Gatchalian-led Senate completes shake-up of powerful committees
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has been formally reorganized with the election of new chairpersons and members of several Senate committees during the first special session of the 20th Congress on Wednesday, June 17.
This comes after the election of Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate president, replacing former Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who had already conceded his position earlier after weeks of dispute.
A quorum was declared with the presence of 13 senators, including Sen. Joel Villanueva, who had previously been associated with the Cayetano bloc.
Senate committees
Sen. Erwin Tulfo was formally elected chairperson of the Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, or the Blue Ribbon Committee, with Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Ping Lacson as his vice chairs.
All members of the new Senate majority, according to Sen. Migz Zubiri, will be members of the Blue Ribbon Committee, except Sen. Chiz Escudero.
For other Senate committees, here are the newly elected chairpersons and members:
Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform
- Chairperson: Kiko Pangilinan
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Bam Aquino
- Lito Lapid
- Erwin Tulfo
- Raffy Tulfo
- Chiz Escudero
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Basic Education
- Chairperson: Bam Aquino
- Members:
- JV Ejercito
- Risa Hontiveros
- Lito Lapid
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Raffy Tulfo
- Erwin Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes
- Chairperson: Kiko Pangilinan
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Ping Lacson
- JV Ejercito
- Bam Aquino
- Lito Lapid
- Chiz Escudero
Committee on Energy
- Chairperson: Erwin Tulfo
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Bam Aquino
- Ping Lacson
- Raffy Tulfo
Committee on Ethics and Privileges
- Chairperson: Tito Sotto
- Vice chairperson: Kiko Pangilinan
- Members:
- Raffy Tulfo
- Ping Lacson
Committee on Finance
- Chairperson: JV Ejercito
- All senators are members, except SP Gatchalian
Committee on Foreign Relations
- Chairperson: Migz Zubiri
- All senators are members, except Lito Lapid
Committee on Games and Amusement
- Chairperson: Lito Lapid
- Vice chairperson: Erwin Tulfo
- Members:
- Chiz Escudero
- Ping Lacson
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Health and Demography
- Chairperson: Risa Hontiveros
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Bam Aquino
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Raffy Tulfo
- Erwin Tulfo
- Ping Lacson
Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education
- Chairperson: Joel Villanueva
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Bam Aquino
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Raffy Tulfo
- Chiz Escudero
Committee on Justice and Human Rights
- Chairperson: Kiko Pangilinan
- Vice chairperson: Ping Lacson
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Bam Aquino
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development
- Chairperson: Joel Villanueva
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Erwin Tulfo
- Raffy Tulfo
- Bam Aquino
- Risa Hontiveros
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Chiz Escudero
Committee on Local Government
- Chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Vice chairperson: Ping Lacson
- Members:
- Raffy Tulfo
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Risa Hontiveros
- Joel Villanueva
- Lito Lapid
- Bam Aquino
Committee on Migrant Workers
- Chairperson: Raffy Tulfo
- Vice chairperson: Joel Villanueva
- Members:
- Lito Lapid
- Erwin Tulfo
- Bam Aquino
- Risa Hontiveros
- JV Ejercito
- Kiko Pangilinan
Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation
- Chairperson: Tito Sotto
- Vice chairpersons: JV Ejercito and Ping Lacson
- All senators are members, except the Senate president
Committee on Public Works:
- Chairperson: Raffy Tulfo
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Bam Aquino
- Lito Lapid
- Risa Hontiveros
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Erwin Tulfo
Committee on Rules
- Members:
- JV Ejercito
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Ping Lacson
- Erwin Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Science and Technology
- Chairperson: Bam Aquino
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Kiko Pangilinan
- JV Ejercito
Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development
- Chairperson: Erwin Tulfo
- Vice chairperson: Risa Hontiveros
- Members:
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Lito Lapid
- Raffy Tulfo
Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship
- Chairperson: Bam Aquino
- Members:
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Lito Lapid
- Raffy Tulfo
Ways and Means Committee
- Chairperson: Ping Lacson
- Vice chairperson: Bam Aquino
- Members:
- Risa Hontiveros
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Chiz Escudero
- Raffy Tulfo
- Erwin Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality
- Chairperson: Risa Hontiveros
- Vice chairperson: JV Ejercito
- Members:
- Bam Aquino
- Kiko Pangilinan
- Erwin Tulfo
- Ping Lacson
Sen. Migz Zubiri also elected Ejercito as senior deputy majority leader and Villanueva as the deputy majority floor leader.
Meanwhile, for the Senate Commission on Appointments, Sens. Ping Lacson, Migz Zubiri, Joel Villanueva, Risa Hontiveros, Tito Sotto, Raffy Tulfo and JV Ejercito were elected as members from the majority. Members from the minority will be Sens. Rodante Marcoleta, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Loren Legarda and Jinggoy Estrada.
Sens. Bam Aquino, Kiko Pangilinan, Lito Lapid and Chiz Escudero were elected as members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal. Sens. Pia Cayetano and Robin Padilla will represent the minority.
The Senate is yet to elect the leaders and members for the following committees:
- Accounts
- Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies
- Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation
- Cooperatives
- Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs
- Culture and the Arts
- Economic Affairs
- Electoral Reforms and People’s Participation
- Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change
- Government Corporations and Public Enterprises
- Public Information and Mass Media
- Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
- Public Services
- Sports
- Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking
- Tourism
- Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement
- Youth
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