House leadership undertakes minor reshuffle

Nearly a month into the job, the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Faustino Dy Ill has undertaken a minor revamp with the designation of four senior lawmakers.

- By DELON PORCALLA

During last week’s plenary deliberations, the House elected Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez of South Cotabato’s second district as one of the chamber’s deputy speakers, while Rep. Jan Padiernos of Galing ng Puso party-list was elected member of the House electoral tribunal.

Reps. Noel Rivera of Tarlac’s third district was designated chairperson of the House’s special committee on reforestation, while Ziaur-Rahman Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur’s first district was tasked to sit as chairperson of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms.

In a statement, Adiong said the committee will prioritize “bold, people-centered reforms: modernizing voting systems to combat disenfranchisement, enhancing transparency in campaign financing and safeguarding against foreign interference in our elections,” he said.

When the new Speaker took over the House helm vacated by his resigned predecessor, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Dy —a representative from the sixth district of Isabela province — promised to undertake substantial changes in the chamber.

Dy declared the overarching goal of his leadership is to “restore the trust” of 115 million Filipinos in the House of Representatives, following allegations of massive corruption in government flood control projects.

Dy assured the public that he would be a “listening” Speaker.