President Rodrigo Duterte has tagged the proposed Bagsamoro Basic Law (BBL) as urgent on May 29, Tuesday, following his meeting with lawmakers, members of his Cabinet and Moro leaders.
“After much deliberation, the President has decided to make the House and Senate versions of the BBL as urgent and copy of it is on its way to both Houses of Congress,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
“Once both chambers have reconciled and finalized the version, the President will sign the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” he added.
All bills certified as urgent by the president need not undergo the three-day period between the second and third readings in Congress before they are passed.
In a statement, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza said that members of both Houses of Congress have agreed to fast track and reconcile their versions of the bill. He added that Duterte himself discussed the provisions of the bill with leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
“The President initially expressed his personal views and initial assessment which resonated well to all,” Dureza said in a statement.
According to House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, the bicameral committee report on the BBL will be calendared for plenary sessions in both Upper and Lower Houses on July 23. He added that with this time frame, the BBL could be signed into law in time for the president’s next State of the Nation Address.
Duterte has earlier expressed hope to expedite the passage of the BBL, a landmark peace deal between the government and the MILF which seeks to give autonomy to the Bangsamoro region.
PHOTO CREDIT: Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque
