MANILA, Philippines - Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday listed the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and 2016 national budget among the six priority bills of the Senate in its last six months of regular sessions.
Drilon said during a Senate forum that he met with the leaders of the House of Representatives to discuss their legislative agenda.
The other measures on the priority list are the creation of the Department of Information, Communication and Technology, the amendments to the built-operate-and-transfer law to strengthen private-public partnerships, the modernization of the weather bureau and the Freedom of Information Bill.
"Apart from that, there are about 15 other measures which we will closely monitor and push but we don't want to raise expectations as we said we have only six months," the senate president added.
Drilon said the proposed 2016 national budget will be enacted before the end of the year and assured that there will be no more lump sums in the budget.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is expected to submit a report on the BBL a week after President Benigno Aquino III's state of the nation address.
Marcos earlier rejected the draft BBL, arguing that its provisions might inevitably reduce the sovereign authority of the country.
As for the FOI, Drilon assured that the said measure remains in the priority of the Senate. However, the House leadership may have different priorities with the Senate.
"That is tantamount to the House of Representative's commitment to really give priority to the six bills. I cannot commit the House," Drilon explained.
It was earlier reported that the House may not be able to approve the FOI bill during the last session of Congress as the lawmakers would prioritize the proposed BBL and 2016 national budget.
RELATED: House may not pass FOI, anti-dynasty bills