Ivy Leaguer Suansing is new House appropriations panel chairperson
At A Glance
- House "Young Guns" bloc member Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela "Mika" Suansing has been given the most important tasking so far in the 20th Congress as far as committee chairmanships go.
Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
House "Young Guns" bloc member Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing has been given the most important tasking so far in the 20th Congress as far as committee chairmanships go.
Suansing, a Harvard University graduate, was elected as chairperson of the powerful House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday night, July 29--the second session day of the 20th Congress.
Deputy Speaker Iloilo 1st district Rep. Janette Garin affirmed Suansing's election after he was nominated by Majority leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos on the plenary floor.
The appropriations committee is the lead panel in the House when it comes to tackling the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or proposed national budget.
Suansing, a Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) stalwart, earned her Masters degree in Public Policy at Harvard University in the United States (US) in 2022.
Along with the Young Guns, she turned heads during the 19th Congress with data-driven and numbers-based interpellations during public hearings.
Filling up the appropriations panel chairmanship early is crucial, since it allows the committee to organize itself immediately and received the National Expenditure Program (NEP) from the executive branch.
The NEP is the precursor of the GAB.
Named as appropriations panel senior vice chairman was National Unity Party (NUP) member Bataan 2nd district Rep. Albert Garcia.