THE House of Representatives began electing chairmen for its 84 committees on late Tuesday, with lawmakers confirming the leadership of the chamber’s influential ways and means and appropriations panels.
The House floor elected Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing as chairperson of the powerful appropriations committee, which oversees the initial discussions on the yearly national budget and handles bills concerning government spending.
Ms. Suansing was the vice-chairperson of the House ways and means committee in the 19th Congress.
Meanwhile, Marikina Rep. Romero Federico “Miro” S. Quimbo was elected as chairman of the House tax panel, a post he previously held during his first term as congressman in the 2010s.
The House appropriations and ways and means committees are vital to the legislative process, as the 1987 Constitution prescribes that tax measures and the annual national budget should originate from the lower chamber.
On Wednesday, the House floor elected Mt. Province Rep. Maximo Y. Dalog, Jr. as chairman of the House trade and industry committee, while Antique Rep. Antonio Agapito B. Legarda, Jr. was picked to head the House economic affairs panel.
Manila Rep. Irwin C. Tieng retained his chairmanship of the House banks and financial intermediaries committee, with Bacolod City Rep. Jeffrey P. Ferrer heading the House legislative franchises panel.
Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark M. Enverga will lead the House agriculture committee, keeping the post he has held in the 19th Congress. The House committee on aquaculture and fisheries will be headed by Camarines Sur Rep. Tsuyoshi Anthony G. Horibata.
Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody F. Tarriela was elected to lead the House micro, small and medium enterprise development panel, with the House labor committee being chaired by Cavite Rep. Ramon B. Revilla III.
The House energy committee will be led by Palawan Rep. Jose C. Alvarez, with the House environment panel being chaired by Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo D. Maranon III.
Cavite Rep. Orlando A. Ferrer retained his chairmanship of the House games and amusement committee. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio
