MANILA, Philippines – While the Senate leadership for the 18th Congress has been carried over from the past chamber, there are changes in committee chairmanships.
On Monday, July 22, Vicente Sotto III was reelected as Senate President via viva voce.
Miguel Zubiri kept his post too as Majority Leader; Ralph Recto, as Senate President Pro-Tempore; and Franklin Drilon, as Minority Leader.
Senators elected the chairpersons of the committees on Tuesday, July 22.
Here are the confirmed committee chairmanships for the 18th Congress:
- Senator Juan Edgardo Angara - Finance
- Senator Panfilo Lacson - National Defense and Security
- Senator Aquilino Pimentel III - Foreign Relations
- Senator Christopher Go - Health
- Senator Pia Cayetano - Ways and Means
- Senator Cynthia Villar - Agriculture and Food
- Senator Imee Marcos - Economic Affairs
- Senator Francis Tolentino - Local Government
- Senator Lito Lapid - Games and Amusement
- Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr - Public Information and Mass Media
- Senator Manny Pacquiao - Public Works
- Senator Grace Poe - Public Services
- Senator Ronald dela Rosa - Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
- Senator Richard Gordon - Blue Ribbon
- Senator Joel Villanueva - Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development
- Senator Sherwin Gatchalian - Energy
- Senator Nancy Binay - Tourism
- Senator Francis Pangilinan - Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes
- Senator Leila de Lima - Social Justice
- Senator Risa Hontiroves - Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality
Sotto said the rules would be amended to allow splitting the education committee into two – the basic education committee and the higher and technical education committee – as well as the creation of the committee on sustainable development.
Another round of election for committee chairmanships will be held on Wednesday, July 24.
The Senate has 43 permanent committees. – Rappler.com
