BBL for ‘better Mindanao, much better PH’ to be ratified today

The two houses of Congress are expected to ratify today the proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) in time for President Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said the Bangsamoro Organic Law will usher in the start of “a better Mind-

anao and much better Philippines” once it is signed by President Duterte.

A reconciled version of the bill creating the Bangsamoro autonomous region was recently approved by the bicameral conference committee.

“On Monday morning, both chambers the House are expected to ratify the proposed bill approving the Bangsamoro Organic Law. When President Duterte affixes his signature into the law, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is legally entrenched,” Dureza said.

“How it will bring about the longdreamed of aspiration of every Muslim is then left in their hands. We trust it will be a new beginning of a better Mindanao and much better Philippines,” he added.

Asked about the signing of the measure on Monday, Dureza said: ”Let’s wait until it happens tomorrow. That is everybody’s wish”

For now, Dureza acknowledged that the approval of the bill by the bicameral committee was already a “milestone.” “It’s a long awaited dream coming true for the Bangsamoro,” he added.

The government is optimistic the envisioned Bangsamoro autonomous region would foster lasting peace and economic development in Mindanao.

The “landmark” proposed Bangsamoro Organic Law that replaces the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is expected to be signed by President Duterte on Monday, according to his spokesman Harry Roque.

The bill, which creates the Bangsamoro region with a bigger territorial jurisdiction pending a plebiscite and greater fiscal autonomy, was recently approved by a bicameral conference committee nearly a week after deliberations.

“We expect the Bangsamoro Organic Law to be signed before the President’s State of the Nation Address,” Roque said.

“We acknowledge the hard work of Congress and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) that brought us this historic law which would not only forge lasting peace in Mindanao but would also provide the much needed economic development in the island,” he added.

Roque said while the public was neutral about the bill based on the latest survey results, the Palace still considers “this landmark measure as instrumental to our peace and security efforts in Mindanao.”

The approval of the bicameral version came a year after the Bangsmoro commission, including representatives from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, submitted a draft BBL to the President and Congress.

Earlier, the President certified the bill as urgent to hasten its passage in Congress. He repeatedly warned that trouble may erupt anew in Mindanao if the proposed Bangsamoro bill is not passed soon.

Once signed, the Bangsamoro basic law would implement the peace agreement forged by the government and the MILF in 2014 in a bid to end the decadesold conflict in the south.