Chairmanships for 21 Senate committees approved

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III presided over the session, while Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto III moved for the election of the chairpersons of the committees.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A day after the opening of the 17th Congress, the Senate approved on Tuesday the chairmanships committees during a plenary session.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III presided over the session, while Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto III moved for the election of the chairpersons of the committees.

Related: Koko Pimentel elected as Senate President of 17th Congress

Some of the committees — and the chairpersons — related to the Duterte's administration's anti-corruption, anti-criminality and anti-drugs campaign are as follows:

Public Order and Dangerous Drugs - Sen. Panfilo Lacson

Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon) - Sen. Richard Gordon 

Justice and Human Rights - Sen. Leila de Lima

With regard to budget, taxation, charter change, the following committees will play a role:

Finance - Sen. Loren Legarda

Ways and Means - Sen. Sonny Angara

Constitutional Amendments - Sen. Franklin Drilon

Meanwhile, neophyte senator Manny Pacquiao will chair the Public Works committee, while Sen. Risa Hontiveros will take the helm of the Health and Demography committee. The Energy committee will be chaired by another newbie, Sen. Win Gatchalian.

The other committees are as follows:

Rules - Sen. Tito Sotto              

Education - Sen. Bam Aquino         

Tourism - Sen. Nancy Binay         

Public Services - Sen. Grace Poe           

Agriculture - Sen. Francis Pangilinan    

Environment and Natural Resources - Sen. Cynthia Villar    

Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement - Sen. JV Ejercito         

National Defense and Security - Sen. Gringo Honasan        

Labor, Employment and Human Resource Development - Sen. Joel Villanueva    

Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation - Sen. Sonny Trillanes

Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship - Sen. Migz Zubiri

Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development - Sen. Cynthia Villar

Sotto said that under the Senate Rules, the Senate President Pro-Tempore, Majority Leader and Minority Leader are ex-officio members of all standing Senate committees.

He said that the chairpersons for the other Senate committees will be elected on Monday.

Published: Wed, July 27, 2016

http://cnnphilippines.com/