Senate to create new committee on sustainable development – Zubiri

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will create a new committee that will handle oversight on sustainable development programs of the government, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday.

Zubiri’s announcement came a day after meeting with senators backed by the Hugpong ng Pagbabago party of presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

According to Zubiri the new committee on sustainable development will be chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano.

“With the agreement of the Senate President, magkakaroon ng bagong committee sa Senado. It’s the committee on sustainable development and it will be chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano,” Zubiri told reporters in an interview.

Zubiri said the Senate may have to amend its rules on committees to accommodate the new special standing committee that will “monitor millennium development goals,” which encompasses health, education, and social services programs of the government.

He also said Cayetano was “quite happy” with the idea of creating a new committee.

“We may also amend the rules. Instead of just joint referrals, we may allow three –referrals of a maximum of three committees,” the Senate majority leader explained.

Cayetano was reported to be vying for the Senate committee on education, which was previously chaired by former Senator and now Sorsogon Gov. Chiz Escudero. 

However, two other legislators – Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Joel Villanueva – have also expressed their desire to take the helm of the education committee.

Zubiri said the majority bloc is still coming up with a “compromise” to accommodate all requests of the senators. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)

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