DAVAO CITY – Malacañang said the Congress will exert all efforts to pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law when it resumes on January next year.
In a statement Thursday, Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the government is “closely coordinating with Congress to thresh out concerns about the measure.”
“We have been informed by Congress leaders that efforts will be exerted to pass the BBL when Congress resumes its sessions in January,” he said.
The House of Representatives is set to adjourn its session on December 19 and resume on January 19.
During his meeting with legislators in Malacañang last December 8, President Benigno S. Aquino III urged them to pass the BBL before Congress goes on holiday break.
The proposed BBL was originally transmitted to both the House of Representatives and the Senate in September 2014. The measure seeks to establish a new autonomous entity to replace the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Government Peace Panel Chair Miriam Coronel Ferrer said they are confident that they will achieve national consensus after the Congress recess.
“The hard work continues. In this Season of Peace, we ask that we re-charge our energies and prepare for the critical period of January 18 to February 5 when Congress resumes sessions on the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Ferrer said in a statement.
“We are confident that with the support of Congress and our tireless peace advocates, we will be able to achieve national consensus on the importance of the road map that we have set out in the CAB (Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro) and effectively, permanently end the armed conflict between the government and MILF,” she said.
