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Level

School

Year Graduated

Elementary education

Ateneo de Manila Grade School

1970

Secondary education

Ateneo de Manila High School

1974

Economics

Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania

1979

Position

Office

Years

Senator

Philippine Senate

2004-Present

·          Authored SB 102 to narrow or close the resource gaps in health and education, earmarking 30% of the VAT collections approximately the amount collected under RA 9337 which is about P80 billion annually

·          Authored SB 103, seeking to exempt minimum wage earners from income tax

·          Authored SB 2130, seeking to amend RA 8293 sec 26, 72.1, 72.3-.4 and sec 74 to lower costs of medicines

·          Authored SB 109, proposed Free Information Act, seeking to promote transparency in government by requiring government offices to respond within two days to any request for public information

·          Primary author of SB 1646, to improve provisions of the Magna Carta for MSMES

·          Proposed amendments to RA 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and RA 8182 or the Official Development Assistance Act

·          Proposed the “Lemon Law,” proper labeling of products containing genetically modified organisms, to strengthen the Consumer Code

·          Pushing for the passage of Anti-Smuggling Bill (SB 106)

·          Authored Pre-need Act of 2007

·          Pushing for the decriminalization of libel

·          Former Chairman of the Committee on Economic Affairs

·          Chairman of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture

·          Co-Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Optical Media Board

·          Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Quality Affordable Medicines

·          Chairman of the Committee on Trade and Commerce

·          Vice Chairmen of the Committee on Public Works

Secretary

Department of Trade and Industry

2001-December 2003

·          Pushed for the development of the “palengke,” small-medium enterprises (SME)

·          Education: Launched the Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Program, distributed 30,000 computers to 2,000 public schools nationwide

·          Attended World Trade Organization Meeting in 2003 to fight for increase market access for Philippine exports and a rationalized Philippine trade regime so domestic industries would not be unduly harmed

·          Launched “Make IT Philippines” and organized first IT-enabled services (ITES) to the US—led to more investment in the Philippines

·          Pioneered establishment of high-technology industry centers and promotion of business process outsourcing (BPO) market

·          Worked for the reopening of the National Steel Corporation

·          Launched Garment Export Industry Transformation Plan and Assistance Package

·          Initiated Motor/Vehicle Development Program

·          Pushed for the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) development through SULONG (SMEs Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) Program—granted 26.7 B on low-interest loans to 281,229 SMEs on first year

·          Promoted Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo programs for consumer protection

·          Promoted Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya to make affordable and quality meds accessible

·          Promoted Pinoy Pandesal, Palengke ng Bayan program

Representative of 1st district of Capiz

House of Representatives

1992-2001

·          Majority Leader of the House of Representatives

·          Passed RA 8759: establishing in all municipalities a Public Employment Service Office, serving as employment facilitation and information center, and links job opportunities within the region

·          Passed RA 8748: amendment in the Special Economic Zone Act by directly allocating to the municipality or city 2% (out of 5%) gross tax to be collected from the establishments operating in the ecozone and providing for disturbance compensation for persons to be displaced or evicted by publicly-owned ecozones

·          Passed RA 8756: incentivizing establishment of regional headquarters to encourage investment and operation of multinational companies in the country and to generate more jobs

·          Principal author of RA 7880, “Roxas Law,” which ensures fair distribution of education capital budget among all provinces

Director/President

Northstar Capital Inc.; Atok Big Wedge Mining Co.

no data

Vice president

Progressive Development Corp.

no data

Director

Kauswagan Development Corp.; Myapo Prawn Farm Corp.

no data