By Hannah Torregoza in Manila Bulletin

The Senate is committed to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law even if it means adjusting their calendar to allow a thorough scrutiny of the provisions of the proposed law.

“We will exert every effort to pass it within the timeframe that we have imposed upon ourselves,” Senate President Franklin Drilon told reporters.

“If not, I think there is still time even if we are able to pass it on the first quarter of 2015 in order to provide enough period for the ratification of basic law and the election of local officials in the election of 2016,” he added.

He said the Senate is still waiting for the Bangsamoro transition committee (BTC) to submit the final draft of the basic law to Congress.

Sen. Francis Escudero, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said Congress can pass a supplemental budget for the Bangsamoro basic law if it fails to get lawmakers nod by the end of the year.

Escudero said Congress cannot include the proposed Bangsamoro basic law in the proposed 2015 national budget if it hasn’t been approved by the President.

“That is why we are waiting on the developments in the Bangsamoro basic law, but for sure we cannot pass appropriation measure for an office that is non-existent,” Escudero said.

Escudero said Congress can only approve a certain amount of fund for the transition committee. Congress cannot provide any appropriation for an agency that has yet to be created either by law or by executive order.

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