MANILA -- The congressional Bicameral Conference Committee finished its deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) early Friday, House of Representatives Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said.
"Yes, we finished everything in principle at 12:15 a.m.," he said in a message to reporters.
"The Bicam Conference Committee authorized Senator (Juan Miguel) Zubiri and (me) to finalize our report and we will meet on Tuesday, July 17, for its approval and forthwith, forward it to the President for his consideration," said Fariñas, who chairs the panel.
He said if President Rodrigo Duterte approves the final version of the BBL, it will be ratified in plenary by both chambers of Congress during the opening of the third regular session at 10 a.m. on July 23, and it would be signed into law by the President on or before his third State of the Nation Address at 4 p.m.
Zubiri said among the provisions adopted in the bicameral version of the BBL are the creation of a Shari'ah High Court, and the joint powers of the Bangsamoro government and national government over the exploration, development, and use of fossil fuels and uranium in the new region.
He also said the bicameral committee approved the 75-25 Bangsamoro and central government wealth sharing, but deleted the proposed anti-political dynasty provision.
Duterte, meanwhile, convinced congressional leaders to adopt the House version of the BBL, which provides that “the six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and the 39 barangays of North Cotabato could vote to join the BBL territory in a referendum to be conducted in the mother territory of the areas involved.” (PNA)
