Rep. Kaka Bag-ao's Explanation of Vote on the Death Penalty

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Delivered after the voting on Third and Final Reading, 07 March 2017.

Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues—I vote NO to the proposal to reinstate the death penalty based on our fundamental values anchored on social justice and human rights and dignity.

Ang urong-sulong na pagtanggal ng mga krimen na nasasakop sa parusang bitay, tulad ng rape, plunder, at murder, ay indikasyon na wala talagang sapat na pamantayan para sa “compelling reason” at “heinousness” na isanasaad na kondisyon ng Korte Suprema para sa pagbalik ng parusang bitay. Ang pamantayan lang ngayon ay kung ano ang utos ng mayorya.

Bukas-Mata’t Bukas-Pusong Pagkakakilanlan (Privilege Speech of Rep. Kaka Bag-ao on World Hijab Day)

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Bago pa man ako naging isang Kongresista noong 2010, ako ay isang alternative lawyer at community organizer—ako po ay isang abugadong nakikisalamuha sa mga batayang sektor upang makita nila na sila ay may kapangyarihang gamitin ang batas upang maipagtanggol ang kanilang karapatan at kapakanan. 

Rep. Kaka Bag-ao on the DENR Order on Mining Operations

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Sa usapin ng pagmimina, ang mahalagang dapat nating tiyakin ay ang pagprotekta sa kalikasan, partikular na ang mga watershed, at ang pagpapaunlad sa tao at sa kanilang mga komunidad. 

Ngayong may mga ipinatitigil ang DENR na mining operations sa aming lalawigan, ang Dinagat Islands, kailangan ding aktibong singilin ang Kagawaran upang maihain at maipatupad ang mga ipinapanukala nilang alternatibong kabuhayan para hindi mawalan ng pagkakataon ang mga Dinagatnon na paunlarin ang kanilang mga pamilya't pamayanan. 

Kasabay nito, para sa mga kumpanyang nagmimina na nakapasa sa audit ng DENR, kailangang tiyakin na hindi lamang sila susunod sa environmental standards, kundi hihigitan pa nila ang kanilang performance. Patuloy rin dapat nilang tulungan ang mga mamamayan habang kumikilos sa paraang hindi makakasira ng aming kalikasan. 

Mahalaga ring balikan ang batas upang mas mapaigting pa ang mga pamantayang kailangang sundin ng mining firms upang siguraduhing sila ay gumagalaw na may pagpapahalaga sa tao at sa kapaligiran. Sama-sama nating itulak ang pagpapasa sa panukalang Philippine Mineral Resources Act sa Kongreso. 

Patuloy tayong magiging katuwang ng pamahalaan upang mapagkaisa ang lahat sa layuning i-angat ang buhay at kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan.

—Congresswoman Kaka Bag-ao (Lone District, Dinagat Islands)

The Dinagat Islands Anti-Discrimination Ordinance

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DOWNLOAD the Dinagat Islands Anti-Discrimination Ordinance:

 http://bit.ly/DinagatIslands_AntiDiscrimination

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Dinagat Islands​ has recently approved an ordinance promoting and protecting the rights and dignity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons and providing for a comprehensive policy against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE) in the province.

Sponsorship Speech for the On-Site, In-City, or Near-City Resettlement Bill

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Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao’s sponsorship speech for House Bill No. 3936 (On-Site, In-City, or Near-City Resettlement Bill), which was approved on 07 November 2016 by the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development. 

People’s participation in the provision of sustainable housing is one of the legacies of former DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo. His vision, which established a different lens in the implementation of socialized housing projects paved the way for the birth of the Oplan LIKAS Program (Lipat para Iwas Kalamidad At Sakit). Oplan LIKAS was executed pursuant to a 16-point “Social Contract with the Filipino People” of the previous administration which sought “inclusive urban development where people of varying income levels are integrated in productive, healthy, and safe communities.” The program aimed to provide safe, affordable and decent, permanent housing solutions to Informal Settler Families (ISFs) living in danger zones by relocating the affected families in on-site, near-city, and in-city relocation sites in accordance with a “People’s Plan” forwarded by these ISFs. This government program serves as the springboard for the proposed bill.