Speaker still optimistic on passage of BBL, Cha-cha

With just a few weeks of sessions left before lawmakers focus on the 2016 campaign, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. remains hopeful that the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the proposal to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution would be passed in the House of Representatives.

Belmonte said he remains optimistic that the chamber will be able to approve the proposed strengthening of the PublicPrivate Partnership ( PPP) program to boost investments.

“Let me stress that we still have in the pipeline priority bills including the BBL, PPP bill and the amendments to the economic provisions of the Constitution. I am hopeful that these would be passed,” Belmonte said in his address to the chamber before adjourning for the Christmas break on Wednesday.

Plenary debates on the BBL were terminated earlier this week. Lawmakers are expected to vote on the proposed Bangsamoro law when Congress resumes session on Jan. 19.

“We have a lot to be thankful for. I know there were challenges during this year but I would like to believe that the positive developments outweighed them,” Belmonte said.

“We have a House united and focused on serving the highest welfare and interests of the people,” he added.

Meanwhile, government peace panel chairman Miriam Coronel-Ferrer lauded the House of Representatives for ending the interpellation on the BBL.

“We commend the members and leaders of the House of Representatives for concluding the period of interpellation on the proposed Bangsamoro law in its last session day for 2015,” she said.

Ferrer said the end of this legislative phase is an important step to pass the BBL that would establish an enhanced and more accountable autonomous government in Mindanao.

Belmonte said the 16th Congress has established a “new norm” in the enactment of the annual General Appropriations Act, with no re-enacted national budget for the past six years.

“The next government and succeeding congresses will have no more excuses for failing to pass the budget on time, so that re-enacted budgets will be a thing of the past,” Belmonte said.

He said the timely enactment of the annual budget is a significant component in the improvement of public financial management and of the country’s macroeconomic environment that has resulted in the upgrade of its credit rating and competitiveness ranking.

“To date, all major credit rating agencies have given the Philippines an investment grade. Our ranking in the World Economic Forum-Global Competitiveness Report has improved by 38 ranks from 85th in 2010 to 47th in 2015 out of 144 countries,” Belmonte said, citing data provided by the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives.

He said the country’s macroeconomic environment improved by 44 ranks from 68th to 24th during the same period.

Aside from the budget, Congress enacted “game changing” laws to boost competitiveness and sustain economic growth that made the country one of the best performers among emerging economies.