Bam Aquino pushes for education reforms, healthcare funding

Senatorial aspirant Bam Aquino highlighted Tuesday the need to reform the country's education system and provide enough funding to the healthcare sector.

In dzBB’s Ikaw na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews, Aquino said the country's educational system is in a “crisis level” due to several issues.

“Ito po ay isang problemang kumukulo at aapaw na ‘yan very, very soon. So, kailangan talagang agapan,” he said.

(This is a problem that has been brewing and will spill over very, very soon. So, we really need to address immediately it.)

"Unang-una, 'yung pera para sa edukasyon, napupunta ba talaga sa edukasyon o nabubulsa lang? Sigurado ba tayo na ang mga perang 'yan ay mapupunta sa kabataan natin?" he asked.

(First of all, does the funding for education really goes to education or to the pockets of some corrupt officials? Are we really sure that it is the students who benefit from the funds?)

He also noted that teachers are not properly cared for despite being one of the main pillars of the educational system.

“Kung sila ay well-trained, sila po ay well-compensated, at maayos ang kanilang kalagayan, usually maayos din po ang educational system ng mga bansa. Ang tanong diyan, ang mga guro ba natin ay nagtuturo? Sinasabi nila pag may feeding program sila ang nagluluto, pag may bisita sila ang gumagawa ng banderitas. Daan-daan din ang nagpupunta sa ibang bansa everyday,” he said.

(If they are well-trained, well-compensated, and are treated properly, then the educational system of the country would also be in good condition. The question is, are teachers really able to teach? Some say when there is a feeding the program, they are the ones to cook, when there is a visitor, they are the ones to make decorations. Also, hundreds leave to other countries everyday.)

He also noted that lack of appropriate classrooms and curriculum, technology, and the employability of students contribute to the problems in the education sector.

"Mahalaga na marepormahan din natin ang K-12 para mas employable 'yung mga kabataan natin, mapagtagpi-tagpi natin, ma-connect natin itong pag-eempleyo at pag-aaral para sigurado ang trabaho ng mga kabataan," he said.

(We need to reform K-12 to ensure the employability of the youth, we need to connect employability and education to ensure that the students will have jobs when they graduate.)

Meanwhile, he also batted for universal healthcare and funding increase for Philhealth to help Filipinos facing health crises.

“Mahalaga po talagang may tulong sa kalusugan, nakapondo at nararamdaman ng tao. Sabi nga nila, mas kinakabahan ka maospital kesa magkasakit, kasi kinakabahan ka kung magkano bill mo. Ito po ay isang larangan na kailangan itrabaho pa,” Aquino said.

(It is important to have assistance in healthcare, funded and felt by the people. Like they said, people are more scared of being sent to the hospital than getting sick because they worry over their bill. This is another aspect we still need to work on.)

“Kailangan magamit ang savings at kailangan mapondohan ng gobyerno para kapag ang isang Pilipino pupunta sa ospital, di siya kabahan na mayroon siyang kailangan ilabas na pera,” he continued.

(We need to use the PhilHealth savings and the government needs to provide funds so that when a Filipino is sent to the hospital, he wouldn’t be scared of having to shell out money.)

He mentioned how there were also rumors of cartels or syndicates selling guarantee letters to prey on desperate Filipinos, which would not have happened if healthcare was offered for free.

“Kung libre po 'yan, di ‘yan kinakabahan mag-ospital. Buong loob 'yan pupunta dahil alam mo 'yung gobyerno, dala-dala ka… Isipin ninyo 'yung pinakanangangailangan, 'yun pa 'yung ginagawang biktima. Kung 'yung healthcare po natin talagang bukas 'yan, at totoo at todo ang suporta, di na po mabibiktima ang mga kababayan natin,” said Aquino.

(If it is free, they won’t be scared of going to the hospital. They would willingly go because they know that the government has their back… To think that the ones in need are the ones becoming victims. If our healthcare really is open, with true and adequate support, then Filipinos won’t become victims.)

“Kaya habang lumalaki ang budget, saan napupunta ang budget? Dapat napupunta ito sa mga mahahalaga sa tao: edukasyon, kalusugan, tulong sa mahihirap… Hindi po masama ang nagbibigay ng tulong ang gobyerno, pero eto ba ay ginagawa sa tamang paraan? Eto ba ay napupunta talaga sa nangangailangan?” he added.

(When the budget gets bigger, where exactly does it go? It should go to the things important to the people: education, healthcare, help for the poor… It’s not wrong from the government to give help, but is this being done in the right way? Does this really go to those who need it?)

During the interview, Aquino also called for amendments to the Rice Tariffication Law, insisting it has failed to achieve its intention of reducing rice prices in the market through importation.

“Kailangan siyang i-amend (It should be amended). Right now, it’s about policy. Pinapayagan natin ang napakaraming imported na bigas, hindi naman natin nakukuha iyong gusto natin diyan na bumaba ang presyo (We allow the entry of a big volume of imported rice but we still do not get to lower the price of the staple),” he said.

Instead of focusing on importation, Aquino said the government must focus on providing sufficient support for local farmers to boost their productivity. 

 He also tackled issues on oil, electricity, and the proper distribution of ayuda. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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