Bayan Muna lawmaker chairs committee on natural resources

House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate led the latest list of lawmakers belonging to the majority bloc chosen as chairpersons of relevant committees in the House of Representatives.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, majority leader Ilocos Norte Rep. Rudy Fariñas announced that Zarate would chair the committee on natural resources.

Zarate was earlier recommended by the National Democratic Front as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.  He reportedly begged off, saying he preferred to continue his work in Congress.

READ: Is Bayan Muna lawmaker Zarate the next DENR secretary? / Duterte wants to be environment secretary

The following lawmakers will chair the respective committees:

Agrarian reform– Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos

Aquaculture and fisheries resources—Cavite Rep. Luis Ferrer IV

Government Reorganization— Batanes Rep. Henedina Abad

Housing and Urban Development—Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo “Albee” Benitez

Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples—North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco

Justice— Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali

Labor and Employment— Cagayan Rep. Randolph Ting

Metro Manila Development— Quezon City Rep. Winston Castelo

People’s Participation— Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao

Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship— Misamis Oriental Rep. Peter Unabia

Transportation— Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento

Veteran Affairs and Welfare— Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil

Zarate of Bayan Muna got a committee chairpersonship with the Makabayan bloc of lawmakers joining the majority bloc when they voted for the winning Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez.

President Rodrigo Duterte had a good working relationship with the Left and had chosen its members as part of his Cabinet.

Former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano is now Agrarian Reform Secretary and Gabriela Rep. Liza Maza now heads the National Anti-Poverty Commission. Former UP professor and activist Judy Taguiwalo is social welfare secretary.

Iloilo city Rep. Jerry Trenas was also selected as a member of the House contingent in the committee on appointments. TVJ

READ: Duterte allies get chairmanships of key House committees | More administration allies lead House committees