Zubiri sees BBL approval after six marathon hearings

SENATE MAJORITY Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said on Wednesday he is “hopeful” and “confident” the Bicameral Conference Committee will approve by this reporting the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The Committee as of Wednesday afternoon is finalizing the last five articles of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) including the article on the economy and patrimony. The committee has held six marathon hearings on the draft law.

“(We’ll) discuss these five articles, and hopefully approve it by this afternoon,” Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said in a press briefing. “We’re down to the last five articles and we see only one article that is contentious and sensitive, which is patrimony and natural resources.”

The senator from Bukidnon said the BBL has by far the longest bicameral meeting. “This measure probably has the longest bicam. Ito siguro pinakamatagal (This probably took the longest), longer than TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion). TRAIN, we did in four days,” Mr. Zubiri said.

Earlier, he said the draft BBL, if approved, will only amend, not repeal, Republic Act 9054 on the organization of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Under the article on economy and patrimony, the proposed measure identifies the power, authority and control of the Bangsamoro government on the utilization of inland bodies of water, natural resources, and fossil fuels among others.

The panel agreed last week to allow the national government, through the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Bangsamoro government to jointly explore and utilize natural resources in the region.