By Charmaine A. Tadalan
The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and other measures will top the legislative agenda of the House of Representatives, with Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez set to recommend to President Rodrigo R. Duterte that he certify this measure as urgent.
“(If we have to finish it by) May 30, the Speaker will request to the President to certify it as urgent para ma-approve na natin ‘yan ng second at third reading, then papunta sa Senate. (so we can have it approved on second and third reading, then transmit it to the Senate),” Majority Leader Rodolfo C. Fariñas told reporters in a press briefing, Monday.
House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez has met with the chairpersons of the Committees on Muslim Affairs, on Local Government, and on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity. He is also set to meet on Tuesday with representatives of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission.
“Bukas mag-uusap pa kami with BTC and then, tingnan namin ‘yung mga na-raise na concerns… kung paano i-aaddress, so kinakailangan kasama rin sila para hindi masyadong maging problema sa plenary. (Tomorrow, we will talk with the BTC and then, we’ll look into concerns that have been raised…how to address them, so we need them to join us to avoid problems during the plenary.)” Mr. Alvarez said.
The House of Representatives targets passing the BBL on third reading ahead of Mr. Duterte’s State of the Nation Address in July.
The joint panels on May 15 approved the committee report adopting House Bill (HB) 6475, principally authored by Mr. Alvarez, for the proposed BBL without amendments.
