo, hindi tayo maglalabas ng produkto. That’s prohibited and the abuses of dominant players.  Pag hindi mo pinapayagan iyong maliliit na pumasok, if you block them prior to entry, that can be fined also.”

On the Vice President’s Resignation

Q: Sir, yung resignation ni VP Binay do you think dapat sumunod narin yung ibang cabinet members na tatakbo?

“Iyong pag-resign nasasa iyo yan.  Hindi ko naman papangunahan iyong iba. In the case of Vice President Binay, I think its time has come for him to resign.

Kasi kung tutuusin naman he’s already been representing himself as the opposition, so palagay ko leading up to the elections next year, this is already something to be expected.”

On Sen. Grace Poe’s Plans

“You have to ask her kung ano ang magiging desisyon niya. As far as the party is concerned, we’re still undergoing the consultation period and trying to find out kung ano iyong mga best combination para sa ating bansa.

But right now, I think the choices of the party are all good choices, all people who want to continue the reforms and will be good for the country. Kung tungkol sa mga plano ni Grace, I think you should ask her.

The party owes it to the people to find the best and the brightest for the Filipino people.”

Q: Kahit outside the party?

“Yes, yes. We need to find the best and the brigthest for our people.

Mahalagang malaman natin kung  ano bang gagawin nila para sa ating bansa.  Lagi nating pinag-uusapan kung sino iyong okay, sino iyong hindi, sino iyong gusto nating iboto.

No one’s asking the question that hasn’t been asked. Hindi pa tinatanong: “Ano bang gagawin nila para sa ating bansa, ano bang plano nila?”  I mean whether it’s VP Binay, Sec. Roxas, or even si Sen. Poe.

No one’s been asking that question. Ako, tanggalin mo yung pagiging senador, bilang isang botante, iyon ang gusto kong malaman.

Ano bang gagawin nila para sa atin? What type of presidency will they provide for our people?”

On Sec. Mar Roxas

“Sec. Mar is the presumptive candidate of LP, pero palagay ko mahalaga rin na talagang tingnan, hanapin kung sino ba ang mga pinakamagagaling at pinakamabubuti.

Sino ba ang mga taong ito na kayang dalhin ang ating bansa to the next level? I think it’s just right that the party goes through this process. But I’m happy naman to say that na mga lumalabas na mga pangalan seem to all be the type who will really bring our country forward.”

On Anti-Discrimination

Q: Speaking of the laws, are you still willing on pursuing bills on anti-discrimination?

“We’ve been pushing for the anti-discrimination law. Matagal na naming tinutulak iyan. We’re hoping we can get more support for this bill.

This bill is not just on transgender, it actually includes religion, race, socio-economic standing, age – lahat ng mga posible maging dahilan kung bakit ka mag-didiscriminate sa iyong kababayan o sa mga ibang tao. 

We hope to make it outlawed at talagang prohibited na. Kasi sa palagay ko iyong kultura naman natin is one where we’re open, we’re tolerant, and we’re respectful of each other’s beliefs and each other’s lifestyle. 

Hopefully mapasa po natin ang batas na ito. Hindi ko siya napasa ngayong second year ko, maybe next year, with the support of the people we can have it passed.”

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.

***

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.

***

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.

***

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!

***

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

***

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

 

 

DOJ, Private Businesses Welcome Passage of Bill Penalizing Cartels, Abuse of Dominance

Stakeholders, led by the Department of Justice (DOJ), welcomed the long-awaited approval of the Philippine Competition Act, a landmark legislation that will level the playing field for all types of businesses

In a statement, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima lauded Sen. Bam Aquino and Rep. Dakila Carlo Cua for their energy and dedication to work for the passage of the bill, which gathered dust for almost 25 years in the legislative mill.

Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, was the main author and sponsor of the measure, which is expected be signed into law by President Aquino.

“The Department will continue to support legislation that will level the playing field and inject fairness and transparency in dealings and transactions specially those affecting small businesses and consumers,” De Lima said.

“This legislation actually rewards good business practices and goes against those who exploit markets or engage in abusive behavior,” said DOJ Assistant Secretary Geronimo Sy, head of DOJ-Office for Competition.

 “Building a competition culture across all sectors of society is key. We are happy that we finally passed it,” added Sy.

Under the proposed law, the DOJ-Office for Competition is assigned to investigate cartels that are considered criminal actions.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expects a sustained strong economy with ratification of the Philippine Competition Act.

 “This law will push businesses to engage in a healthy rivalry so that they will gain more consumers. It gives us the incentive to be more efficient and to offer the public better quality products and services,” PCCI president Alfredo M. Yao said in a statement.

If enacted into law, Yao added that the Philippine Competition Act will encourage the entry of small firms into the market “with the expectation that rules will be applied equally to all.”

The European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, for its part, expressed full support behind the passage of a national competition law, saying it would “ensure a level playing field for business, protect consumer welfare and make the Philippine economy more competitive.”

“The passage of this landmark measure materialized through the collective efforts of the Senate and House and the full support of private stakeholders,” Sen. Bam said.

 Sen. Bam added that private stakeholders, such as the PCCI and the ECCP, were consulted in the crafting of the measure to ensure that the bill would be pro-business, pro-poor and pro-consumer.

After Long Wait, Congress Ratifies Act Penalizing Cartels, Abuse of Dominant Positions

“Historic, game-changing for our economy,” Sen. Bam Aquino describes the Philippine Competition Act after its ratification.

 After three decades of waiting and 30 hours of bicameral conference hearing, Congress has finally ratified the Philippine Competition Act that penalizes bad market behavior and abuse of dominant positions.

“If enacted into law, the measure will create a level playing field, whether big or small, when it comes to market opportunities,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

For almost thirty years, the Philippines has remained one of few countries that does not have a valid competition policy that will protect its consumers and private industries.

“It has been one of the longest running bills in our history,” Sen. Bam said, as the first competition policy was filed in the 8th Congress.

After World War II, Japan passed its Original Antimonopoly Law in 1947 while the United Kingdom passed its Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act in 1948.

Other ASEAN countries have also passed their respective competition laws, starting with Indonesia and Thailand in 1999, Singapore in 2004, Vietnam in 2005, and Malaysia in 2012.

“This is primary a huge victory for millions of consumers, who, in the end, will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this measure,” added Sen. Bam, whose Senate Bill No. 1027 or the Philippine Competition Act was among the measures consolidated under Senate Bill No. 2282.

President Aquino is expected to sign the measure into law as it is one of his administration’s urgent measures.

Sen. Bam said the Philippine Competition Act is expected to eliminate cartels, and penalize anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant players in the markets that lead to high prices of goods and services.

“In addition, the Philippine Competition Act promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs,” Sen. Bam said.

“We need more players in our markets, so that the quality of products and services increases, and prices of goods would then go down,” Sen. Bam added.

 The measure will also prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the Philippines.

“We thank the hard work of our fellow senators and our congress counterparts in coming up with a solid bill that will further help our economy down the road,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

Sen. Bam also credited the late Rep. Henry Cojuangco for actively pursuing the bill’s House version. Cojuangco died from aneurysm, hours before the bill hurdled the second reading at the House of Representatives last May 12. 

“Panalo ang taumbayan dahil sa pagpasa ng panukalang ito,” the senator highlighted.

“We would like to tell the world that with the Philippine Competition Act, our country is now open for business,” Sen. Bam happily declared.

Bam on his Year 2 Accomplishments (Transcript of Interview)

Well, ito pong mga batas po naming ito, alam ninyo po, dalawa po itong committee po natin.  Ang una sa Youth, tsaka iyong Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.  Kaya kung napapansin po natin, lagi po ang ating usapin ay usaping pang-kabataan at usaping pang-negosyo. 

Kaya gusto ko po sanang ireport na hindi po nasayang ngayon sa pangalawang taon ko po dito sa Senado.

Responsive, Empowered Service-Centric Youth Act of 2015

Meron po tayong dalawang napakagandang batas na umuusad. Iyong isa po riyan, yung tinatawag nating RESCYouth.

Ito po iyong batas at napasa na po on third reading. So actually hinihintay na lang po natin iyong counterpart sa Kongreso.  Ang nakalagay po rito, na sa ating NDRRMC, iyong ating National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, kinakailangang may kinatawan ang mga kabataan.

Nakita po kasi namin na, sa bawat delubyong nangyayari ay mga kabataan iyong mga kauna-unahang volunteer, eh ‘di ba kabataan.  Sino ba iyong nagpupuno roon sa mga repacking stations natin, ‘di ba iyong mga kabataan?

Nakita rin naming na marami ring mga youth groups na nagbibigay ng first aid, sumasama sa red cross, nagtuturo ng mga CPR, iyong paglangoy, so marami po talagang kabataan ang involved, pero hindi sila involved sa pagpaplano ng disaster risk management.

Lahat po ng ating Disaster Management Councils, magkakaroon po ng youth representative.

Iyong kaalaman, experiences, pwedeng maibahagi ng kabataan, mapapasama na po sa National Councils, sa NDDRMC, Provincial Councils, City Councils, Municipal Councils, kahit Baranggay Councils kasi mayroon na dapat po tayong mga konseho pagdating sa pagmanage ng mga delubyo sa ating bansa.

Youth Entrepreneurship Act

Itong pangalawa po, ratified na, pirma na lang po ng presidente natin ang kailangan. So we’re hoping, bago po mag SONA, pirmado na po ito.

Ito po iyong Youth Entrepreneurship Act.  Ang kapartner po namin dito ay si Br. Armin Luistro at Deptartment of Education.

Napapansin po kasi namin na, pagdating po sa mga kabataan, mahalaga po talaga, iyong financial literacy o kaalaman sa paghawak ng pera at mga kaalaman sa pagnenegosyo.

Sa ngayon, sama-sama po iyan sa financial literacy, savings, investments, kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng sariling negosyo.  Maituturo na po finally sa ating educational system kasi po ‘di ba laging batikos sa ating educational system ay tinuturuan ka naman maging empleyado, kumbaga hindi tinuturuan para magtayo ng negosyo.

Maisasama na po iyan sa K to 12 at kadikit po niyan, magkakaroon po tayo ng fund para yung mga gustong magnegosyo na mga kabataan especially yung nasa K to 12 pwede pong mabigyan ng DepEd nang kaunting start up capital.  Hindi teorya lang yung kanilang pagtuto tapos magkakaroon pa po sila ng praktikal na kaalaman sa pagtatayo ng negosyo.

   

Sa mga Umuutang

Sanay na tayo na “ay umuutang lang iyan,” kahit iyong mga pinakamalalaking kumpanya umuutang, kahit po itong bansa natin, umuutang rin yan. Hindi po masama ang umutang, ang masama po ang umuutang ka ng hindi mo kayang bayaran.

O masama iyong umutang ka, na hindi mo naaral yung mga terms o laki ng interest.  Kahit 5-6, pero kung umuutang ka sa maayos na institusyon, hindi ho masama iyon, so iyong mga kaalaman ay mahalagang malaman ng ating mga kabataan.

We’re hoping na makatulong ito para bumaba ang bilang ng mga kabataang walang trabaho.

Foreign Ships Co-Loading Act

Mayroon po tayong batas noon na nagsasaad na kapag ikaw ay isang foreign ship, hindi ka puwedeng dumaong sa lahat ng ports ng Pilipinas.

Noon po, pag foreign vessel ka, mayroon kang i-import. Usually pipili ka lang ng isang puwedeng pagdaungan, usually Metro Manila iyan. Although international ang Davao at Cagayan de Oro, pero usually dito lang po iyan sa Metro Manila.

Kaya karamihan ng ships nasa Metro Manila kaya noon nagkaroon ng port congestion kung saan nagtaasan ang presyo ng bilihin dahil sobrang inefficient ng ating sistema.

Ngayon po, puwede nang dumaong ang ships sa multiple ports basta’t hindi siya kumukuha ng domestic goods. Kumbaga po, meron kang imported na goods, kunwari mayroon kang imported na mani, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Manila, puwede kang mag-drop off sa Cebu at sa Cagayan de Oro, hindi na lang sa iisa.

Kung kukuha ka naman, kailangang i-export mo ito patungong foreign port. Hindi ka puwedeng kumuha ng produkto sa Cagayan de Oro patungong Maynila. Para mabago po iyan, kailangang mabago ang Constitution dahil mayroon po tayong proteksiyon.

Pero pagdating sa importation at pag-e-export, puwede na po kayong kumuha kung foreign vessel ka.

Magmumura iyong cost natin ng pag-import at pag-export kasi hindi ka na kailangang mag-drop-off. Wala nang double handling. Now, bababa po niyan ang cost ng ating logistics.

Now, kahit naman po iyong local products natin, may mga imported raw materials iyan so makikita natin may mga porsiyento diyan dapat bumaba ang presyo at magsimula ang pagbaba ng presyo ng bilihin o di kaya’y makakatulong po iyan sa para hindi tumaas ang presyo ng bilihin.

To quote Venus Raj, “Major! Major!” po ang batas na ito kasi matagal na po itong gustong itulak pero hindi maipasa-pasa. Naipasa po namin lahat ng cargo lahat ng foreign ships.

Isipin niyo po, nag-e-export po tayo. We try to be competitive pero iyong cost ng pagdala ng produkto palabas, napakamahal. At the end of the day, iyon po ang hinahabol natin dito, ang magmura ang bilihin.

Philippine Competition Act

Eto po, for the second year ko po makakaa-apat po tayo. Ito po ang pangako natin na ito pong Philippine Competition Act, masabi ko na isa ito sa major, kung hindi man pinaka-major sa 16th Congress.

24 years na po ito sa Kamara, 24 years na hindi maipasa-pasa and dapat po 80 years na noong nakapasa tayo ng Philippine Competition Act.

Iyong mga ibang bansa po, marami po sa kanila, after World War 2 nagkaroon ng competition.  Ang Japan after World War II, devastated sila, doon nila binuo ang competition act para maging patas-patas ang pag-angat ng mga negosyo sa kanilang bansa.

Ito pong Philippine Competition Act, nakalagay po na walang anti-competitive agreements o agreements between companies na makakasama sa kompetisyon sa ating merkado o iipitin ang ibang players, especially ang maliliit.

Iyong pagiging monopolyo mismo, hindi po iyan pinagbabawal. Ang bawal ay naging monopolyo ka dahil nang-aabuso ka. Mahalaga po na mayroon po ang batas na ito.

Isa pang nilalabanan nito ang cartel. Halimbawa, negosyante ng garlic mag-uusap-usap na huwag munang maglabas ng produkto. Hintayin natin itong tumaas ang presyo, doon natin banatan ang merkado.

Ang tawag po diyan, price fixing. Iyan po very clear na pinagbabawal ng batas na ito. Pag ginagawa mo iyan, hindi iyan fair sa consumers. Hindi rin fair sa ibang traders o ibang businesses na nasa merkado mo.

Bawal na po ang cartel, iyong competitive agreement, ang pang-aabuso ng malalaking kompanya o abuse of dominant.

Bubuo tayo ng Philippine Competition Commission na quasi-judicial. Ibig sabihin po may mga kaso na puwedeng ilapit sa komisyon na iyon, at sasabihin nila, may bawal dito, puwede mong multahan iyong mga kompanya.

Puwede mong multahan kung kriminal na iyan. Kung cartel, puwede mong ilapit sa DOJ, may prison time na iyan. Ito’y karaniwan sa iba’t ibang bansa mundo.

Kakaunti na lang po ang walang competition law. Ito po’y hindi bago sa mundo pero bago po sa ating bansa, na ngayon lang tayo nagkaroon ng batas tungkol dito.

Ano po ang analogy natin dito? Kasi usong-uso ang NBA Finals, kumbaga po noon, sa barangay covered courts lang tayo naglalaro.

Kasi ang ekonomiya natin simple lang noon kaya pambarangay lang tayo. E ngayon po, gumaganda na ang ekonomiya ng Pilipinas, nag-PBA at NBA level na tayo.

Pag sa barangay lang naglalaro, walang referee, kayo-kayo lang iyon. Hindi malinaw ang rules, kanya-kanya kayo.

Pero kung gumaganda na ang ekonomiya niyo, kung nasa PBA ka na, o nasa NBA ka na, kailangan na ng referee.

Ang referee po dito, ang Philippine Competition Commission. Hindi po siya nandiyan para ipitin ang mga naglalaro. Nandiyan siya para masiguro na maayos ang pakikitungo ng bawat grupo at patas ang laban.

Kunwari, isa kang Cleveland Cavaliers at mayroon kang LeBron James ay sobrang galing mo. Hindi ka puwedeng mambalya, hindi ka puwedeng maniko, tatawagan ka ng foul. Ooppss bawal iyan. Puwede kayong mag-compete pero sa tamang patakaran.

Usually po ang bicam dalawang oras, ito po apat na araw, 30 hours ang bicam pero alam niyo po, I’m proud of this bill.

Nagtulungan po diyan ang Congress, ang Senate, DTI, DOJ at NEDA. Tulung-tulong po kami para maipasa ang batas na ito. Ito po ang handog namin sa maliliit na negosyante.

Our small players na usually binu-bully ng mga malalaking kompanya, iyong ating consumers na kapag may cartel, usually mataas ang bilihin. Ito po iyong handog namin sa inyo na magkaroon ng patas-patas na presyo ng bilihin, patas-patas na rules at hindi ho tayo namamanipula ng ilang grupo sa binabayaran nating produkto.

Republic Act No. 10667: Philippine Competition Act

The passage of the Fair Competition Act into law will eliminate monopolies, cartels and other unfair business practices that lead to high prices of goods and services.

Senator Bam Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship, made this pronouncement during his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2282 or the Fair Competition Act of 2014.

“If this bill will be enacted into law, rice cartels that caused the sudden rice of prices will cease to exist,” the senator said, adding that President Aquino himself called for the elimination of this illegal practice to drive down prices of goods and other products.

Aquino said the bill safeguards the welfare of businesses, large and small, and protects honest, hard-working entrepreneurs against abuse of dominance and position, and other unfair practices that put both Filipino businesses and their consumers at risk.

“The Fair Competition Act, moreover, promotes a culture of healthy competition that inspires ingenuity, creativity, and innovation in addressing market needs,” added Aquino, whose Senate Bill No. 1027 or the Philippine Fair Competition Act of 2013 was among the measures consolidated under Senate Bill No. 2282.

In his speech, Aquino said the Fair Competition Act of 2014 will, among other things, promote and enhance economic efficiency and competition and ensure that industrial concentration would not limit economic power to a few.

“It will also prohibit anti-competitive agreements and abuses of dominant position that distort, manipulate, or constrict the operations of markets in the Philippines,” the senator stressed.

Aquino added that the push for inclusive growth would be much easier with a help of a competition policy that gives entrepreneurs and small businesses the capability to compete against big businesses.

“I’m hoping this competition policy, if passed, can support our micro, small and medium enterprises, let them grow into larger enterprises and provide more jobs to our countrymen,” Aquino emphasized.

At the same time, Aquino allayed fears that big businesses with high market share will be affected by the competition policy.

“This is not against companies that have high market share. It’s against companies with high market share and who are using that position to abuse their powers or abuse smaller players in the market,” he explained.

The Philippines is one of few developing countries that do not have a valid competition policy.

In the past two decades, Congress tackled several competition bills but lawmakers failed to find common ground on key provisions, hampering their passage into law.

“The Fair Competition Act is both pro-poor and pro-business.”

PDFicon DOWNLOAD RA 10667

 

 

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