Congress leaders vow to end BBL deliberations this month – Deles

DIPOLOG CITY, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines – Congress leaders have given their assurance that deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) would be finished this month so it could be signed by October.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles, who was here as speaker of the 24th Mindanao Business Conference which ended on Friday, said this means the plebiscite can be held before the start of the campaign period for presidential candidates.

 “I spoke with them and they said the target that it would be signed into law by mid October is possible,” she said.

Deles said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front insists that the measure remain compliant with the Comprehensive Agreement of the Bangsamoro and Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro.

 “They want the BBL to be substantive in terms of what the autonomy means,” she said.

As this developed, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano lll urged his colleagues in the House of Representatives to attend sessions so the chamber could tackle important pending bills, including the BBL.

“Let us cooperate with the House leadership in addressing the quorum problem. Let us show our constituents that we fulfill religiously our constitutional duties by diligently attending plenary sessions and committee hearings,” Albano said in a statement.

He said absenteeism has again reared its ugly head and prevented the House from moving the draft BBL and other important measures forward.

“I am hopeful that the suggestion of the Speaker and the majority leader to hold sessions from Monday through Friday will work, but the House will not be able to tackle its business without a quorum,” he said.

Albano added that he and his colleagues have to work overtime, since the first adjournment on Oct. 10 is fast approaching.

The House and the Senate will adjourn for the printing of the proposed P3-trillion 2016 national budget after the larger chamber approves it on second reading. A clean copy is required for the third and final reading approval.

They are adjourning also to enable those who are running in the May 9, 2016 elections to file their certificates of candidacy. The filing period is the second week of October.

Running out of time

Albano said the House is running out of time to pass the proposed BBL.

“Once the proposed 2016 budget is tackled in plenary session, I am afraid that we will have no more time for the draft BBL and other important pending measures,” he said.

The appropriations committee is winding up its public hearings on the budget in two weeks. The House is scheduled to start plenary consideration of the money measure later this month.

Since Congress convened on July 27, the House has been having difficulty gathering enough attendance for its sessions.

In the few days that a sufficient number of members showed up, Congress resumed debates on the BBL but proceedings had to be abruptly shortened when the quorum could not be sustained.

It was Rep. Lito Atienza of party-list group Buhay who always raised the quorum question.

He told his colleagues that debates on an important bill like the proposed BBL have to be heard and participated in by enough members. –With Jess Diaz