Work is expected to pick up in the House of Representatives after the House leadership filled the chairmanship of key committees in the lower chamber.
Majority leader and Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Mannix Dalipe announced on the floor during the session Tuesday afternoon, July 26 the identities of the chairpersons, foremost of whom is Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who will lead the Committee on Appropriations.
The appropriations panel will be the House body in charge of tackling and scrutinizing the 2023 National Expenditure Program or NEP--the precursor of the national budget. The passage of the national budget is the first major task given to solons in any given year.
The complete list of committee chairpersons nominated by Dalipe for the current 19th Congress is as follows:
Committee on Climate Change- Rep. Edgardo Chatto
Committee on Basic Education- Rep. Roman Romulo
Committee on Ways and Means- Rep. Joey Salceda
Committee on Appropriations- Rep. Zaldy Co
Committee on Accounts Rep. Yedda Romualdez
Committee on Economic Affairs Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr.
Committee on Higher and Technical Education Rep. Mark Go
Committee on Justice Rep. Juliet ferrer
Committee on Muslim Affairs Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo
Committee on Natural Resources Rep. Elpidio Barzaga
Committee on Public Works and Highways Rep. Romeo Momo
Also for the Committee on Appropriations, Rep. Stella Quimbo was designated as its senior vice chairperson.
Dalipe, aside from being the majority leader, also chairs the powerful Committee on Rules.
Several House members also officially joined the fold of the rules panel Tuesday.