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Optimism filled the air during the ceremonial turnover of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law at Malacanang Palace last Wednesday. President Benigno Aquino III accompanied by Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chief peace negotiator Mohagher Iqbal turned over to Senate President Franklin Drion and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte their respective copies of the draft law.

In his brief remarks, Aquino stressed the need for everyone to support the draft law and understand its provisions. He used as a metaphor how parents would always counsel siblings to look after one another, and not take advantage of each other. In the case of Bangsamoro communities, it is important for people outside of Mindanao to also support ongoing peace efforts so that those in conflict areas can get the economic boost needed to fight poverty.

With the draft law now with Congress, the main challenge is how to organize public hearings and ensure that the most credible and relevant resource persons and stakeholders are invited. After skimming through the draft bill with its hundred- plus pages, I can see how each major provision would require the inputs of several resource persons, which means hours of testimonies and numerous position papers.

The Senate committee on local governments chaired by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., more popularly called by his nickname “Bongbong,” will hold its first public hearing on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law on Sept. 23.

In the House of Representatives, the ad hoc committee on the Bangsamoro will hold its own public hearing on Sept. 24, under the chairmanship of Representative Rufus Rodriguez. As of today, around 75 House members belong to this committee.

MILF chief peace negotiator Chairman Mohagher Iqbal vowed to be present in the public hearings, and similar invitations will be sent to Chairman Nur Misuari of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and leaders of Indigenuous Peoples. Congressional leaders hope that Chairman Misuari will be able to attend the hearings or at least send a representative to do so.

Once the Bangsamoro Basic Law is passed, the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao shall be deemed abolished, and a plebiscite will be held next year to determine the territories of the Bangsamoro. The draft law also provides for a transition phase through the creation and appointment of members to the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) that will govern the new autonomous region until formal elections are held in 2016. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is expected to lead the BTA.

Hopefully, the BTA under the MILF’s leadership will have sufficient time to demonstrate its capacity to lead and manage the Bangsamoro’s state affairs prior to the 2016 elections. If it fails, then this will have an impact on who will likely be elected to lead the first Bangsamoro regional government.

Of course, for this political roadmap to be completed, the Bangsamoro law needs to be passed. Thankfully, both the Senate and House of Representatives appear ready, if not eager, to take on this historic challenge.