PH collegiate sports

5 women lawmakers are new House deputy speakers

Mara Cepeda

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

5 women lawmakers are new House deputy speakers
The House of Representatives now has 10 deputy speakers

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives appointed 5 women lawmakers as new House Deputy speakers on Monday, August 15. 

They are:

  • Davao City 2nd District Representative Mylene Garcia Albano
  • Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (former Philippine president)
  • Taguig 2nd District Representative Pia Cayetano (former senator)
  • Cebu 3rd District Representative Gwendolyn Garcia (former Cebu governor)
  • AAMBIS-OWA Representative Sharon Garin

They took their oath before House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in the presence of their relatives and friends on Monday.

Former President Arroyo, however, told the media about her new appointment 5 days ahead of the official announcement. (READ: Gloria Arroyo: ‘Strategic direction’ is to fully support Duterte)

The 5 women lawmakers join the ranks of the first 5 deputy speakers recognized by the House of Representatives:

  • Batangas 2nd District Representative Raneo Abu 
  • Negros Occidental 6th District Representative Mercedes Alvarez 
  • Capiz 2nd District Representative Fredenil Castro 
  • Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo 
  • Ilocos Sur 2nd District Representative Eric Singson 

They are members of either President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) or the parties that have coalesced with the ruling party.

House Majority Leader Rudy Fariñas earlier announced the plan to increase the number of House deputy speakers from 5 to 12 to test the waters for federalism.

They will each be assigned to represent one of the 12 proposed regions should there be a shift to a federal state. (READ: How many states should PH have under federalism?)

This is a move consistent with the legislative agenda of President Duterte, who prefers to amend the 1987 Constitution through a Constituent Assembly. 

Under a Constituent Assembly, Congress turns itself into a body that would amend the Constitution “upon a 3/4 of the votes of all its members.” 

Duterte has strong support in the 17th Congress, with his PDP-Laban party mates Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III and House Speaker Alvarez heading the chambers. – Rappler.com

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!
Clothing, Apparel, Person

author

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.