Senate of the Philippines

Bam: Senate should weigh in on Marcos burial

Believing that the Senate should speak on matters of national importance, Sen. Bam Aquino urged colleagues to collectively weigh in on the Supreme Court’s decision allowing the burial of former president Ferdinand Marcos in the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

 “Mahalaga na mayroon tayong sasabihin sa isyu na ito na napakahalaga sa ating bansa. Dahil kapag tahimik tayo, Mr. President, nakakasanay iyong pagiging tahimik, said Sen. Bam.

 “More than the Supreme Court, I think this resolution allows us to voice out the sense of the Senators on the matter,” he added, referring to the SC decision.

Sen. Bam made the pronouncement before the Senate voted on the resolution regarding the SC decision on the Marcos burial. The resolution was temporarily shelved after the Senate vote ended in a deadlock.

 “I’m totally in favor of coming up with a decision. It is up to the body to decide whether it’s today, tomorrow, or a week from now. It’s important that we weigh in with our own national mandates and as a collegial body,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Earlier, Sen. Bam expressed “grave disappointment” over the SC decision allowing the burial of “a corrupt and ruthless dictator in the LNMB”.

“Though we must respect the outcome, my heart goes out to the thousands of victims during the darkest years in Philippine history,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam pointed out that the SC decision was focused only on technicality and did not give weight on historical facts.

 

Bam: Support for troubled youth to curb suicide and drug use

A senator wants to create a mental health program for the youth to reduce the rate of suicide attempts and drug use among young Filipinos.

“We should provide troubled youth with professional support and a place of refuge so they don’t resort to drugs or even suicide,” Sen. Bam Aquino said in Senate Bill No. 657 or the Adolescents and Youth Mental Health Program Act.

In a fast urbanizing nation, Sen. Bam said the youth find themselves facing increasing amounts of pressure while being exposed to negative influences.

According to latest report by the Dangerous Drugs Board in 2015, around 49 percent of first-time drug users belong to the age group of 15-19 years old.

The World Health Organization also found that in 2011, 16 percent of Filipino students aged 13 to 15 had contemplated suicide, while 13 percent had attempted suicide.

The bill proposes the creation of a Mental Health Program for the youth aged 15 to 30 years old, to be implemented by the Department of Health, in conjunction with various other government agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 If enacted into law, every public or private educational institution must employ at least one qualified guidance counselor who is authorized as a mental health practitioner to provide support and advice to students.

“We must ensure that the next generation of Filipinos are mentally resilient and don’t fall prey to drug use,” the senator stressed.

The WHO observes every October 10 as the World Mental Health Day.

 

Bam: Entice overseas Filipino scientists to return to PH, help in R&D

A senator has filed a bill seeking to provide overseas Filipino scientist with financial benefits and incentives to encourage to return to the Philippines and help boost the country’s research and development.

“Although numerous Filipino scientists would like to serve their country and contribute to our technological, social, and economic advancement, many opt to move overseas where their work is highly valued, and where there are more opportunities to conduct meaningful research,” said Sen. Bam Aquino in Senate Bill No. 1183.

 Sen. Bam saw the need to entice Filipino scientists working overseas to return to the Philippines after research showed that the country produced fewer research papers and file far fewer patents with 1.8 per million population in 2010, compared to Thailand (17.6), Malaysia (43.4), and Vietnam (3.5).

“Filipino scientists have been contributing to groundbreaking advancement in scientific research all over the world with their talent, intelligence, and creativity. Yet as a country, we are lagging behind our neighbors in scientific output,” explained Sen. Bam.

 According to Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, the measure aims to institutionalize the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

 Reinstated in 1993 by virtue of Executive Order No. 130, the DOST’s Balik Scientist Program has successfully encouraged some of our scientists to return and contribute to research that will address development gaps in the Philippines.

 The Balik Scientist Program provides financial incentives for overseas Filipino scientists and facilitates their return to work on either a short-term or long-term basis.

 The program subsidizes the cost of returning to the Philippines to impart their technical expertise to the nation, while conducting research to address our country’s needs.

 “Institutionalizing this will provide financial benefits to returning overseas scientists, but more importantly, it will signify our government’s commitment to, and recognition of science, research and development,” he added.

 Once enacted into law, Sen. Bam said the bill will assure Filipino scientists that their work is valued and that the government is their partner in promoting, and protecting research and development.

 “It is not just Filipino scientists that stand to gain from this program, but the Filipino people, as the brightest minds pour their brain power to solving longstanding problems like poverty through science and technology,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Bam: Senate to review gov’t foreign policy

The Senate will soon conduct a review of the government’s foreign policy to clarify the direction it wants to take in terms of international relations, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

Sen. Bam said Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed willingness to conduct a hearing on the matter.

“There was openness on the part of Sen. Cayetano to have the hearing, so I hope he will schedule it soon,” said Sen. Bam, who filed a Senate Resolution No. 158, urging the government to clarify the country’s stand on different foreign policy issue.

Sen. Bam stressed the urgency to conduct an investigation amid President Duterte’s threat to end the Philippines-US Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

“Mahalagang malinawan tayo kung anong direksiyon ba ang nais tahakin ng pamahalaan pagdating sa foreign policy,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from the EDCA issues, government officials also issued contradicting statements on different foreign policy issues, such as joint maritime patrols and the stationed American troops in Mindanao.

“I hope we can clear up these statements soon so that our strategies to protect our territory and develop our economy are aligned with the administration,” Sen. Bam stressed.

As provided in Article 2, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution, Sen. Bam said a clear strategic foreign policy is integral to the country’s development.

“Our relations with members of the international community have bearing on our ability to protect our territory and environment, develop our economy, and promote the welfare and well-being of our citizens,” Sen. Bam stressed.

Gov’t, private stakeholders back Trabaho Centers in Schools Act

Government agencies and private stakeholders expressed support for Sen. Bam Aquino’s measure to establish Trabaho Centers in Senior High Schools (SHS) all over the country as means to address unemployment and underemployment among youth.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, chaired by Sen. Bam Aquino, the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) all backed Senate Bill No. 170.

“Natutuwa naman tayo na full support ang DepEd, DOLE, TESDA. Kung pumasa po ito, magkakaroon ng job placement centers sa bawat senior high schools natin,” said Sen. Bam after the hearing on the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

 If passed into law, Sen. Bam said it can help Senior High School (SHS) find employment that fits their skill set and the career path they have chosen.

 “Napakahalaga po iyon kasi iyong reporma ng K-12, nakasalalay po diyan iyong employability ng ating mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

With an estimated 50 percent of Senior High School students not going to college, Sen. Bam stressed the need to help them find employment after they graduate through Trabaho Centers.

“Maganda kung alam na agad ng estudyante kung ano ba ang job market sa lugar, ano ang opportunities na puwede nilang pasukin at kung ano ang skills na kailangan nilang makuha para qualified sila sa mga job opening sa lugar,” said Sen. Bam.

 The proposal is also aimed at addressing the prevalent jobs mismatch, which is being blamed as major cause of youth unemployment, which stands at 15.7 percent.

 “Kung wala po iyon, we will continue to have a jobs mismatch, we will continue to have roughly five percent unemployment, almost 20 percent underemployment at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin, mahihirapan on their day to day,” said Sen. Bam.

The Trabaho Center in Schools Act will help ensure that Senior High School graduates under the K to 12 program have the appropriate knowledge, values, and skills to address the needs of the job market

The Center will focus on three main things – career counseling services, employment facilitation and industry matching.

“Siguraduhin natin na hindi masasayang ang pagod ng ating mga guro, estudyante, at pati ng kanilang magulang. Pagtapos ng senior high school o ng kolehiyo ay dapat may angkop na trabahong naghihintay para sa mga graduates,” Sen. Bam said.

Bam: Let’s address the drug menace in our schools

A senator has submitted a resolution to look for ways to address prevalence of illegal drugs in public elementary and high schools in the country.

In Senate Resolution No. 168, Sen. Bam Aquino plans to conduct an inquiry on drug education and prevention programs in schools and alternative learning systems (ALS) that will help keep the youth away from the drug menace.

“All schools and alternative learning systems have a significant role to play in addressing illegal drug use and abuse among children through drug education and other prevention programs,” said Sen. Bam.

 The senator stressed the need for schools and learning institutions to apply evidence-based approaches in the development and implementation of drug education and prevention programs for Filipino children and youth.

Sen. Bam emphasized that peer counseling, after-school programs and the adoption of a drug education framework that fosters trust rather than scare tactics, have proven to be effective tools in thwarting the drug menace.

 Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 mandates that instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be integrated in the elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools.

The law also mandates all elementary, secondary and tertiary school student councils and campus organizations to include in their activities programs for the preventions of and deterrence of drug use and referral of treatment of students for drug dependence.

In addition, Sen. Bam said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has identified preventive education programs as a key component of its drug demand reduction strategy to discourage users and impending abusers from experimenting with illicit substances or continuing to abuse them. 

“As part of its mandate, the DDB must implement educational programs catering to every sector of society, including the youth and their educators,” said Sen. Bam.

Sen. Bam has also filed a resolution looking into the implementation of reproductive health education in our schools to address the rising number of teen pregnancy in the country.

Sen. Bam on staying in the majority

(Transcript of media interview)

 

Q: What do you think of the situation of Sen. De Lima because nalabas iyong phone number niya, her address, and sabi nga hindi siya makapasok today because she’s looking for a house actually?

 Sen. Bam: Well, it’s very unfortunate na nailabas iyong kanyang telephone number at saka iyong address niya. We’d like to hope that in the halls of Congress and the Senate, mayroon pa ring parliamentary courtesy. Mayroon pa rin pagkiling towards someone’s right to privacy.

Now we understand na ongoing iyong mga hearings sa kongreso. I think a resolution has also been filed already here that we also tackle these cases so the Senators can have a chance to question these witnesses as well and to check the veracity of their stories. We’ll probably take it from there. Doon na namin sila haharapin mismo.

 But again, you’d like to see some type of parliamentary courtesy. Noong tinanggal si Sen. De Lima bilang Chairperson on Justice, biglaan iyon sa amin. As we said in our statement the other day, kasama kami sa majority and yet no dialogue transpired. Walang consultation na nangyari. So, we felt that, at the minimum, some level of consultation or dialogue should have happened. Kaya kung napansin niyo, at the start of the hearing, Sen. Drilon was calling for a caucus. The reason for that was mapag-usapan. And, I truly believe that the concerns of our fellow Senators, kung pumayag sila na magkadiyalogo, ma-re-resolve naman na hindi kailangan tanggalin [si Sen. De Lima] doon sa Committee on Justice.

 And to be very frank, we were talking to Sen. De Lima yesterday, sabi namin “Kung ni-request sa iyo na ipaubaya mo ang pagiging chairperson for these hearings on extrajudicial killings, papayag ka ba?” 

 Sabi naman niya “Kung ni-request iyon sa akin ng colleagues ko, ba’t naman ako hindi papayag?”

 So we really believe that it was unncessary. It was too much. And kung pinayagan kaming mag-usap muna at magdiyalogo, puwede naman ito ma-resolve.

 

Q: What was behind the decision for you to stay in the majority?

 Sen. Bam: Well, you know, in the beginning, the reason for this supermajority is because each of us in our block, mayroon kaming mga repormang gustong maitulak. I’m Chairman of Education, so our Trabaho Centers, the Free Tuition Fee for SUCs, iyong ating programs for out-of-school youth – marami iyan.

 We all agreed yesterday that the reason for us being in the majority is because of our ability to push for these reforms. Kung kaya naming itulak ang mga repormang mahalaga sa bayan, magtatrabaho kami dito sa aming mga kumite. Kung hindi na namin kayang gawin iyon, ibang usapan iyon. If we are not allowed to push for these reforms, that’s a different take altogether. 

 And I think all of the members currently in the majority will stay in the majority because of that. At the end of the day, more than na-slight ka, more than nabastos ka, iyong mga repormang gusto mong itulak – iyon iyong mas mahalaga. And that was our decision. 

 

Q: Hindi ba sabi independent block under majority? 

 Sen. Bam: Well, may majority at may “medyo-rity”. Kami iyong “medyo-rity” diba. 

We’d like to think that in this supermajority, iba-iba rin iyong mga grupo diyan. Iba-iba din iyong mga pananaw sa mga iba’t-ibang issues. There are issues where we will all agree and there are issues where we won’t. And you will see that in our vote, and in our interpellations.  Ganoon lang talaga iyon.

 

Q: More criticisms? You will be more critical?

 Sen Bam: I think we’ve always had an independent stance in the Senate and in fact, I think that’s the role of the Senate in our history. Hindi lang sa current administration. Even during PNoy’s administration, GMA’s administration, even during Tita Cory’s administration, the Senate has always been an independent body. And I think iyon iyong pinakamahalaga, na ma-maintain – iyong independence. If we can maintain that independence, even while being in the majority and still able to push the reforms, ba’t kami aalis sa mayoria?

 Palagay ko, iyong pagiging independent, hindi lang iyan trabaho ng minority, trabaho iyan ng buong Senado.

 

Joint statement on Sen. De Lima’s removal as Committee on Justice chairperson

JOINT STATEMENT

Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Senator Francis Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, and Senator Risa Hontiveros

 

We are deeply saddened by the events that transpired yesterday. Elementary courtesy dictates that we as members of the majority bloc of the Senate should have been consulted. The concerns of our colleagues could have been addressed if there was an opportunity for a dialogue.

No consultation or dialogue took place.

We recognize that the removal of Senator Leila De Lima as chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights as a political reality.

 Having said that, our alliance with the majority has always been based on the reforms that we believe will propel our nation to greater economic, political and social heights. We will continue to pursue these agenda.

As long as we believe that these reforms can be achieved, we will remain with the majority.

Coming from the events that transpired yesterday, we must remain vigilant and continue to assert the independence of the Senate.

Senate to probe Martial Law education in basic, tertiary education

One day before the country commemorates one of the darkest chapters in its history, the Senate is set to conduct an inquiry to determine the status of Martial Law education in basic and tertiary education.
 
Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education, will lead the probe jointly with the Committee on Youth on Tuesday (September 20) at 9 a.m..
 
The Senate set the inquiry after Sen. Aquino filed Senate Resolution No. 29 to look into how the Martial Law era is being taught in high school and colleges all over the country. 
 
Expected to attend the hearing are Department of Education (DepEd) Sec.  Leonor Briones,  National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) chairperson Maria Serena Diokno and Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon.
 
Sen. Bam saw the need to look into the matter, especially with the propagation of erroneous information on the Internet regarding the Martial Law, declared by former President Ferdinand Marcos on Sept. 21, 1972.
 
“Kailangan nating malaman kung paano tinuturo ng Martial Law sa ating kabataan at siguraduhin na ang katotohanan ang nananaig sa ating mga paaralan,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Napansin natin na mukhang nagkaroon na ng pagbabago sa kasaysayan. Nakakalungkot ang pangyayaring ito dahil tila kinalimutan na ang mga nagsakripisyo ng buhay noong panahon ng diktarudya,” he added.
 
According to historical records, 3,257 were killed, while an estimated 35,000 were tortured, and 70,000 incarcerated during the Martial Law rule, which ran from 1972 to 1981.
 
Aside from the rampant human rights violation during that time, an estimated $10 billion in government money was stolen, according to Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) records.

Bam: Resolve underspending and inefficiency, fix gov’t procurement

Sen. Bam Aquino wants to fix the government’s procurement system to address underspending in the national budget and enable government agencies to better deliver services to the public.

  “I don’t think we will be able to spend properly, even with the best intentions, if we don’t reform the Procurement Act,” said Sen. Bam during the briefing of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017.

 “Our taxpayer’s money should be spent efficiently and Filipinos should see results. Let’s fast track our Procurement Act reforms,” the senator said.

 According to Sen. Bam, a number of Cabinet secretaries have raised their concerns over the strict Procurement Act, including Transportation Secretary Art Tugade during the initial emergency powers hearing.

 “In the emergency powers hearing, a large part of the discussion is about procurement,” the senator added.

 During the hearing of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones mentioned that she has assigned an Assistant Secretary just to focus on the tedious procurement process.

 “Political will and good intentions are important. But if people are shackled by policies, it leads to unwillingness to spend on the development of the country,” Sen. Bam emphasized.

 For his part, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno revealed they plan to introduce several reforms to the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9184 or the Procurement Reform Act.

 “We might allow just one failed bid and then negotiate,” said Diokno.

 However, Sen. Bam said lawmakers are willing to make amendments to the law so the country can have an effective procurement process for the long-term.

Scroll to top