MANILA -- The House of Representatives will start holding its future plenary sessions at an earlier time from 4 p.m. to 3 p.m.
During Wednesday's session presided by Deputy Speaker Fredenil Castro, Majority Leader Rolando Andaya raised the motion to hold plenary sessions earlier starting next week. Plenary sessions are scheduled from Monday to Wednesday.
"I move to set the commencement of the daily sessions of the House at three o'clock in the afternoon starting Monday, August 6, 2018," Andaya said. His motion approved without objection.
During the same session, Andaya also elected new leaders for two committee posts.
Cebu City Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa was named as the new chairman of House committee on natural resources, replacing LPGMA partylist Rep. Arnel Ty.
Meanwhile, Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso took over Southern Leyte Rep. Roger Mercado as the new constitutional amendments committee chairman.
Both Mercado and Ty, who are allied with ousted Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, have joined the minority under ABS partylist Rep. Eugene de Vera.
The issue on the composition of the minority in the lower chamber remains unresolved as plenary debates ensued on the matter during Monday's session.
The three factions coveting the opposition bloc are the following: Alvarez' allies; the Liberal Party lawmakers who abstained voting for Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo; and Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez' group, which seeks to retain their minority status despite 14 of its 17 members voted for Arroyo as Speaker. (PNA)
