Senate names new chairpersons of key committees

The Senate on Monday named new chairpersons for several permanent committees following last week’s leadership change in the chamber.

During the plenary session, Acting Senate Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva announced the following committee assignments:

• Ways and Means — Pia Cayetano
• Energy — Pia Cayetano
• Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking — Pia Cayetano
• Culture and the Arts — Loren Legarda
• Basic Education — Loren Legarda
• Health — Bong Go
• Sports — Bong Go
• National Defense and Security — Jinggoy Estrada
• Games and Amusements — Jinggoy Estrada
• Public Information and Mass Media — Robin Padilla
• Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs — Robin Padilla
• Higher, Technical and Vocational Education — Joel Villanueva
• Public Services — Rodante Marcoleta

The appointments came after Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was elected Senate president last week, replacing Vicente Sotto III.

The chamber has yet to elect a new Senate majority leader after Senator JV Ejercito declined offers from the majority bloc to take the post.—MCG, GMA News