Background, Projects, Legislation and Achievements of Mar Roxas: Ateneo de Manila University. Elementary (1970) & Secondary (1974) Education Wharton School of Economics. University of Pennsylvania (1979) Investment Banker in New York. (1979-1986) Became an assistant vice president of the New York-based Allen & Company Liaison to the American business community. Helped organize a series of investment round-table discussions with the American business community for then President Corazon Aquino (1986) Congressman representing the 1st District of Capiz (1993-2000) Became Majority Leader of the House of Representatives. Roxas Law. Ensured fair distribution of the education capital budget among all the provinces. This started his advocacy for fair and equitable access to education, free from regional bias and political patronage considerations Public Employment Service Offices. RA 8759 (Public Employment Service Act of 1999) improved the employment facilitation machinery of the government especially on the local level by serving as a hub for job opportunities within regions. Compensation to displaced residents and local governments. RA 8748 (Act Amending the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995) afforded local governments greater fiscal autonomy and gave displaced local residents due compensation by providing for the direct allocation to the municipality or city of 2% (out of the 5%) gross tax to be collected from the establishments operating in the eco-zone Encouraging MNCs to establish Philippine Regional Offices. RA 8756 (Act Amending the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987) incentivized the establishment of regional headquarters to encourage investment and operation of multinational companies in the country to generate more jobs. “One of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow who are expected to shape the future.” Recognized as such at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (1996) Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (2000-2003). Bringing IT to Public Schools. Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Program distributed computers to public high schools all over the Philippines and provided high school students with rudimentary computer knowledge and skills. Reopening of the National Steel Corporation. Provided thousands of jobs, income and livelihood to Illigan City, Northern Mindanao and adjacent regions. Garment Export Industry Transformation Plan and Assistance Package. Enhanced the competitiveness of the industry and ensured its viability and vibrancy. Motor Vehicle Development Program. Secured jobs for our workers by promoting exports and creating a viable market base for our car manufacturers. SMEs Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth (SULONG) Program. Granted almost low-interest loans to innumerable SMEs. Consumer Welfare Programs. Implemented the Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo (Right Scale, Right Price) program; Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya (Right Price, Family Medicine); Pinoy Pandesal; Palengke ng Bayan, among others. 2003 WTO Meeting in Cancun, Mexico. Negotiated for increased market access for Philippine exports, particularly agricultural products and a rationalized Philippine trade regime so that domestic industries would not be harmed. “Father of the Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Industries”. Launched the “Make IT Philippines” project and organized the first IT-enabled services (ITES) road show to the US, which drew the biggest global industry names to invest in the country, and pioneered the establishment of high-technology industry centers and the promotion of the business process outsourcing (BPO) market in the Philippines, thereby creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and investment inflow. Asiaweek Magazine “Political Leader of the New Millennium” (1999) 16th Lee Kuan Yew Fellow as awarded by the Singapore Government. Highest number of votes as Senator in Philippine history. Obtained the votes of nearly 20 million Filipinos (2004) Legislator par Excellence. From 2004 to 2007 alone, authored 43 bills and 46 resolutions brought before the 13th Congress. He has filed bills supporting labor, education, economy, alternative energy, among others. EVAT Funds for Education and Healthcare. Senate Bill No. 102 (People’s Fund Act) eased the effect of the 12% EVAT by earmarking 30% of proceeds from the same for education and healthcare. Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners. Senate Bill No. 103 (Individual Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners Bill) lightened the load for minimum wage earners in the private sector and government workers in Salary Grades 1 to 3 by exempting them from income tax. Amendments to the Roxas Law. Senate Bill No. 104 (Amending the Fair and Equitable Access to Education Act) alleviated the problem of classroom shortages by enhancing the process of construction, rehabilitation, replacement, completion, and repair of needed school buildings and classrooms. Regulating the Pre-Need Industry. Senate Bill No. 105 (Pre-Need Industry Act of 2007) addressed the absence of a statute that regulates the pre-need industry and governed the operations of firms which issue or sell pre-need plans or similar contracts and investments. Anti-Smuggling Bill. Senate Bill No. 106 (Anti-Smuggling Act of 2007) created an Audit and Transparency Group under the Bureau of Customs, headed by a Deputy Commissioner, which would regularly inspect and report on the bureau’s operational processes, collection and financial reporting, fiscal and personnel performance, system efficiency, internal control, information and communication flow, fraudulent and illegal practices and other related areas. Lemon Law. Bill No. 107 (Lemon Law of 2007) gave automobile purchasers the protection of a one (1) year period in which they can avail of up to four repairs on the same defect, failing which a replacement or refund of the vehicle can be claimed. MSME Magna Carta. Senate Bill No. 108 (Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) provided for institutional and organizational support by providing for better funding for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council and increasing the mandatory allocation to lending activities. Free Information Act. Senate Bill No. 109 (Free Information Act) implemented the Constitutional guarantee to free access by the people to official information, except when the disclosure of such information would jeopardize other prerogatives of the government, namely, the protection of the privacy of individuals, trade secrets, national security, public order and safety, and foreign diplomatic relations. Decriminalizing Libel. Senate Bill No. 110 (Penalty of Imprisonment in Libel Cases Abolition Bill) decriminalized libel and limited the venue of filing libel suits as a means of aiding journalists in exercising freedom of the press. Affordable Medicines. Senate Bill No. 101 (Law on Patents, Tradenames and Trademarks) amended the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines to eventually make way for the Universally Accessible Cheaper Quality Medicines Act which lowered the prices of medicines through increased competition among drug companies and by providing the government with better policy tools to significantly influence the supply and demand of medicines. Champion of E-Services. Honored by E-Services Philippines with the E-Champion Award recognizing his pioneering efforts and leadership in making the Philippines a popular outsourcing destination of choice. (2007) Carlos Palanca Leadership Award. Conferred with the Palanca Awards Gawad Dangal ng Lahi for serving as an exemplary leader and role model to the Filipino. (2007) Chair of the Senate Committees on Trade and Industry, and Education. Co-chair of the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Electronic Commerce Law. President of the Liberal Party. Appointed by the LP National Executive Council officials as president of the Liberal Party (Philippines) (2007)
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 21:07:41 +0000