By Teng L. Datu Cotabato City Bureau Chief Senators led by chairman of the subcommittee on Bangsamoro Basic Law, Juan Miguel Zubiri has scheduled a hearing on the proposed law on Jan. 15, next year. This, after Zubiri met with Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza, Deputy Presidential Peace Adviser Nabil Tan, members of the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), and members of the security sector last week. Provisions of the BBL were presented to the committee during the briefing. Senators Zubiri and Loren Legarda presented ways on how the BBL can be passed swiftly. Legarda streesed the importance of finalizing the budget for the smooth implementation of the new Bangsamoro political entity. She also called for a financed-focused hearing so that the budgetary computations can be forseen. “I recognize first, the importance of the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. Second, definitely is so urgent and important that we have to fund it,” Legarda said. Zubiri, for his part, urged to have the provisions of the proposed law “be presented in an executive session with the cabinet members concerned so that they are aware, because us lawmakers we’ll do our part.” Both Senators also expressed their support for the passage of the BBL. “Most our colleagues here truly understand the plight of our Moro brothers and sisters. Rest assured that we have full support when it comes to social justice for our brothers and sisters in Moro land,” Zubiri said. Legarda emphasized that she’s willing to work with the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process for BBL’s immediate passage. “It’s about time that we give true, authentic, genuine autonomy to our brothers and sisters in the South. And we should not differentiate creed, color, culture, and that there should be a socially, and economically inclusive Bang-samoro Basic Law. I’m willing to work with our chairs, and peace process friends Secretary Dureza and Undersecretary Tan who have been working for peace for decades now,” she said.