Hours before the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 25, members of the House of Representatives will elect their Speaker.
At 10 a.m., the first session of the 19th Congress will open for the purpose of electing the Speaker and approving a resolution for the joint session of the Senate and the House for the SONA.
Marcos’ cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, is poised to become the Speaker after all of the political parties have signified their support for him.
Outgoing House Secretary General Mark Llandro Mendoza, who was elected under then-Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco will initially preside over the session until the new Speaker is elected.
According to sources Mendoza will be replaced by Reginald Velasco, a stalwart of the National Unity Party (NUP).
House Sergeant-at-Arms Rodelio Jocson on the other hand will be replaced by retired Police General Napoleon Taas.
The election of the Speaker will be held in the new-look plenary hall, the renovation of which cost more than P100 million, according to Mendoza who spearheaded the project.
It features elevated flooring similar to Banaue Rice Terraces, new audio and video broadcast equipment, an automatic sliding door, and an “ultraviolet germicidal irradiation system.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen real property magnate Jose Acuzar to serve as new secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).
Religious leader and SMNI big boss Apollo Quiboloy hit back at a broadcaster over alleged rude behavior after the latter quit and walked out of a live television program.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel next week to the Philippines to meet new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with Washington expecting a close alliance despite rights concerns.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday administered the oath of office of Raphael Lotilla as Secretary of the Department of Energy.
Pinuno party-list Rep. Howard Guintu on Friday urged government agencies to ensure that price freeze on essential goods is properly implemented in areas placed under a state of calamity.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wants the government to increase public awareness of the growing monkeypox outbreak.