Business groups renewed their call for BBL passage to Congress

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – International and local business groups renewed their call on the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law to address security issues and attract business ventures in Mindanao, as the Congress resumes session on Tuesday.

“(This is) a very sincere appeal to our political leaders to give peace a chance. Unless we try to correct the imbalances, the problem in Mindanao cannot be worked through the barrel of a gun. The best solution is economic intervention,” said Mindanao Business Council president Vicente Lao in a statement released in The Philippine Star.

Lao added that the passage of BBL could possibly help in developing Mindanao which would have positive effects on the whole country, and both local and foreign investors will be encouraged to invest and do business in the country without worrying about their security.

“If there is a semblance of governance in the area that could be held accountable, past tragedies wouldn’t happen. This is a new form of government we are trying to experiment (with). If it succeeds, we can use this formula for the Philippines,” Lao said in a report by The Philippine Star.

BBL seeks to establish a parliamentary form of government to replace the current Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which has been patterned after the country’s presidential setup of governance.

The proposed law will set the regional assembly of district, sectoral and party-list representatives who would empower to unseat an abusive chief minister through a vote of no confidence.

Makati Business Club chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. appealed to Congress “to act quickly and with urgency, not only to pass the BBL, but to pass a version that is consistent with the Constitution, adheres to the commitments contained in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) and truly embodies the dreams and aspirations of Muslim Filipinos.”

“We are not trying to pressure (lawmakers) with the tight deadline… the benefits (of passing the BBL) would go beyond the Bangsamoro. It is in this context that it needs support from the whole country,” Del Rosario added.