House leadership fills over half of committee chairmanships  

MANILA, Philippines — A week after the 19th Congress convened, the House of Representatives has filled more than half of committee chairmanships under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Unlike the 32 deputy speakers in the previous Congress, the number has been scaled down to only nine, led by former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who holds the distinction of the lone “senior deputy speaker.”

Other deputy speakers are Representatives Ralph Recto of Batangas, Aurelio Gonzales Jr. (Pampanga), Robbie Puno (Antipolo), Camille Villar (Las Piñas), Isidro Ungab (Davao City), Vincent Frasco (Cebu), Kristine Singson-Meehan (Ilocos Sur) and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Trade Union Congress of the Philippines).

A number of administration congressmen were also able to keep their posts, among them are Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers (dangerous drugs committee), Albay Rep. Joey Salceda (ways and means), Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (natural resources), Baguio City Rep. Mark Go (higher and technical education), Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo (basic education), Bohol Rep. Edgardo Chatto (climate change), Aklan Rep. Teddy Haresco (economic affairs) and Lanao del Norte Rep. Mohammad Khalid Dimaporo (Muslim affairs).

Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez now chairs the public order and security committee; Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop, the transportation committee; and Rizal Rep. Fidel Nograles, the labor and employment committee.

The only new lawmakers who lead committees are Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, who chairs the powerful appropriations committee, and Negros Occidental Rep. Juliet Ferrer, who takes over the justice committee.

Second-termer Marikina Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo, who was with the minority bloc during the 18th Congress, is senior vice chair of the co-led panel.

The speaker’s wife, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Romualdez, was designated chair of accounts committee.

Former public works undersecretary and incumbent Surigao del Sur Rep. Romeo Momo was nominated chairman of the committee on public works.

Other lawmakers who were elected as committee chairmen/chairpersons are Ifugao Rep. Solomon Chungalao for agrarian reform, Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga (agriculture and food), Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Maranon III (aquaculture and fisheries resources), AGAP party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones (cooperatives development), Dinagat Rep. Alan Ecleo (disaster resilience) and Cavite Rep. Antonio Ferrer (games and amusements), Parañaque Rep. Edwin Olivarez (government enterprises and privatization), Negros Occidental Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (housing and urban development), Rep. Zamboanga del Norte Glona Labadlabad (inter-parliamentary relations and diplomacy), Parañaque Rep. Gustavo Tambunting (legislative franchises), Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian (local government) and Manila Rep. Rolando Valeriano (Metro Manila development).