20TH CONGRESS

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate has officially determined the committee chairmanships for the 20th Congress, with majority lawmakers largely securing their desired positions. The new assignments reflect the chamber’s leadership structure following the recent Senate President election.

Notably, Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan, who had faced criticism for aligning with the majority, have secured key committee chairmanships. Aquino will now lead the Committee on Basic Education, while Pangilinan takes the helm of the Committee on Agriculture, a post previously held for an extended period by former Senator Cynthia Villar. However, unlike many of their majority counterparts, these were the only chairmanships granted to Aquino and Pangilinan, with most other majority senators holding multiple committee roles.

Among other significant appointments, Senator Rodante Marcoleta has been named Chair of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee (Accountability of Public Officers), which is mandated to investigate allegations of government corruption. Marcoleta is also known as a close ally of Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently facing such allegations. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has been appointed Chair of the Finance Committee, a crucial position tasked with overseeing budget deliberations. Neophyte Senator Camille Villar has been assigned as Chair of the Committee on Environment and Climate Change.

Several majority senators have retained their committee chairmanships from the previous Congress, including Senator Imee Marcos as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Labor, and Cooperatives, and Senator Raffy Tulfo as Chair of the Committee on Migrant Workers and Public Services.

Here is the updated list of committee chairpersons for the 20th Congress:

• Sen. Bam Aquino – Basic Education
• Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano – Accounts; Justice and Human Rights; Higher, Technical and Vocational Education; Science and Technology
• Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – Public Order and Dangerous Drugs
• Sen. JV Ejercito – Local Government; Tourism
• Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada – National Defense; Peace and Unification
• Sen. Win Gatchalian – Finance
• Sen. Bong Go – Health; Sports; Youth
• Sen. Imee Marcos – Foreign Relations; Labor; Cooperatives
• Sen. Rodante Marcoleta – Blue Ribbon (Accountability of Public Officers); Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship
• Sen. Kiko Pangilinan – Agriculture
• Sen. Robin Padilla – Constitutional Amendments; Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs; Public Information and Mass Media
• Sen. Pia Cayetano – Energy; Sustainable Development Goals; Ways and Means
• Sen. Raffy Tulfo – Migrant Workers; Public Services
• Sen. Erwin Tulfo – Games and Amusements; Social Justice and Welfare
• Sen. Camille Villar – Environment and Climate Change
• Sen. Mark Villar – Public Works

Senators from the minority bloc, namely Tito Sotto, Ping Lacson, Miguel Zubiri, Loren Legarda, and Risa Hontiveros, have yet to be granted committee chairmanships. Hontiveros, however, is seeking to retain the Committee on Women and Children, a post she has long held.