SK

Transcript of Sen. Bam Aquino’s Interview on the Internet, SK and BBL

On the Slow and Expensive Internet

 

Q: Sir how likely iyong pino-propose na one-stop shop?

A: Iyan ang commitment ng NTC na mag-one-stop shop sila dahil lumabas sa ating hearing na ang isang telco ay mangangailangan ng sixteen steps, maybe six to seven national government agencies, pati iyong local government permits napakatagal it takes about six months to get any permit para makapagtayo ng tower (cell site) o ng infrastructure.

Alam natin na kapag dumadami ang infrastructure natin, mas bibilis iyong Internet connection natin.

Tinalakay natin sa hearing ngayon kung paano pabilisin ang proseso, push for ease of doing business at magkaroon ng very real solution to increasing our Internet speed.

On the side of DILG, nag-commit sila na kausapin iyong mga liga, cities, municipalities at provinces para maging standard ang mga fees na sinisingil at mga proseso para makakuha ng permit ang ating mga telcos.

Ang NTC naman, nag-commit sila na simulan iyong proseso ng pagbuo ng isang one-stop shop para lahat ng ahensiyang kinakailangan para magtayo ng towers, sa kanila na lang pupunta at kukunin ang permits na iyon.

Lumalabas na DENR, DOE, DPWH, DOH, all of these agencies ay kailangang puntahan para makapagtayo ng isang Internet facility.

We’re hoping na mapabilis ang proseso and this can be one of the solutions para mapabilis ang Internet speed sa Pilipinas.

Q: Ibig sabihin, magmumura rin ang rate ng Internet?

A: Not necessarily. This hearing was not on the rates.

This was on pagtulak ng infrastructure para magkaroon ng maraming towers at mga facilities para bumilis ang ating internet speed.

Q: May agreement na ba sa minimum speed?

A: That was the subject of our NTC hearing noong November.

The second hearing will be in February kaya hinihikayat natin ang mga kababayan natin to follow live on Twitter.  Nila-live tweet natin ang NTC hearings.

Iyong second hearing nila will be on Feb. 16 at iyong paglabas ng kanilang memo circular will be in March.

Ang maganda po riyan, naging bukas ang NTC na tanggapin ang suggestions ng civil society partners at iba pang netizens upang magkaroon ng totoo at tamang batayan sa Internet speed.

Ang naging contention po ngayon, wala pong opisyal na batayan sa ating Internet speed.

Kapag lumabas po iyon, puwede nang ibangga iyong opisyal na speed na iyon sa nakalagay sa advertisements natin kung naaabot ba ang naka-advertise na bilis sa nakukuha ng consumer.

Q: Ano ba dapat ang bilis?

A: Dapat nakukuha mo ang binabayaran mo. In short, kung five dapat five. Pag sinabing ten dapat 10. Kapag sinabing one, one lang diyan dahil ang assumption ay mura ang binabayaran mo.

Iyong mahalaga, and this is why it becomes a consumer issue kaya sa committee on trade, na iyong binabayaran ng ating mga kababayan ay nakukuha ang katumbas.

Hindi puwedeng mataas ang binabayaran tapos ang nakukuha ay substandard.

 

On the Sangguniang Kabataan Reforms

 

Q: Iyon pong sa SK, may hearing sa Congress mamaya. Kailan po ang naka-schedule na pagdedeliberate dito?

A: Ongoing na po iyan. Iyong SK reform bill nakahain na po iyan sa plenaryo and we’re hoping by March, maipasa na natin ang SK reform bill.

Ang panawagan namin sa Kongreso, at natutuwa naman kaming pumayag sila, ay sabay ang pagpasa at postponement ng SK reform bill.

Kung ipo-postpone lang po natin iyan na walang kasiguruhan kung kailan ang next election at walang nabago sa sistema, hindi po maganda iyan.

Ang main na panawagan namin sa Kongreso, this quarter we pass both the postponement and the SK reform bill, para pagbalik ng SK come 2016 kasabay ng barangay election, nakareporma na ito at bago na ang patakaran niya.

Specifically, gusto naming itaas iyong age ng SK officials mula 15 to 17 na aminado tayong lahat na masyadong bata to 18 to 24.

Magkaroon ng isang anti-dynasty provision na bawal maging SK chairman at mga kagawad ang mga anak ng barangay captain at barangay kagawad. I think malaking reporma ito.

Pangatlo, iyong mandatory training na kailangang dumaan sa tamang training ang lahat ng uupo sa SK para alam talaga nila ang patakaran ng good governance at patakaran ng pag-handle ng budget.

Pang-apat, ang pagsama ng iba pang youth organizations sa municipal council o iyong tinatawag nating local youth development council. Nakita natin na maraming kabataan na nagpa-participate pero hindi bilang SK, pero bilang council leader, bilang volunteer sa NGO o bilang volunteer sa kanilang simbahan.

Iyong structure na iyon ay dapat sumuporta din doon sa SK na bumubuo iyong local youth council na bubuuin ng iba’t ibang youth leaders at volunteers.

Ito ang apat na main reforms natin sa SK na gustong itulak para pagbalik po ng SK natin, hopefully, isa na itong body that we can really be proud of at talagang maaabot ang hangaring makatulong sa kabataan.

On the Basic Bangsomoro Law

 

Q: With recent developments, are you withdrawing support behind BBL? 

A: I think we should still pursue the BBL, in light of all the things that happened. Tatalakayin, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, sa susunod na linggo ang nangyari sa Maguindanao. I think all of us are interested to know kung bakit nangyari iyon, ano ang mga dahilan kung bakit tayo umabot doon.

Coming from that hearing, I’m sure na magkakaroon ng revision or amendments sa BBL. Remember we are still in the process of deliberation.

Iyong porma ng BBL, magbabago pa iyan. I think it’s premature to just say wag na lang.

Kung kailangang amyendahan iyan o baguhin iyan because of what happened, then gawin natin iyon. That’s the process of legislation.

Ang mahirap lang kasi ay papakawalan na natin agad. Hindi siya either or. Hindi ibig sabihin na papakawalan natin ito dahil nangyari ito or the other way around.

Mahalagang imbestigahan natin. We find out what really happened. Managot ang dapat managot.

Ask the difficult questions. At the same time, tingnan natin iyong kalalabasan noon doon sa BBL process natin.

I’m just hoping na huwag tayong magkaroon ng gut reaction na pakawalan agad natin dahil because of what happened. At the same time, alamin natin kung ano ba ang nangyari talaga and of course, iyong mga dapat managot, talagang managot sila.

People died. Ang daming namatay na kapulisan natin. Hindi puwedeng mawala na lang iyon. That has to be investigated, and if there charges that have to be filed, they have to be filed.

 

 

 

Q: How should we address ang demoralization among members ng SAF?

A: That’s why we will have that hearing next week. Hindi katanggap-tanggap na in the midst of peace process na nangyari ang isang bagay na iyon.

We need to find what really happened. At kung may mga taong dapat managot dahil diyan, dapat managot talaga sila.

Q: There were reports that the suspended PNP was behind the operation?

A: I don’t know the inside story kaya tayo mag-iimbestiga para malaman talaga natin.

Q: Sa rules, puwede pa ba siyang mag-command kahit suspended siya?

A: I don’t know the specific rules ng PNP, but ako like all of you, I’m very interested to join the hearing and participate so we can get to the bottom of this.

Q: You’re among those who signed BBL – 

A: Yes. I’m not withdrawing. As I said we should continue the process. Hindi ibig sabihin na ipagpapatuloy ang proseso na we will sweep this under the rug.

We have to contend with what happened in Maguindanao. Napakaraming pamilya ang nawalan ng breadwinners, mga ama.

That has to be settled and we have to find out what really happened. And that can be done through the investigations here.

I predict na because of that, there will be amendments or changes na mangyayari sa BBL. I just think that it’s a gut reaction to let go of the peace process right after this tragedy had happened.

Magandang pag-usapan na muna kung anong nangyari, imbestigahan, charged those who need to be charged. Get to the bottom of things and then see paano mababago ang BBL because of that.

Palagay ko, ang hangarin natin na magkaroon ng kapayapaan, hindi dapat maantala dahil sa nangyaring trahedya.

Q: Ano ang tingin niyo na possible impact if lawmakers decide not to pass the BBL?

A: Iyong goals ng BBL na magkaroon ng peace and development sa Mindanao, hindi matutuloy. This is a landmark legislation, a landmark move of our country.

It has the potential to change the way our country is. I’m hoping na we find out what really, charged those who need to be charged, matulungan natin iyong pamilya ng mga namatayan.

At the same time, see if the BBL needs to be changed or modified because of that and we move from there. Pero sana iyong hangarin na magkaroon ng kapayapaan dahil sa batas, hindi mawala at hindi tayo mawalan ng momentum doon  sa pagtulak nito.

At the same time rin, hindi rin natin dapat madaliin. We cannot also rush an important legislation.

I predict that we will go through the investigations, magkakaroon ng mga amendments pero iyong hangarin natin, dapat ituloy pa rin natin.

Q: Matutuloy po ba ang timeframe niya?

 

A: I doubt that it will be passed by March.

Again, the committees are still hearing it. Hindi ganoon kabilis ang pangyayari, especially sa ganito katindi at kahalagang lehislasyon.

So I’m still hoping we can get it passed this year. Pero sana huwag nating pakawalan o huwag tayong bumitiw ng basta-basta.

SK: Time to Reboot

With the agreement from both Houses of Congress to take up much-needed reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan, the Filipino youth can look forward to an improved system that is more relevant and responsive to their needs.

These reforms will be tackled side by side with the postponement of the SK elections this year.

At this point, there is a consensus that we need to reboot the SK. And we need more young people to participate in the discussion in the next few weeks.

Let’s use the time before the next SK elections next year to pass these needed reforms, convince more young people to participate and run so that the SK can finally live up to its intended potential.

Co-Sponsorship Speech of Sen. Bam Aquino on the Sangguniang Kabataan Reforms

Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75
Otherwise known as the
Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014

Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV
16th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Co-Sponsorship Speech, 29 October 2014

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, good afternoon.

It is my honor and privilege to stand before you today to support the development of our Filipino youth leaders and spur the next set of Filipino heroes, as I co-sponsor Senate Bill No. 2401 under Committee Report No. 75  otherwise known as the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014.

In a country where half of the population are 15-30 years old, it is our duty to provide  an enabling environment for the youth to be able to participate in building our nation.

The Filipino youth have the innate energy, creativity and innovative ideas to come up with new solutions to address the age-old problems of the country.

It is thus urgent to harness their full potential as a partner in the development of our country, to encourage their active participation in programs and projects of communities and engage them in transparent and accountable governance.

Ang kabataan ay hindi lang ang pag-asa sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan. May kakayahan na silang maging bahagi sa pagbabago ngayon at sa kasalukuyan.

Mr. President, para sa inyong kaalaman, ang title ng una kong panukala para sa bill na ito ay Ang Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan. 

Even though it was not carried in the amendments, we chose that title because we believe that the reforms for the Sangguniang Kabataan would develop more heroes among our Filipino youth, who are ready to sacrifice and give their time, talents and resources for the benefit of our countrymen.

Mr. President, my career as a public servant started in the youth movements, where I served as a member of the student council, which promoted volunteerism among our fellow students, and even at times, went to the streets to fight for the social issues of the day.

Noong ako po ay naging Chairman ng National Youth Commission noong 2002, binuo namin ang Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) Awards na hanggang ngayon ay nagbibigay parangal sa pinakamagagaling na youth organizations sa bansa.

We recognize these youth groups that have made an impact all over the country through projects in education, health, livelihood and the like. 

Isa sa mga nanalo ay ang Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Inc. (GVSP) ng Cebu.  Natuklasan nila na isa sa bawat tatlong batang pipi’t bingi ang namomolestya sa kanilang lungsod. 

Kaya gumawa sila ng information campaign laban sa sexual abuse ng mga pipi’t bingi at kilalanin ang karapatan ng mga persons with disabilities.

Napansin naman ng Dire Husi Initiatives sa Cagayan de Oro ang mga batang lansangang naaadik sa rugby.

Kaya tinipon nila ang mga ito, pinakain, binigyan ng arts education at livelihood training para di na malulon sa droga at magkaroon ng mas magandang kinabukasan.

Ang huli kong halimbawa ay ang Hayag Youth Organization ng Ormoc City.  Tinuruan nilang lumangoy ang kabataan sa kanilang lugar at nagbigay sila ng iba pang water-disaster preparedness training bilang paghahanda sa mga sakuna.

Nang dumagsa ang Bagyong Yolanda, walang nalunod o naaksidente sa kanilang mga miyembro dahil sa kanilang training program.

Mr. President, the Gualandi Volunteer Service Programme, Dire Husi Initiatives and Hayag Youth Organization are only three youth groups among thousands who have spent their time creating relevant and innovative projects that address different issues in their communities such as PWD abuse, drug addiction and disaster risk preparedness and management.

Admittedly, if we talk about the Sangguniang Kabataan, there seems to be a disconnect with the youth that I have mentioned, and the reality on the ground for a number of Sangguniang Kabataan.

But today, we have the opportunity to change this notion if we pass this measure – the 2014 Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Bill.

We want to create an enabling environment for more young people to serve and find the heroism in them and hence, we are pushing for the reforms found in this bill.

After much debate and discussion, we want to highlight three points which we feel would encourage more young people to participate and spur heroism.

These are: expanding the age limit, creating local youth development councils and lastly, ensuring more relevant programs and projects of the SK all over the country.

Expanding the Age Limit
Firstly, we are proposing to expand the age range from 15 to 30 years old, in accordance to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1994, and to peg the age of officers between ages 18 to 24.

The reform in age range will enable a greater number of youth to participate and give officials more independence in their affairs, such as signing contracts, disbursing money, and making them more accountable for their actions.

Youth Organizations Participation: Local Youth Development Council
The second major reform that we are pushing for is the introduction of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the Sangguniang Kabataan and ensure the participation of more Filipino youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will compose of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

It aims to harmonize, broaden and strengthen all programs and initiatives of the local government and non-governmental organizations for the youth sector.

The LYDC will serve as guide and refuge for the Sangguniang Kabataan so that their programs and policies will be rooted in the needs of the various youth oganizations that are present in their communities.

Mr. President, ang mga lungsod ng Pasay, Naga at Cebu ay kasalukuyang may mga LYDC upang mahikayat ang kanilang mga kabataang makibahagi sa mga programa ng kanilang LGU.

Sa Pasay, bahagi ang kabataan sa cleanliness at peace and order programs, at sa mga livelihood projects ng lungsod.

Sa Naga naman, nagfocus sila sa paggawa ng training at seminar para sa pisikal, pang-akademiko, psychological, at values formation ng kabataan.

At sa Cebu, kasama ang kabataan sa pagtatayo ng mga dormitories para sa kanilang migrant youth na nag-aaral sa iba’t ibang unibersidad ng kanilang lungsod.

In my time as the Chair of the National Youth Commission, I saw that this is a proven structure that can not only develop our Sangguniang Kabataan to be better leaders, but ensure that their decisions, actions and priorities are in line with the needs of the youth in their area.

Relevant and Impactful Programs and Projects
Lastly, we are pushing for the enumeration of clear themes of the programs and projects that can be explored by the LYDC and the SK in formulating their Youth Development Plans, to weed out tokenistic projects for the sake of having programs for the youth.

These programs need to meet the goals of promoting meaningful youth participation in nation-building, sustainable youth development and empowerment, equitable access to quality education, environmental protection, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resiliency, youth employment and livelihood, health and anti-drug abuse, gender sensitivity, capability building and sports development.

We hope that the bill will also clarify the relationships between the Sangguniang Kabataan, the National Youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

By doing so, we ensure that the programs and policies that they will come up with will truly be relevant and impactful for the sector they are supposed to serve.

Developing the New Filipino Heroes
Mr. President, it is urgent and important that we reform the Sangguniang Kabataan, as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future.

It is now time to work on strengthening our leadership institutions, particularly youth development programs to form new leaders with technical and management competence, and are grounded on Filipino values.

Kung itataguyod po natin ang kapakanan ng kabataang Pilipino, mabibigyan natin sila ng pagkakataong / gamitin ang kanilang likas na pagiging malikhain at madiskarte / sa paggawa ng mga bagong proyekto at programa para sa ating bansa.

Professor Ambeth Ocampo, historian and youth advocate mentioned that our heroes where young when they changed the course of our country: “[Jose] Rizal published the Noli Me Tangere at 26, Juan Luna painted the Spolarium at 27, and [Andres] Bonifacio began the Revolution at 30… So if [we] think about it – our heroes are young.”

It is imperative that we provide an enabling environment for more young Filipinos to be the new heroes that our country needs.

Maraming salamat po at magandang hapon.

Mabuhay ang kabataang Pilipino!

Sen. Bam Pushes Passage of SK Reform Bill to Meet Election Deadline

Senator Bam Aquino urges colleagues to pass the measure seeking to reform the current Sangguniang Kabataan (SK), saying it will help shape the country’s youth to become better and more effective public servants in the future.

“It is urgent and important that we reform the Sangguniang Kabataan, as a platform for engaging the youth in the grassroots level, and where the youth will be honed to become better and more effective public servants in the future,” said Aquino.

 Aquino made the pronouncement during his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2401 or the Youth Development and Empowerment Act of 2014, where his ‘Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan (LBK)’ bill was consolidated.

Aquino pushed for the suspension of the SK elections last year so that needed reforms can be introduced, instead of having it abolished. 

He also actively worked for the passage of the measure in the committee level to meet the deadline by February 2015.

In his speech, Aquino stressed that as a country where half of the population are 15-30 years old, an enabling environment for the youth must be provided for them to participate in nation building.

“The Filipino youth have the innate energy, creativity and innovative ideas that would come up with new solutions to address the age-old problems of the country,” the senator stressed.

Aquino said the measure will harness the youth’s potential as a partner in the development of our country, encourage their active participation in programs and projects of communities and engage them in transparent and accountable governance.

Among the reforms being pushed by the measure is the expansion of age limit, creation of local youth development councils and to ensure more relevant SK programs and projects all over the country.

The measure proposes to expand the age range from 15 to 30 years old, in accordance to Republic Act 8044 or the Youth in Nation Building Act of 1994 and to peg the age of officers between ages 18 to 24.

“The reform in age range will enable a greater number of youth to participate and give officials more independence in their affairs, such as signing contracts, disbursing money and making them more accountable for their actions,” Aquino said.

The bill also pushes for the introduction of the Local Youth Development Council (LYDC), a council that will support the Sangguniang Kabataan and ensure the participation of more youth through youth organizations.

The LYDC will compose of representatives from the different youth organizations in the community – student councils, church and youth faith groups, youth-serving organizations, and community-based youth groups.

The LYDC is now being implemented in several major cities such as Pasay, Naga and Cebu to encourage the youth to participate LGU-initiated projects.

“We are pushing for the enumeration of clear themes of the programs and projects that can be explored by the LYDC and the SK in formulating their Youth Development Plans, to weed out tokenistic projects for the sake of having programs for the youth,” the senator said.

Aquino hopes that the bill will clarify the relationships between the Sangguniang Kabataan, the National Youth Commission and the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“By doing so, we ensure that the programs and policies that they will come up with will truly be relevant and impactful for the sector they are supposed to serve,” he said.

 

SK to Return to Clutches of Partisan Politics if Reforms Not Passed – Sen. Bam

 

Senator Bam Aquino warned that the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) would return to the clutches of partisan politics if proposed reforms are not immediately passed.

“If not passed on time, all the reforms that we are working on will go down the drain. Congress should buckle down and work for the passage of the pending SK reform bills,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth.

Last year, Congress approved the postponement of the SK elections for one year without holdover with the goal of passing an SK reform bill before October 28, 2014. Lawmakers also agreed to hold the next polls between Oct. 28, 2014 and February 23, 2015.

Aquino, author of Senate Bill No. 1090 or the “Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan (LBK)” Bill, said the postponement was approved to give Congress enough time to finalize much-needed reforms in the country’s youth representation system

“The reforms we are pushing are crucial as they will harness volunteerism among the youth and pull them away from clutches of partisan politics,” the senator said.

Among the reforms being pushed by Aquino in his measure include the increasing the age of SK officials from the 15-17 years old to 18-24 years old.

Also, Aquino also wants elected youth leaders to undergo mandatory leadership and entrepreneurship trainings to equip them with the proper knowledge needed for their positions.

“The youth sector should actively lobby for these reforms so they can be put in place before the SK elections next year,” said Aquino.

Earlier, Aquino stressed that poor participation of leaders in consultations in different parts of the country has delayed the approval of the bill.

Aquino’s LBK bill is aimed at overhauling youth representation system and instills the true spirit of volunteerism on the youth.

The bill replaces the current form of the SK with a body composed of representatives of youth organizations.

The measure also calls for “bottom-up budgeting” and “end-to-end transparency, accountability, good governance, and community youth participation” for all LBK projects.

“The bill is anchored on the twin beliefs that youth organizations are a potent force in nation-building, and that the power of young Filipinos is strongest when they work with people who share their values and goals, and in an environment of teamwork and collaboration,” the senator said.

 

 

“Let’s Crowdsource SK Reform Bill” — Bam

In support of the proposed Crowdsourcing Act of 2013 (SBN 73), authored by Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Sen. Bam Aquino has offered his own measure, the SK Reform Bill—also known as the “Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan Bill” (SBN 1090)—to be subjected to crowdsourcing.

“The nation is really in a quandary regarding the Sangguniang Kabataan—do we abolish, do we reform? How do we propose an innovative solution while addressing the many ills that have plagued the SK through the decades? Maybe it’s time to tap the wisdom of the people,” Aquino says.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines crowdsourcing as “the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers.”

The Crowdsourcing Bill states that, “This law allows the public to participate in the legislative process wherever they are. It believes in the power of online crowdsourcing.”

Meanwhile, Aquino’s Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan (LBK) Bill proposes bold measures in reforming youth participation in the Philippines, including a “departure from individualistic, personality-based politics and the shift to youth representation to youth organizations.”

“What we’re proposing through the Liga ng Bayaning Kabataan Bill is really bold and different,” Aquino points out. “We are in the process of consulting various youth organizations, and the recommendations from crowdsourcing will help enrich the discussions. Who knows? Through crowdsourcing, we might be able to find more innovative solutions to the SK dilemma while ensuring that young Filipino continue to have an active voice in governance.”

Photo source: www.ironpaper.com

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