1st round of Senate panel chairmanships approved

The committee chairmanships were approved during the plenary session presided over by Senate President Vicente Sotto III. (File photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA — The Senate on Tuesday approved the first round of committee chairmanships for the 18th Congress.

A day after the opening of the first regular session of the 18th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the election of the chairpersons for 20 Senate committees.

The committee chairmanships were approved during the plenary session presided over by Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Here is the list of committees and chairpersons for the 18th Congress:

Agriculture and Food – Senator Cynthia Villar

Blue Ribbon – Senator Richard Gordon

Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes – Senator Francis Pangilinan

Economic Affairs – Senator Imee Marcos

Energy – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian

Finance – Senator Sonny Angara

Foreign Relations – Senator Aquilino Pimentel III

Games and Amusement – Senator Lito Lapid

Health and Demography – Senator Christopher Go

Labor, Employment & Human Resources Development – Senator Joel Villanueva

Local Government – Senator Francis Tolentino

National Defense and Security – Senator Panfilo Lacson

Public Information and Mass Media – Senator Bong Revilla Jr.

Public Order and Dangerous Drugs – Senator Ronald dela Rosa

Public Services – Senator Grace Poe

Public Works – Senator Manny Pacquiao

Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development – Senator Leila de Lima

Tourism – Senator Nancy Binay

Ways and Means – Senator Pia Cayetano

Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality – Senator Risa Hontiveros

Zubiri said the senators to be assigned to lead the remaining half of Senate committees would be elected on Wednesday.