Sunday, November 22, 2015

Palace pushes BBL approval

From The Standard (Nov 23): Palace pushes BBL approval

Malacañang  on Sunday  called on all lawmakers to attend and vote for the  draft  Bangsamoro Basic Law when they resume session today after a week-long break to make way for the  Philipppines’ hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation’s summit.

“Maybe, our call would best be left to the call of the leaders in both Houses to ensure the attendance of all their members. We certainly would hope to see the passage of the BBL,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said  in  an interview over state-run radio station dzRB.

Laciarda said the BBL has been debated in the committee level, and it has been discussed in public.   

 “All angles have been addressed. So it’s time for the legislators who will pass the law to buckle down and we request them to take a hard look at the BBL,” said Lacierda.   

Lacierda cited that the proposed BBL is an affirmative action needed to mind the neglected regions in Muslim Mindanao.   

“So this will unlock the potentials of it and with respect to the development of Muslim Mindanao,” Lacierda also said.   

The Palace spokesperson said he is hoping that the lawmakers would listen to the call of Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“All of us have an interest and we have a stake in the development of Muslim Mindanao because it will redound to the benefit of all the peoples of Mindanao and, in general, to the people of the Philippines,” Lacierda also said.

Last Saturday, Drilon reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment towards the establishment of peace in Mindanao through the proposed BBL, allaying fears that the Mindanao peace measure is now in limbo.

“We have enough time and political will to ensure that this bill so crucial to forging peace in Muslim Mindanao will be passed and see the light of the day,” Drilon said.

Drilon said that while the 2016 national budget will consume most of the Senate’s legislative calendar as it resumes session   on Monday, after a weeklong holiday due to the Asia Pacific Economic Council Cooperation meetings, the enactment of BBL into law is still a “top priority.”

He said there remain four weeks of plenary sessions still left in the 16th Congress’ calendar for the year.

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

He thus renewed his calls to his colleagues especially those running for next year’s 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 out our remaining session days by passing this bill, along with other important legislation such as the 2016 national budget,” Drilon said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/news/-main-stories/192583/palace-pushes-bbl-approval.html

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.