LIST: House committee chairmanships of the 17th Congress

Mara Cepeda

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LIST: House committee chairmanships of the 17th Congress
(UPDATED) House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas heads the Committee on Rules, while Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles now chairs the Committee on Appropriations

MANILA, Philippines (11th UPDATE) – The House of Representatives has formed 72 committees as of Monday, May 15.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said they are assigning committees to legislators who belong to the majority and who have the competence to lead.

They belong to the majority. So tinitignan din natin dito kung 3rd termer ka na and meron kang capability, so dun natin binibigay ‘yung chairmanships (So we’re looking also if you’re a 3rd termer and if have the capability to be given a chairmanship),” said Alvarez.

As expected, members of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) nabbed key committee chairmanships.

As the House Majority Leader, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Rudy Fariñas heads the Committee on Rules.

He is responsible for all matters relating to the rules of the House, rules of procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation and impeachment proceedings, and the House order and calendar of business, among others.

PDP-Laban member and Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Representative Reynaldo Umali chairs the Justice Committee, which will tackle crucial bills like the reimposition of the death penalty via lethal injection co-authored by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and Deputy House Speaker Fredenil Castro.

The said committee also takes care of impeachment cases.

Members of parties that have coalesced with PDP-Laban – the Nacionalista Party (NP), Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), National Unity Party (NUP), Lakas-CMD, and the Liberal Party (LP) – were given key committees as well.

NUP member and Davao City 1st District Representative Karlo Nograles now heads the Committee on Appropriations. He previously chaired the Committee on Labor and Employment. 

The Appropriations Committee oversees the drafting of the national budget and other matters related to government expenditures. Nograles’ panel also determines the compensation and benefits of government personnel. 

Former House Speaker and Quezon City 4th District Representative Feliciano Belmonte Jr is also the chairperson of the newly-created Special Committee on the West Philippine Sea

It is tasked to handle matters directly and principally relating to West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), including territorial and boundary disputes, national and regional peace, and security issues, joint cooperation arrangements and maritime and environmental concerns.

Below is the list of House committee chairmanships in the 17th Congress so far:

  1. Accounts – Elenita Ermita-Buhain, Batangas 1st District
  2. Agrarian Reform – Rene Relampagos, Bohol 1st District
  3. Agriculture and Food – Jose Panganiban Jr, ANAC-IP
  4. Appropriations – Karlo Nograles, Davao City 1st District
  5. Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources: Luis Ferrer IV, Cavite 6th District
  6. Banks and Financial Intermediaries – Ben Evardone, Eastern Samar
  7. Bases Conversion – Emi Calixto-Rubiano, Pasay City
  8. Basic Education and Culture –  (empty after death penalty vote)
  9. Bicol Recovery and Economic Development – Renato Unico Jr, Camarines Norte 1st District
  10. Civil Service and Professional Regulation –  (empty after death penalty vote)
  11. Climate Change – Christopher Co, AKO Bicol
  12. Constitutional Amendments – Roger Mercado, Southern Leyte
  13. Cooperatives Development – Rico Geron, AGAP
  14. Dangerous Drugs – Robert Barbers, Surigao del Norte 2nd District 
  15. East ASEAN Growth Area – Mercedes Cagas, Davao del Sur 
  16. Ecology – Estrelita Suansing, Nueva Ecija 1st District
  17. Economic Affairs – Arthur Yap, Tarlac 2nd District
  18. Energy – Lord Allan Velasco, Marinduque 
  19. Ethics and Privileges – Arthur Yap, Bohol 3rd District
  20. Food Security – Leo Rafael Cueva, Negros Occidental 2nd District
  21. Foreign Affairs – Linabelle Villarica, Bulacan 4th District
  22. Games and Amusement – Gus Tambunting, Parañaque City 2nd District
  23. Globalization and WTO – Jesulito Manalo, ANGKLA
  24. Good Government and Public Accountability – Johnny Pimentel, Surigao del Sur 2nd District
  25. Government Enterprises and Privatization – Jesus Sacdalan, North Cotabato 1st District
  26. Government Reorganization – (empty after death penalty vote)
  27. Globalization and World Trade Organization – Christopher Co, AKO Bicol
  28. Health – Angelina Tan, Quezon 4th District
  29. Higher and Technical Education – Ann Hofer, Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District
  30. Housing and Urban Development – Alfredo Benitez, Negros Occidental 3rd District
  31. Human Rights – Cherry Deloso-Montalla, Zambales 2nd District
  32. Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples – Nancy Catamco, North Cotabato 2nd District
  33. Information and Communications Technology – Arthur Yap, Bohol 3rd District
  34. Inter-parliamentary Relations Diplomacy – Rosamarie Arenas, Pangasinan 3rd District
  35. Justice – Reynaldo Umali, Oriental Mindoro 2nd District
  36. Legislative Franchises – Franz Alvarez, Palawan 1st District 
  37. Labor and Employment – Randolph Ting, Cagayan 3rd District
  38. Land Use –  (empty after death penalty vote)
  39. Local Government – Pedro Acheron Jr, South Cotabato 1st District
  40. Metro Manila Development – Winston Castelo, Quezon City 2nd District
  41. Mindanao Affairs – Maximo Rodriguez, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District
  42. Muslim Affairs – Mauyag Papandayan Jr, Lanao del Sur 2nd District
  43. National Defense and Security – Amado Espino Jr, Pangasinan 5th District
  44. Natural Resources – Arnel Ty, LPG Marketers Association
  45. North Luzon Growth Quadrangle – Maximo Dalog, Mountain Province
  46. Overseas Workers Affairs – (empty after death penalty vote)
  47. Peace Reconciliation and Unity – Ruby Sahali, Tawi-Tawi
  48. People’s Participation –  (empty after death penalty vote)
  49. Population and Family Relations – Sol Aragones, Laguna 3rd District
  50. Poverty Alleviation –  (empty after death penalty vote)
  51. Public Information – Bernadette Herrera-Dy, Bagong Henerasyon
  52. Public Order and Safety – Romeo Acop, Antipolo 2nd District
  53. Reforestation – Noel Villanueva, Tarlac 3rd District
  54. Revision of Laws – Marlyn Primicias-Agabas, Pangasinan 6th District
  55. Rules – Rudy Fariñas, Ilocos Norte 1st District
  56. Rural Development – Deogracias Ramos Jr, Sorsogon 2nd District
  57. Science and Technology – Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Bohol 2nd District 
  58. Small Business and Entrepreneurial Developmen – Peter Unabia Sr, Misamis Oriental 1st District
  59. Social Services – Frederick Abueg, Palawan 2nd District
  60. Southern Tagalog Development – Isidro Rodriguez Jr, Rizal 2nd District
  61. Suffrage and Electoral Reforms – Sherwin Tugna, CIBAC
  62. Sustainable Development Goals – Elisa Kho, Masbate 2nd District
  63. Tourism – Lucy Gomez, Leyte 4th District
  64. Trade and Industry – Rico Geron, AGAP
  65. Transportation – Cesar Sarmiento, Catanduanes
  66. Veterans’ Affairs and Welfare – Leopoldo Bataoil, Pangasinan 2nd District
  67. Visayas Development – Alejandro Mirasol, Negros Occidental 5th District
  68. Ways and Means – Dakila Cua, Quirino
  69. Welfare of Children – Aurora Enerio-Cerilles, Zamboanga del Sur 2nd District
  70. Women and Gender Equiality – (empty after death penalty vote)
  71. Youth and Sports Development – Conrado Estrella III, Abono
  72. West Philippine Sea – Feliciano Belmonte Jr, Quezon City 4th District

San Juan City Representative Ronaldo Zamora was also named the head of the House contingent for the Commission on Appointments. He was the minority leader in the 16th Congress. – Rappler.com

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.