The Senate on Monday, May 18, announced a new lineup of chairpersons for its permanent committees, with several incumbent senators retaining key posts while others were assigned new leadership roles following the recent reorganization of the chamber.
Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda will continue to head the Committee on Culture and Arts and was also designated chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education. Former chairperson Sen. Bam Aquino will serve as vice chair of the Basic Education panel.
Sen. Pia Cayetano retained her leadership of multiple committees, including Ways and Means, Energy, and the Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking.
Sen. Bong Go also kept his post as chairperson of the Committee on Sports and will now head the Committee on Health and Demography, with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as vice chairperson.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla remains chairperson of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media and will also lead the Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs.
Sen. Joel Villanueva was named chairperson of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education, with Legarda serving as vice chairperson.
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will head the Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation, with Legarda as vice chair. Estrada was also named chairperson of the Committee on Games and Amusement, with Sen. Erwin Tulfo as vice chair.
Sen. Dante Marcoleta will chair the Committee on Public Services, with Sen. Raffy Tulfo serving as vice chairperson.
Despite the announcements, several key posts remain unfilled, including the Committee on Agriculture and the position of Senate Majority Leader.
Sen. JV Ejercito was previously offered the role of Senate Majority Leader but opted to remain independent with his decisions and announced that he would like to be associated with the minority bloc along with Sen. Migz Zubiri.
Senate officials said these roles are expected to be finalized and announced on Tuesday, May 19.
