Speaker Alan Cayetano says he sees minimal changes at the House of Representatives when Marinduque Rep. Lord Alan Velasco assumes the chamber’s top post in October.
Cayetano and Velasco agreed to a term-sharing agreement brokered by President Rodrigo Duterte under which Cayetano would hold the post for the first 15 months and Velasco for the last 21 months of the 18th Congress.
“I’ve been communicating with the supporters of Congressman Velasco to discuss that the only change will be limited to me and Velasco), not the other chairmanships,” Cayetano said Friday.
As you all know, Congressman [Martin] Romualdez, our Majority Leader, will stay. That’s why I appointed him co-chairman of DCC (Defeat COVID-19 committee). So if that happens, in the transition, there will be minimal changes,” he added.
However, Cayetano refused to say if the change in House leadership would affect the way the chamber would craft legislation on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic.
“It would be unfair for me to say that it will be affected, or not affected because it will be self-serving. Because some will say, just because you are there you think you can do better,” Cayetano said.
“What’s important for me is to prepare for the transition, make sure the chamber will have strong chairmanships,” Cayetano added.