BBL still among Senate priorities – Drilon

Senate President Franklin Drilon gave his assurance that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is still among the top priorities of the Senate and will be taken up immediately after the approval of the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016.

Drilon downplayed fears that the BBL is now in limbo because of the deliberations on the budget and the forthcoming start of the campaign period for the elections in May 2016.

Drilon said the focus on the budget measure, although treated as the most important piece of legislation annually, does not mean that the Senate would no longer take up other bills before it adjourns its plenary sessions next year.

The Senate Committee on Finance is consolidating the reports of its sub-committees on the national budget, so that the final report could be presented to plenary for debates.

“From this week to the first week of December, we expect to be busy tackling the 2016 national budget, which we also need to pass before the year ends. After that, we will devote the rest of our sessions to passing the BBL,” Drilon said.

Before Congress went on a one-week break because of the country’s hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, the BBL was already being debated in plenary.

Drilon said there are still four weeks of plenary session left for this year and the Senate would try its best to get the BBL approved before adjournment.

Drilon said he is also coordinating with the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., to ensure that the passage of the measure is still doable before the year ends.

Drilon reiterated his appeal to his colleagues, particularly those running in the 2016 elections, to be present in the plenary hearings and actively participate in deliberations.

“I call on my colleagues not to abandon this piece of legislation so crucial to the establishment of peace and development in Mindanao. We can make the most of our remaining session days by passing this bill, along with other important legislation such as the 2016 national budget,” he said.