Finally, the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law has been turned over to Congress. Both houses of Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives – are expected to conduct deliberations on the proposed BBL soon.
In the lower House, Rep. Rufus Rodriguez will be the chair of the Special Committee that will tackle the legislation of the BBL. In the Senate, Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. chairs the Senate Committee that will take the lead in the legislation of the BBL. Both Rep. Rodriguez and Senator Marcos have assured all stakeholders that the public hearings would be open to all.
The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) shall be watching the journey of the BBL in both houses. As always, IAG will play its convening and facilitative role in leading the discourse on the BBL among diverse groups of stakeholders in Mindanao peace.
As soon as Congress starts deliberating on the BBL, IAG in partnership with the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) shall launch #BBLWatch, a project dedicated to up-to-date monitoring and reporting of the proceedings in Congress.
In Cotabato City, Fr. Eliseo Mercado, Jr. will reconvene the Bangsamoro Study Circle group in a series of special sessions to study the draft bill for greater participation of stakeholders in the discussion of the issues that confront the general public.
IAG in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Notre Dame University (NDU) and Notre Dame Broadcasting Corp. (NDBC) will also commence a talkshop series to foster understanding of the proposed BBL. The talkshop series will bring together members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), experts, civil society leaders, and key stakeholders to discussions, analysis and debates on the salient features of the BBL certified as urgent by the President for approval by Congress.
Follow our social media accounts to keep posted on #Bangsamoro. On Facebook and Twitter, use the hashtag #BBLWatch to join the discussion.
IAG on Twitter: @IAGorgph. IAG Executive Director Benedicto Bacani @bbacani. IAG Senior Policy Adviser Fr. Eliseo Mercado @junmeromi.
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