Committee chairmanships in new Senate start to materialize

File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines — Over a month before the 18th Congress starts on July 22, Senate committee chairmanships have already started to take shape.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Tuesday that the Committee on Education would be split into two — the Committee on Basic Education and the Committee on Higher Education and Skills Training.

The basic education committee will likely be chaired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and the higher education committee will be led by Sen. Joel Villanueva.

READ: Two Senate committees for education in 18th Congress — Gatchalian

Meanwhile, Zubiri said the Committee on Health would most likely be chaired by Senator-elect Christopher “Bong” Go, while the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs would go to Senator-elect Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

Zubiri said the Senate majority bloc was still “trying to find a happy solution” for the other senators, particularly Senators-elect Francis Tolentino, Imee Marcos, and Pia Cayetano.

He pointed out that the Committee on Ways and Means was still up for grabs, as Sen. Sonny Angara, who currently chairs the panel, would be given the Committee on Finance, which will be vacated by outgoing Sen. Loren Legarda.

“There are many committees available. They have many advocacies. Nobody has accepted the ways and means committee,” Zubiri, speaking in Filipino, told reporters. “The newbies are free to get ways and means. That’s a major committee. In the House of Representatives, that what they are fighting for.”

Zubiri said he would suggest that the ways and means committee be given to Pia Cayetano.

“Pia would make a good ways and means chairperson,” he said. “She’s a lawyer, she has advocacies, and she can fight for more taxation for health services. She’s also not a re-electionist.”

“So I would suggest to Pia: Accept ways and means. It’s a very important and prestigious committee,” he added.

Meanwhile, returning Sen. Lito Lapid would be getting back the chairmanship of the Committee on Games and Amusements, according to Zubiri.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson also revealed that he would continue heading the Committee on Accounts. He said he would also like to head the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation, which is currently led by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.

Lacson said the Committee on National Defense and Security was offered to him, but he did not yet say if he would accept the post.

READ: Lacson wants Senate’s electoral reforms committee

Following are other incumbent senators who will retain the chairmanships of their committees:

• Richard Gordon: blue ribbon committee and the Committee on Justice
• Nancy Binay: Committee on Tourism
• Grace Poe: Committee on Public Services
• Manny Pacquiao: Committee on Public Works
• Cynthia Villar: Committee on Agriculture
• The senators either elect new or retain their leaders and committee heads once the 18th Congress starts.

The majority is set to conduct a caucus on Wednesday to meet with the incoming senators and discuss the committee chairmanships.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)