Drilon sees Bangsamoro bill passage before March 2015

Senate President Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Franklin Drilon sees the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) before March of 2015 as long as politics won’t get in the way, he said Monday.

“I hope we could avoid politics in relation to the 2016 national elections so that we could hasten the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law,” Drilon said in a radio interview.

“I think we can begin debates on the BBL by first week of December so that we could pass it before the end of first quarter of 2015,” he said.

President Benigno Aquino III said that the bill was almost done and ready for filing at the House of Representatives and the Senate on Wednesday.

Drilon said that peace in the conflict-stricken region of Mindanao would improve the economy and finally improve the welfare of people there.

“Peace in Mindanao is a significant development in order to improve the economy and to give the opportunity for our countrymen to have stable livelihoods,” Drilon said.

“Many foreign governments are also waiting for the BBL so they could provide grants to our Muslim brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” he said.

The projected submission of the BBL comes before Aquino leaves for his official visits to Europe and the United States on Sept. 13.

“It will be up to the politicians. That is why we are asking them to set aside everything related to the 2016 national elections so that we can focus on the BBL which is for the peace and progress of the country,” Drilon said.

RELATED STORIES

Aquino to turnover Bangsamoro bill to Congress on Wednesday

Drilon: We’ll work double time to pass Bangsamoro bill early next year