Two Negros Occidental congressmen bagged committee chairmanships in the House of Representatives, while Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) is vice chair of the powerful Committee on Appropriations.

Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer (Neg. Occ., 4th District) has been named chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety.

His committee has jurisdiction over any proposed measures that deal with the promotion of peace and order, and on police matters in aid of legislation, Ferrer said.

The Committee on Public Order and Safety deals with all matters directly and principally relating to the suppression of criminality, including those on illegal gambling, private armies, terrorism, organized crime and illegal drugs; regulation of firearms, firecrackers and pyrotechnics; civil defense; private security agencies and the Philippine National Police, the House website states.

Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said he has been appointed chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development.

The jurisdiction of his committee covers all matters directly and principally relating to shelter delivery, including services, agencies and instrumentalities of government, and the management of urbanization issues and concerns such as urban planning and development, urban land reform and welfare of the urban poor in the overall context of enhancing housing and shelter services delivery, the House website states.

Alvarez said that, as vice chairman of the Committee on Appropriations, she will be defending the budget on the floor.

The jurisdiction of her committee covers all matters directly and principally relating to the expenditures of the national government, including payment of public indebtedness, creation or abolition and classification of positions in government, and the determination of salaries, allowances and benefits of government personnel.*CPG

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