Senate reorganization: Newbie senators get 2 to 3 committee chairmanships

MANILA, Philippines — In just less than two weeks since the 18th Congress opened last July 22, the Senate has completed its reorganization of 40 committees with neophyte senators either getting two to three chairmanships. 

For the first time, the committee on education was split into two — the basic education, arts and culture; and the higher technical and vocational education. 

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian will chair the committee on basic education while Senator Joel Villanueva will head the committee on higher technical and vocational education. 

Neophyte senators were also given important chairmanships like Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who was elected chair of the committees on health, and sports; and Senator Ronald Dela Rosa as head of the committee on public order and dangerous drugs, and peace, unification, and reconciliation.

Senator Imee Marcos got the chairmanships of three committees — economic affairs, cultural communities, and electoral reforms while Senator Francis Tolentino is chair of committees on local government, and urban planning, housing, and resettlement.

Like Marcos, Senator Cynthia Villar, who topped the 2019 senatorial race, got the chairmanships of three committees— agrarian reform, agriculture and food, and environment and natural resources.

Below is the complete list of the committees and chairmanships in the Senate:

1. Accountability of Public Officers & Investigations (Blue Ribbon) — Senator Richard Gordon
2. Accounts — Senator Panfilo Lacson
3. Agrarian Reform — Senator Cynthia Villar
4. Agriculture and Food — Senator Cynthia Villar
5. Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies — Senator Grace Poe
6. Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation  — Senator Nancy Binay
7. Climate Change- Senator — Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. 
8. Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes — Senator Francis Pangilinan
9. Cooperatives — Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
10. Cultural Communities — Senator Imee Marcos
11. Economic Affairs — Senator Imee Marcos
12. Basic Education, Arts and Culture — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
13. Higher Technical and Vocational Education — Senator Joel Villanueva
14. Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation — Senator Imee Marcos
15. Energy — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
16. Environment and Natural Resources — Senator Cynthia Villar
17. Ethics and Privileges — Senator Manny Pacquiao
18. Finance — Senator Sonny Angara
19. Foreign Relations — Senator Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III
20. Games and Amusement — Senator Lito Lapid 
21. Government Corporations and Public Enterprises — Senator Richard Gordon
22. Health and Demography — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go
23. Justice and Human Rights — Senator Richard Gordon
24. Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development — Senator Joel Villanueva
25. Local Government — Senator Francis Tolentino
26. National Defense and Security — Senator Francis Tolentino
27. Peace, Unification and Reconciliation — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa
28. Public Information and Mass Media — Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
29. Public Order and Dangerous Drugs — Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa
30. Public Services — Senator Grace Poe
31. Public Works — Senator Manny Pacquiao
32. Rules — Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri
33. Science and Technology — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
34. Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development — Senator Leila De Lima
35. Sports — Senator Christopher “Bong” Go
36. Tourism — Senator Nancy Binay
37. Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship — Senator Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel III
38. Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement — Senator Francis Tolentino
39. Ways and Means — Senator Pia Cayetano
40. Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality — Senator Risa Hontiveros 
41. Youth — Senator Sonny Angara