By Vanne Elaine Terrazola  The proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Charter change (Chacha) and shift to federalism will lead the Senate's priorities when resumes it from its seven-week recess , May 15. The Upper Chamber will find it hands full of legislative work especially with only three weeks left before the 17th Congress goes on sine die adjournment on June 2, which would mark the end of its second regular session in July. (MANILA BULLETIN) Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said the Senate would "try its best" to finish working on at least 24 bills, which are part of the President Duterte's priority measures. Particularly topping the Senate's priorities is the Senate Bill 1717, or the proposed BBL, which would establish the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and replace the existing Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). President Duterte had repeatedly appealed to Congress to pass the measure to solve the decades-long extremism in Mindanao. The Palace, in a letter addressed to Pimentel, earlier sought the approval of the proposed BBL before the sine die adjournment of 17th Congress so that Duterte can sign it into law this year as he had promised. The BBL is pending approval on second reading in the Senate, with several senators yet to interpellate when they return to work . The House of Representatives' version of the measure, meanwhile, has been endorsed by a joint House committee. The Senate will also continue deliberations on the proposals for Chacha and federalism at the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III earlier said they may wait for the recommendations of Duterte's Consultative Committee reviewing the 1987 Constitution to include in their discussions. Sotto said that another priority would be the proposed Prevention of Terrorism Act, which seeks to amend the present Human Security Act and impose tougher penalties for individuals who commit acts of terror. The Senate will also tackle bills on economic reforms and consumer rights such as the proposed amendments to the Corporation Code of the Philippines; amendments to the Agricultural Tariffication Act; amendments to the Government Procurement Act, Budget Reform Act; the proposed Innovative Startup Act; and the Philippine Fare Discount bill. Pimentel had said that they will likewise start discussions on the planned Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Package 2, second of the Duterte government's four-tranche comprehensive tax reform program, which aims to rationalize tax incentives to investments. The Senate Majority Leader said they will also prioritize bills that are seen to streamline bureaucracy, improve and expand government services, namely: the proposed Open Access in Data Transmission Act; the proposed Philippine Energy Research and Policy Institute Act; the proposed National Museum Act; the proposed Retirement Law of the Office of the Ombudsman; amendments to the Fair Elections Act; and the bills creating the Department of Disaster Response and Preparedness, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Also included in the Senate's priority legislative agenda are the proposed Anti-Discrimination Act; proposed Criminal Investigation Act; and the proposed Community Service in lieu of Imprisonment Act. The Senate also vowed to put first pro-health and social service reforms such as the proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, proposed Enhanced Universal Healthcare Act, the proposed One Town: One Doctor Act, and the amendments to the Social Security Act.