THE Bangsamoro bill has been scheduled for deliberation by the House of Representatives plenary in May.
Representative Winter Palma II, chairman of the subcommittee on the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), said the committee on local government and Muslim affairs as well as the special committee on peace, reconciliation and unity are finalizing the substitute bill that will amend the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
Palma said they have already conducted 18 committee meetings on the BBL and 11 public hearings in, among others, Cotabato City, Midsayap in North Cotabato, Davao City, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-tawi, Zamboanga City, Buluan in Maguindanao, Koronadal City, Tubod in Lanao del Norte and Marawi City.
Palma said the bill will be deliberated by the plenary this May.
In a speech in Tacurong City on Saturday, March 24, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also vowed to prioritize the proposed BBL upon the resumption of the session of Congress in May.
He made the commitment in front of around 2,000 local officials and members of sectoral organizations in the predominantly Muslim province of Maguindanao during the latter's oath taking as new members of the ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
“Let me assure you that when we return to our sessions, after the break, we will give it priority and we will pass it in the House of Representatives,” said Alvarez.
Alvarez said the BBL aims to give the Bangsamoro people autonomy and empowers them to chart their own destinies.
Aside from the said priority, House leaders including Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas and Justice panel chair Reynaldo Umali have also said that the House members will vote on the impeachment of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno when Congress resumes after the Lenten break. (SunStar Philippines)