Malacanang sees progress on BBL before end of the year

September 26, 2017

Malacanang expressed optimism on Tuesday of "good progress" in the Bangsamoro Basic Law before the end of the year.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Legislative Liaison Office chief Adelino Sitoy said House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez could sponsor the BBL at the House of Representatives.

"I think it's the Speaker who will be filing the bill himself," he said.

In the Senate, he did not know who would sponsor the bill.

Asked if the BBL would be passed before the year ends, Sitoy said, "(I) think a good progress can be had before the year ends...before the year ends, we hope to have the bill already on second or third reading."

He said the Palace expects Congress to discuss the BBL side by side with the move for federalism.

"Both are important. And during the last LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council), it was agreed that the Bangsamoro Bill will also be pushed through," he said.

The passage of the proposed BBL is part of the peace agreement between the Philippine government and the rebel Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Celerina Monte/DMS