Legarda says she can be a good House speaker

MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Senator Loren Legarda, representative-elect of Antique’s lone congressional district, on Wednesday said she is confident that she can do a good job as speaker of the lower chamber.

Legarda’s name floated as one of the possible contenders for speakership at the House of Representatives at the opening of the 18th Congress on July 22.

READ: 6 reps from 5 parties vie for Speaker post

“If it is the ability to perform a good job as speaker, I believe that I can do it, humbly speaking…in so far as performance at the job at hand [is concerned],” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

But despite her optimism, Legarda recognizes that the speakership is a choice among the 297 elected representatives from various districts in the country.

“It’s not for a person to claim it. You can vie for it, but there is a process and it will be my first time in the bigger house,” she said.

Legarda was proclaimed as representative-elect of Antique after defeating former governor Exequiel Javier by 129,471 votes.

READ: Loren Legarda proclaimed winner of Antique Congress race

Asked what House committee she wants to head, Legarda, current chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said she believes she can deliver in the appropriations committee.

She added, however, that she is “very open” to chair other committees in the lower chamber, since she had also experienced handling several committees in the Senate. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)