JV Ejercito elected as chair of Senate local gov’t and housing committees
February 08, 2022
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has been
elected as chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government and Committee on
Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement Committee
Ejercito was elected as chair of the Local
Government committee during the Senate’s regular session on July 26.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker from San Juan City was
elected as chair of the Upper Chamber’s Housing panel on August 2.
The Senate Committee on Local Government
handles all matters concerning the country’s autonomous regions, provinces,
cities, special metropolitical political subdivisions, municipalities, and
barangays, according to the most recent edition of the Rules of the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Urban
Planning, Housing and Resettlement Committee works on matters pertaining to
urban land reform, planning, housing, resettlement, and urban community
development.
Ejercito was chair of the Housing panel during
his first term in the Senate from 2013 to 2019. Under this capacity, he was the
principal sponsor of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
(DHSUD) Law.
Aside from chairing these panels, Ejercito
said he hopes to make up for “lost time” and oversee the implementation of the
Universal Healthcare Law, which will be prioritized by the incoming Marcos
administration.
“In the early stages of implementation, it
would have been helpful if the principal sponsor was there, yung wisdom natin.
Of course, we know the purpose, intention, and history of this landmark
legislation. I hope we can make up for lost time,” Ejercito said in a previous
interview.
“In my talk with incoming President BBM, he
really wants it implemented and given priority,” he added.
The Universal Healthcare Law was principally
sponsored by Ejercito, who was concurrently the chair of the Senate Committee
on Health and Demography during his first term in the Upper Chamber.
On August 2, Ejercito was also elected as vice
chair of the Senate Committees on Rules; Higher, Technical, and Vocational
Education; Health and Demography; Public Services; National Defense and
Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation; and Finance.
He will also be a member of the Senate
Committees on Energy; Public Works; Ways and Means; and Public Order and
Dangerous Drugs.