THE House of Representatives elected new leaders to several key committees in a major move to strengthen legislative oversight, fiscal discipline, and coordination of the chamber’s proceedings in the 20th Congress under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Harvard-educated Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing was chosen to chair the Committee on Appropriations, one of the most influential panels in the House with jurisdiction over the national budget. Her leadership comes at a critical time, with the House set to begin deliberations once the Executive Branch submits the proposed 2026 national budget.
Suansing will be assisted by Bataan 2nd District Rep. Albert Garcia, who was elected senior vice chair.
The Quad Comm—composed of the Committees on Dangerous Drugs, Public Order and Safety, Human Rights, and Public Accounts—likewise plays a central role in major House investigations into illegal activities, human rights violations, and other serious threats to public safety and good governance.
Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores was elected chair of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs, while Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano will head the Committee on Public Order and Safety.
Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. was retained as chair of the Committee on Human Rights. However, the House has yet to elect a new chairman for the Committee on Public Accounts.
Davao de Oro 1st District Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora was elected chairperson of the Committee on Accounts.
The chamber also elected Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo as head of the Committee on Ways and Means, which handles tax and revenue legislation, with Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. as his senior deputy.
Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua was retained as chair of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, while Cagayan de Oro 1st District Rep. Lordan Suan heads the Committee on Public Information.
To support Majority Leader and Rules Committee chair Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, the House elected Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor as senior deputy majority leader.
