Belmonte still hopeful of BBL, 'Cha-cha' passage in 2016

Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. remains optimistic that the House of Representatives will pass the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) and the measure to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution before lawmakers go on break for the May 2016 elections campaign period.

In a speech before Congress adjourned for the holidays December 16, Belmonte said the chamber will also be hard at work to pass the bill institutionalizing and strengthening the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program once sessions resume on Jan. 19, 2016.

Congress will again go on a break for the May 2016 election campaign period on February 6.

“We still have in the pipeline priority bills including the Bangsamoro Basic Law bill, the PPP bill, and the amendments to the economic provisions of our Constitution. I am still hopeful that these would be passed,” the Speaker told his colleagues.

Malacañang said Sunday that there is still enough time to finetune and pass the BBL.

"May nalalabi pang pagkakataon sa ilalim ng umiiral na proseso ng lehislatura upang mapabuti ang nilalaman ng BBL, kung kaya’t mahalaga ang magiging partisipasyon ng lahat ng miyembro ng Kongreso sa pagbabalik nila sa sesyon ng Kongreso sa susunod na Enero 2016," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told state-run dzRB.

Coloma said Malacañang continues to coordinate with Belmonte and groups in the House of Representatives, including congressmen belonging to the minority group, headed by San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.

On its final session day last week, the House terminated the period of interpellation on the BBL. The measure, now called the proposed Basic Law for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (BLBAR), will still have to undergo the period of amendments before it is put to a vote on second reading.

Belmonte earlier said he wants the plenary voting on the Bangsamoro bill to take place after Congress resumes sessions in January next year.

The Bangsamoro bill, a product of the peace accord signed between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), seeks to formalize the creation of a new political entity that will replace the existing Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Cha-cha initiative

Meanwhile, Resolution of Both Houses No. 1, the economic charter change initiative spearheaded by Belmonte, is still pending in the plenary after the House leadership aborted the move to put it to a vote for approval on third and final reading last June because they lack the numbers necessary to ensure its passage.

Despite the challenges faced by the legislative branch in 2015, Belmonte said lawmakers have several accomplishments to be proud of, including the passage of vital measures that languished in previous Congresses for years.

Among these are:

• R.A. 10667, Providing for a National Competition Policy prohibiting Anti-Competitive Agreements, Abuse of Dominant Position and Anti-Competitive Mergers and Acquisitions
• RA 1668, Allowing Foreign Vessels to Transport and Co-load Foreign Cargoes for Domestic Transshipment
• RA 10708, Instituting the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act (TIMTA)
• RA 10659, Promoting and Supporting the Competitiveness of the Sugarcane Industry
• RA 10697, Preventing the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction by Managing the Trade of Strategic Goods, the Provision of Related Services, and for other purposes

On the matter of creating more job opportunities, make Filipino professionals and workers more competitive, and increase their take-home pay, the following laws were enacted:

• RA 10691, Defining the Role of the Department of Labor and Employment, the Local Government Units and Accredited Non-Government Organizations in the establishment and operation of the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and Job Placement Offices
• RA 10665, Establishing the Open High School System in the Philippines
• RA 10679, Promoting Entrepreneurship and Financial Education among Filipino Youth
• RA 10693, Strengthening Non-government Organizations (NGOs) Engaged in Microfinance Operations for the Poor

In addition to passing several priority measures, Belmonte said lawmakers were able to set a “new norm” by passing the budget bill on time for the last six years.

“I believe we have now firmly established the new norm in the enactment of the national government budget. The next government— and succeeding Congresses— will have no more excuses for failing to pass the budget on time so that reenacted budgets will truly be a thing of the past,” he said.

The Speaker said President Benigno Aquino III is expected to sign the P3.002-trillion General Appropriations Act of 2016 into law by December 22. —ALG, GMA News