Alvarez replaces Singson-Meehan as deputy speaker amid continuing House rigodon

Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (left), Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan (Facebook, PPAB)

The reshuffle of leadership posts in the House of Representatives continued during plenary session Monday, Aug. 3, beginning with a new deputy speaker in Negros Occidental Rep. Mercedes Alvarez.

Alvarez, previously vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, replaced Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson-Meehan for the plum post. Singson-Meehan has been a deputy speaker since the previous 19th Congress.

Alvarez effectively became the fifth deputy speaker to be elected under House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III. Dy became Speaker in September 2025, just two months into the ongoing 20th Congress.

Since then, South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez (senior deputy speaker), Bacolod City Rep. Albee Benitez, Cebu Rep. Duke Frasco, and Pangasinan Rep. Maria Rachel Arenas have been designated as deputy speaker.

Retaining their post as deputy speakers in the 20th Congress were Reps. Janette Garin (Iloilo), Yasser Alonto Balindong (Lanao del Sur), Kristine Singson-Meehan (Ilocos Sur), Ronaldo Puno (Antipolo City), David “Jay-Jay” Suarez (Quezon), Ferjenel Biron (Iloilo), Paolo Ortega V (La Union), Jay Khonghun (Zambales), and Raymond Democrito Mendoza (TUCP Party-list).

Also during plenary session Monday, four congressmen were designated as new assistant majority leaders. These are Batangas Rep. Beverly Rose Dimacuha, Misamis Occidental Rep. Jason Almonte, Camarines Sur Rep. Nelson Legacion, and Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Timothy Joseph Cayton.

They replaced Taguig City Rep. Jorge Daniel Bocobo, Taguig-Pateros Rep. Ricardo Cruz Jr., Batangas Rep. King Collantes, and Ilocos Sur Rep. Ronald Singson, respectively.

Committee chairmanships

Meanwhile, nine House committees were also given new chairpersons.

Gaining the chairmanships were Leyte Rep. Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon (Committee on Climate Change), Cavite Rep. Aniela Bianca Tolentino (Ecology), Aklan Rep. Jesus Marquez (Science and Technology), Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV (Economic Affairs), and Valenzuela City Rep. Kenneth Gatchalian (Flagship Programs and Projects).

Also named new chairpersons were Batangas Rep. King Collantes (Revision of Laws), Antipolo Rep. Philip Conrad Acop (Sustainable Development Goals), Mandaluyong City Rep. Alexandria Queenie Gonzales (Globalization and WTO), and Tawi-tawi Rep. Dimszar Sali (Persons with Disabilities).

Finally, Leyte Rep. Lolita Javier and Bohol Rep. John Geesnell Yap were named new vice chairpersons of the Committee on Appropriations.

This rigodon was kicked off during plenary session Wednesday, July 30, on just the third day of the second regular session. — Ellson Quismorio