Power shift in Senate revamps committee posts

Newly elected Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero in a lively banter with members of the Senate media on Wednesday, May 22, 2024. —Bibo Nueva España/Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Three days after the sudden change in Senate leadership, the revamp has also begun to show across the various committees with the selection of new chairpersons.

With newly installed Senate President Francis Escudero presiding over Wednesday’s session, his predecessor, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, was elected chair of the committee on economic affairs, while Sen. Mark Villar will be heading the committee on government corporations and public enterprises.

READ: Chiz Escudero is new Senate president; Miguel Zubiri out

Poe to finance

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano was named chair of the committee on trade and industry, as well as the committee on higher, technical and vocational education. His older sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, gets the committee on energy.

The Senate finance committee, which crafts the annual national budget, will have Sen. Grace Poe at the helm, while the justice and human rights panel will now be chaired by Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara.

Sen. Nancy Binay was named chair of the committee on sustainable development goals, while Sen. JV Ejercito was reelected chair of the local government committee.

Tolentino gets ethics

Sen. Joel Villanueva was named chair of the committee on labor; Sen. Raffy Tulfo is heading the committee on public services.

The committee on tourism was given to Sen. Lito Lapid, while the committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement will now have Sen. Imee Marcos as chair.

The ethics committee is now under Senate Majority Leader Sen. Francis Tolentino.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian retained the chairmanship of the committee on basic education and the committee on ways and means.

According to Escudero, Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence Go will keep their existing committees.