THE proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) is practically dead
as time starts to run out for the controversial measure aimed at ending the
decades-long armed conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front.
Even the measure’s most passionate defender at the House of Representatives,
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the ad hoc committee tasked to
scrutinize the BBL, is losing hope that the measure will be approved under the
present Congress.
Rodriguez said there might not be enough time for both houses of Congress to
approve the measure which Malacañang had wanted passed last year.
“The period that we are looking at (to pass the measure) is on or before September 28. After that, I believe we’ll have a difficult time in passing this bill,” he told a television interview.
Rodriguez made the statement a day after Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chair of a Senate committee tasked to scrutinize the BBL, said there is no assurance the BBL will be approved before the filing of certificates of candidacy next month. He said the Senate might be able to pass it by October but only if interpellations at the Senate will go smoothly.
After both houses approve the measure, it will still undergo discussions at a bicameral committee.
The House aims to pass the peace measure on final reading before the end of the month or right before the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 reaches the plenary for deliberations.
However, lawmakers are already way beyond schedule to pass the BBL with at least 15 congressmen still lined up to interpellate bill sponsors.
Congress goes on break on October 9 to make way for the filing of certificates of candidacy for those running in the 2016 elections.
Rodriguez acknowledged that the issue on quorum was a big factor in the delay of the passage of the BBL.
The House leadership has been finding a hard time mustering a quorum and sustaining it since the Third Regular Session of 16th Congress opened last July 27.
“The period that we are looking at (to pass the measure) is on or before September 28. After that, I believe we’ll have a difficult time in passing this bill,” he told a television interview.
Rodriguez made the statement a day after Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., chair of a Senate committee tasked to scrutinize the BBL, said there is no assurance the BBL will be approved before the filing of certificates of candidacy next month. He said the Senate might be able to pass it by October but only if interpellations at the Senate will go smoothly.
After both houses approve the measure, it will still undergo discussions at a bicameral committee.
The House aims to pass the peace measure on final reading before the end of the month or right before the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 reaches the plenary for deliberations.
However, lawmakers are already way beyond schedule to pass the BBL with at least 15 congressmen still lined up to interpellate bill sponsors.
Congress goes on break on October 9 to make way for the filing of certificates of candidacy for those running in the 2016 elections.
Rodriguez acknowledged that the issue on quorum was a big factor in the delay of the passage of the BBL.
The House leadership has been finding a hard time mustering a quorum and sustaining it since the Third Regular Session of 16th Congress opened last July 27.
Yesterday, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon resumed his interpellation after a
quorum was declared.
Rodriguez urged the public to pressure their representatives to attend plenary sessions.
“Just ask them to be present,” Rodriguez said. “If they’re against it, they can vote at the time of voting, but be there to listen to the debates, the interpellations, and provide the quorums so that we can proceed and decide on this.”
Rodriguez urged the public to pressure their representatives to attend plenary sessions.
“Just ask them to be present,” Rodriguez said. “If they’re against it, they can vote at the time of voting, but be there to listen to the debates, the interpellations, and provide the quorums so that we can proceed and decide on this.”
http://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/bbl-practically-dead-least-year
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