Two Senate committees for education in 18th Congress — Gatchalian

MANILA, Philippines — In the incoming 18th Congress, the Senate will have two committees devoted to education, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday.

There will be a committee for basic education and there will be another committee for higher education, the senator said.

Gatchalian said he will be the chairman of the basic education committee while Senator Joel Villanueva will chair the higher education committee.

“Ang agreement namin ni Joel, i-split ‘yung education, so Basic Education sa akin and Higher Education sa kanya,” Gatchalian told reporters in an interview.

At present, there is only one committee for education: the Senate committee on education, arts and culture which is chaired by outgoing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

Gatchalian explained that the such arrangement is just following the current arrangement of the House of Representatives.

“Parang sa House. Sa House hiwalay. We’ll follow the lower House,” the senator said.

The committee chairmanships will be discussed on Wednesday during a meeting with the incoming 18th Congress senators. Gatchalian said the meeting will be held at Senator Manny Pacquiao’s residence in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)