House under Velasco now has 30 deputy speakers

The House of Representatives under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco now has 30 deputy speakers after another lawmaker was elected to the position.

During its session on Monday, the chamber named Cavite Representative Strike Revilla as its new deputy speaker, with Negros Occidental Representative Francisco Benitez occupying his old position as chair of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development.

Revilla's election as deputy speaker came a week after nine other lawmakers were installed to the same position.

Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez has explained that the decision to elect more deputy  speakers is to ensure that all regions in the country will be properly represented in the position.

"The rationale is to be able to have more representation from the regions," Rodriguez told reporters in a media forum last Wednesday.

"You know, we have Imperial Manila always. So therefore the Speaker deems it necessary to make sure there is representation from the 16 regions," he added.

Meanwhile, COOP-NATCCO party-list Representative Sabiniano Canama was designated chair of the House Special Committee on East ASEAN Growth Area, replacing Sarangani Representative Ruel Pacquiao, who was also elected deputy speaker last week.

Canama was then replaced by PHILRECA party-list Representative Presley De Jesus as chair of the House Committee on Cooperatives Development. —LDF, GMA News