The House of Representatives on Wednesday, July 30, elected more committee chairpersons, including four from Negros Occidental.
The Negros Occidental representatives with committee chairmanships are Julio Ledesma IV (1st District) – science and technology , Alfredo Marañon III (2nd District) – natural resources; Javier Miguel Benitez (3rd District) – Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts, and Jeffrey Ferrer (4th District) – legislative franchises, the Office of the Speaker of the House announced.
Benitez on Tuesday was also appointed assistant majority leader.
“I commit myself to strengthening the laws that will protect the creative industry stakeholders, further energize the culture and creative sector, and safeguard the intellectual and creative rights of our creative industry workers,” Benitez said in a statement Wednesday.
“We will infuse new energy into this extensive industry, where Filipino creatives are known worldwide, and harness the huge economic potential it offers,” he added.
Benitez said the committee chairmanship is an opportunity for him to amplify the voices of the creative industry and performing arts people.
Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he was not surprised that Benitez was elected assistant majority leader knowing his closeness to Rep. Sandro Marcos (Ilocos Norte, 1st District), who is the senior deputy majority leader.
“But it’s not only because he is close to Sandro, he is also competent and capable to hold that position”, said Lacson, who congratulated Benitez for being the assistant majority leader on his very first term in Congress.
Ferrer said being chair of the Committee on Legislative Franchises will entail a lot of work and he is ready for it.*