STATEMENT OF SEN ANGARA ON THE 3RD READING SENATE APPROVAL OF THE BBL

After a long and arduous process of consultation with various stakeholders that took us to the provinces included in this proposal, we are glad that the bill creating the Bangsamoro Basic Law has been approved for final reading in the Senate.

We are optimistic that the listening tours and consultations conducted by the Sub-Committee on Local Government with those in favor as well as those against the measure, have positively contributed to strengthening and improving the proposed BBL that will grant self-rule to many areas in Mindanao.

Due credit must be given to Sen. Migz Zubiri, the local gov't sub-committee chair, for vigorously pushing for the approval of the bill and successfully steering the plenary debate.

Many thanks to our fellow senators who have contributed in the fine-tuning of the bill.

And of course how can we forget not to laud the man who made all this possible, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Without him, the passage and enactment of this law would not have been doable.

This is the product of collaborative efforts among lawmakers and stakeholders not only from Mindanao, but from all across the country.

The BBL is no ordinary bill. The challenge is to make this work so that the long overdue peace and progress that Mindanao and our Muslim brothers and sisters truly deserve can be finally achieved. A new journey begins and we must not fail.