ANGARA URGES PALACE TO INCLUDE FISCAL EXPERT IN CHA-CHA BODY

Senator Sonny Angara on Tuesday urged Malacanang to include an expert on fiscal policy in the Charter change (Cha-cha) consultative committee that will review the 1987 Constitution to address the question of resource sharing and taxing jurisdictions under the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

According to Angara, chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government, the inclusion of an expert on the subject matter in the consultative body will ensure that the contentious issues on fiscal autonomy are reconciled.

"We have to make sure that our fiscal policies are aligned. As it is, there are fiscal provisions in the proposed BBL that need to be clarified vis-à-vis the functions and powers of the national government," Angara said.

The senator also said that removing the uncertainties on jurisdiction will lend an appeal to Mindanao as an investment destination and augur well for a smooth transition.

"With the inclusion of an expert on wealth-sharing and fiscal policy in the consultative committee, hopefully we can resolve major issues and come up with a BBL that is acceptable to the people, veto-proof and TRO-proof," he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte has created a 19-member Cha-cha consultative committee chaired by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, whose task is to review the Constitution and come up with recommendations which the Chief Executive will submit to Congress for consideration.

Angara, along with some members of the Senate, last week visited the provinces of Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-tawi and Zamboanga as part of the committee's "listening tour" to get the inputs of stakeholders in crafting the final version of the BBL.

"We will need to go deep into the details and make sure the fiscal autonomy and revenue sharing stipulations in the BBL are clear," he added.