House fills 45 major committees; 16 more chairmen elected

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has organized a total of 45 major committees with the election of 16 more chairmen in plenary session on Tuesday and Wednesday.

With the go-signal from Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II read the names of the additional committee chairmen.

They are Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, ways and means; Ben Evardone of Eastern Samar, public information; Albert Garcia of Bataan, trade and industry; Ronald Cosalan of Benguet, public works; Rene Relampagos of Bohol, human rights; Manual Agyao of Kalinga, bases conversion; Mary Mitzi Cajayon of Caloocan City, globalization; Amado Bagatsing of Manila, games and amusement; Salvio Fortuno of Camarines Sur, Bicol recovery; and Herminia Roman also of Bataan, veterans affairs.

The other committee chairmen are Juan Edgardo Angara of Aurora, higher education; Rodolfo Biazon of Muntinlupa, defense; Rodolfo Valencia of Mindoro Oriental, housing; Mark Enverga of Quezon, rural development; Antonio Diaz of Zambales, inter-parliamentary relations; and Francisco Matugas of Surigao del Norte, natural resources.

Biazon, a former senator, headed the Senate defense committee. Evardone, on the other hand, is a former journalist. He was governor before seeking the lone congressional seat in his province.

The House filled a total of 28 committee chairmanships between Monday and Wednesday this week. Last week, it elected 17 chairmen.

Gonzales said only 12 more committees have to be organized.

“Of these, only a few are considered major committees. We should be finished with them next week,” he said.

The major committees whose leaders still have to be chosen include appropriations and energy.

Appropriations would most likely go to Joseph Emilio Abaya of Cavite, while Henedina Abad of Batanes is being eyed to chair energy. Both are members of President Aquino’s Liberal Party.

Also still waiting to be organized is the 12-member House contingent in the Commission on Appointments (CA), the body empowered to approve or reject Cabinet appointments and major promotions in the military and the diplomatic service.

Representation in the commission is by political party affiliation.

Gonzales said since there are 269 House members, every 22 to 23 of them belonging to a political party would be entitled to one CA seat.

“We in the LP, together with our allies from the party-list groups, will have four to five representatives in the CA,” he said.

As for Lakas-Kampi, which has been split into three factions, he said their agreement with the three groups is that each of them would chose their respective nominees to the appointments body. –Jess Diaz (The Philippine Star)