House names 33 committee chairmen

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives has named the chairmen of 33 of 70 regular and special committees.

Thirteen of the committee chairmen were named only last night. They are Henedina Abad of Batanes, government reorganization; Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental, urban development and housing; Winston Castelo of Quezon City, Metro Manila development; Rene Relampagos of Bohol, agrarian reform; Luis Ferrer of Cavite, fisheries; Nancy Catamco of North Cotabato, indigenous communities; Reynaldo Umali of Mindoro Oriental, justice; Randolf Ting of Cagayan, labor and employment; Carlos Zarate of Bayan Muna, natural resources; Kaka Bag-ao of Dinagat Islands, people’s participation; Peter Unabia of Misamis Oriental, small business; Cesar Sarmiento of Catanduanes, transportation; and Leopoldo Bataoil of Pangasinan, veterans affairs.

The House also named Reps. Antonio Floirendo Jr. of Davao del Norte and Jerry Treñas of Iloilo City as members of the House contingent in the Commission on Appointments.

Earlier, upon motion of Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, the chamber approved the chairmanship of Davao City’s Karlo Alexei Nograles for appropriations, Lucy Torres-Gomez of Leyte for tourism, Franz Alvarez of Palawan for franchises, Lord Allan Velasco of Marinduque for energy, Eileen Ermita-Buhain of Batangas for accounts and Romeo Acop of Antipolo City for public order.

Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was named chairman of the special committee on the West Philippine Sea.

Also designated chairpersons were Angelina Tan of Quezon, health; Evelina Escudero of Sorsogon, basic education; Arthur Yap of Bohol, economic affairs; Linabelle Ruth Villarica of Bulacan, foreign affairs; Jesus Sacdalan of North Cotabato, government enterprises; Pedro Acharon Jr. of South Cotabato, local government and Marlyn Primicias Agabas of Pangasinan, revision of laws.

Eleanor Bulut Begtang of Apayao was named chief of the committee on children’s welfare; Emi Calixto Rubiano of Pasay City, bases conversion; Deogracias Ramos Jr. of Sorsogon, rural development; Ruby Sahali of Tawi-Tawi, peace, reconciliation and unity; Noel Villanueva of Tarlac, reforestation; Isidro Rodriguez Jr. of Rizal, Southern Tagalog development and Jose Panganiban Jr. of party-list group Anac-IP, agriculture.

The House has appointed six deputy speakers: Raneo Abu of Batangas, Romero Quimbo of Marikina, Eric Singson of Ilocos Sur, Fredenil Castro of Capiz and Mercedes Alvarez of Negros Occidental.