MANILA — Sen. Mark Villar has formally joined the Senate majority bloc, securing the chairmanship of the powerful Senate Committee on Public Works and a seat in the Commission on Appointments (CA), in a political realignment that strengthens the majority’s control of the chamber and places him at the forefront of congressional oversight of government infrastructure projects.
Villar’s election to the two influential posts on Thursday increased the Senate majority’s membership to 14, leaving the minority with 10 senators.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri sponsored Villar’s election to both positions, which sailed through without objection from any senator.
“Yes. We just elected him to the CA and Public Works committee as part of the majority,” Zubiri confirmed.
The leadership reshuffle comes as the Senate intensifies scrutiny of government infrastructure spending, placing Villar at the helm of a committee responsible for legislation and oversight involving public works projects.
Villar, a former secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), brings his previous experience in the agency to a committee that deals directly with infrastructure development, public construction and related government expenditures.
His assumption of the committee chairmanship also comes amid heightened public attention to the implementation, funding and accountability of government infrastructure projects.
The senator’s formal inclusion in the majority follows his departure from the minority bloc roughly two weeks earlier.
His political realignment also followed his vote supporting a motion to appeal an earlier ruling concerning the number of votes required in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The July 6 ruling had established a threshold of 16 votes, representing two-thirds of the Senate’s full 24-member membership.
Despite retaining 10 members, the minority bloc currently has only six senators actively participating in Senate sessions because four members are absent for various reasons.
Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are being detained in connection with separate plunder cases, while Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has not been attending sessions amid an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
Sen. Loren Legarda, meanwhile, remains on extended medical leave.
Apart from heading the Public Works committee, Villar’s election to the Commission on Appointments gives him a role in reviewing and acting on presidential appointments requiring congressional confirmation.
The dual appointments expand Villar’s responsibilities in the Senate, particularly in infrastructure policymaking and the confirmation of key government officials.
His transfer also changes the chamber’s political balance, giving the majority a 14-member bloc as the Senate handles major legislative measures, government spending issues and other politically sensitive proceedings./PN
