BBL, charter change among priorities when Senate returns from break

MANILA, Philippines — The Bangsamoro Basic Law and proposals for charter change and federalism are at the top of the Senate's priorities as the 17th Congress wraps up its second regular session.

Congress is in recess until May 15, whene it will resume session until July 22.

The Senate will "work harder to improve the quality of life for all" once it resumes session on May 15, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said in a press statement from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau.

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said in the same release that the upper house hopes to pass at least 24 bills on the Senate's priority agenda. Proposals left pending at the end of the session will need to be refiled.

"The [Bangsamoro Basic Law] is already undergoing interpellations at second reading in the Senate, while the House of Representatives' version of the measure has been endorsed by a joint House committee," the Senate said of a proposal to create a new region with greater powers than the current Autonmous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

President Rodrigo Duterte has said he is ready to certify the bill, which implements the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in 2014, as urgent. To stress the importance of the measure, Duterte said in April that he might as well resign if the BBL is not passed.  

Proposals to amend the constitution and shift to a federal form of government are also priorities and are already being deliberated on by the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws. 

A shift to federalism is one of Duterte's campaign promises. Supporters of the shift to a federal form of government believe a focus on "Imperial Manila" has kept provinces from prospering. Critics of the move caution that changing the form of government will not necessarily lead to development if power remains with political dynasties.

Also a priroity is the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which, the Senate says "would amend the Human Security Act and impose tougher penalties for individuals who commit acts of terror." The bill cannot be retrieved from the Senate website, which was unreachable on Sunday afternoon. 

Also on the Senate's list of priority bills are the following: 

• Corporation Code of the Philippines
• Amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act
• Amendments to the Government Procurement Act
• Budget Reform Act
• Innovative Startup Act
• Philippine Fare Discount Act
• Open Access in Data Transmission Act
• Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute Act of 2017
• National Museum Act
• Retirement Law of the Office of the Ombudsman
• Amendments to the Fair Elections Act
• Creation of the Department of Disaster Response and Preparedness
• Creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

"Included in the list are pro-justice reforms such as the Anti-Discrimination Act of 2017, proposed Criminal Investigation Act, and the proposed Community Service in lieu of Imprisonment Act," the Senate also said.

"The Senate will  also prioritize pro-health and social service reforms such as the proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, Enhanced Universal Healthcare Act, the One Town: One Doctor Act of 2016, and the amendments to the Social Security Act."