THE House of Representatives on Wednesday night named the lawmakers who will chair the chamber's 58 committees and 11 special panels.
Marikina City Representative Romero Quimbo will call the shots on the committee on ways and means, Dasmariñas City Representative Elpidio Barzaga on games and amusement, Davao City Representative Mylene Garcia-Albano on constitutional amendments, and Pangasinan Representative Kimi Cojuangco on basic education and culture.
On Monday, Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab was designated as chairman of the committee on appropriations. Ungab's panel is tasked to conduct hearings on the proposed government budget for 2014 starting August.
Romblon Representative Eleandro Jesus Madrona was named chairman of the committee on accounts while Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas Jr. was retained as the chairman of the committee on justice. Tupas, in his capacity as justice committee chairman, led the 11-man prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Also given committee chairmanships are Teddy Baguilat (Ifugao), agrarian reform; Benhur Salimbangon (Cebu), aquaculture; Andres Salvacion Jr. (Leyte), civil service and professional regulation; Cresente Paez (Coop Natcco party-list), cooperative development; Vicente Belmonte Jr. (Iligan City), dangerous drugs; Mark Leandro Mendoza (Batangas), agriculture and food; Enrique Cojuangco (Tarlac), economic affairs; and Eufranio Eriguel (La Union), health; Joel Duavit (Rizal), information, communication and technology; Pedro Acharon (South Cotabato), local government; and Marlyn Premicias-Agabas (Pangasinan), revision of laws.
The following were also designated as head of House committees: Victor Yu (Zamboanga del Sur), science and technology; Isidro Rodriguez, Jr. (Rizal), Southern Tagalog; Aurora Cerilles (Zamboanga del Sur), welfare of children; Amado Bagatsing (Manila), ecology; Jorge Almonte (Misamis Occidental), ethics; Al Francis Bichara (Albay), foreign affairs; Oscar Rodriguez Jr. (Pampanga), good government and public accountability; Jesus Sacdalan (North Cotabato), government enterprises and privatization; Romeo Acop (Antipolo City), government reorganization; Karlo Alexei Nograles (Davao City), labor and employment; Kaka Bag-Ao (Dinagat Island), land use; Marcelino Teodoro (Marikina City), legislative franchise; Winston Castelo (Quezon City), Metro Manila Development; and Arnulfo Go (Sultan Kudarat), Mindanao Affairs.
Liberal Party secretary general and Western Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento has been designated as chairman of the 12-man House contingent to the Commission on Appointments (CA), a constitutional body that holds the power to approve or disapprove appointments made by the President.
Named members of the CA are Representatives Rodolfo Fariñas (Ilocos Norte), Antonio Del Rosario (Capiz), George Arnaiz (Negros Oriental), Antonio Lagdameo (Davao del Norte), Rommel Amatong (Compostela Valley), Rufus Rodriguez (Cagayan de Oro City), Rosendo Labadlabad (Zamboanga del Norte), Roy Loyola (Cavite), Conrado Estrella III (Abono party-list), and Rodolfo Albano III (Isabela).
Three lawmakers were also named to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), which will hear the electoral protests filed against congressmen.
They were Representatives Wilfrido Mark Enverga (Quezon), Franklin Bautista (Davao del Sur), and Joselito Andrew Mendoza (Bulacan). (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)