Mar Roxas

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Manuel Roxas II
Mar Roxas
Incumbent
Assumed office 
June 30, 2004
Secretary of Trade and Industry
In office
January 2, 2000 – December 9, 2003
Preceded by Jose P. Pardo
Succeeded by Cesar A.V. Purisima
In office
June 30, 1992 – January 2, 2000
Preceded by Gerardo A. Roxas, Jr.
Succeeded by Rodriguez D. Dadivas
Born May 13, 1957 (1957-05-13) (age 51)
Quezon City, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Political party Liberal Party (1992–)
Spouse Single
Residence Roxas City, Capiz and Makati City
Alma mater Ateneo de Manila University, University of Pennsylvania
Occupation Economist
Profession Politician
Religion Roman Catholic
Website www.marroxas.com

Manuel "Mar" Araneta Roxas II (born May 13, 1957) is a senator of the Philippines. He is the grandson of former Philippine President Manuel Roxas. Aside from native Filipino, he is of Spanish, Mexican, and Chinese blood, being a descendant of Antonio de Ayala and Domingo Roxas who were Basque-Spanish settlers in the Philippines, Antonio Fernandez de Roxas who was a Mexican settler in the Philippines and of the Acuñas who are of part-Chinese ancestry.

Roxas was born in Quezon City, Metro Manila. A graduate of Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, Roxas worked as an investment banker, mobilizing venture capital funds for small and medium enterprises before running for public office.[1] He served as the Representative of the 1st District of Capiz from 1993 to 2000. His stint as Congressman was cut short after he was appointed by then Philippine President Joseph Estrada as Secretary of Trade and Industry describing him as a "seasoned investment banker".[2] He resigned from the position at the height of the EDSA Revolution of 2001 and was later re-appointed by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in her new Cabinet.[3] He resigned again from the position after he decided to bid for a seat in the Senate in the 2004 Philippine election.[4] He was elected as Senator by 19,372,888 votes - the highest ever garnered by a national candidate in any Philippine election and edged out Bong Revilla who was consistently number one in the surveys.[5]

Contents

[edit] Early life and career

Roxas was born on May 13, 1957 in Quezon City, Philippines to former Philippine Senator Gerardo Roxas (born August 25, 1924 in Manila) and Judy Araneta (born July 31, 1931 in Negros Occidental). He has two siblings namely Maria Lourdes or Ria, now Mrs. Augusto Ojeda and mother of three and the late Congressman Gerardo "Dinggoy" Roxas, Jr..[6]

He graduated elementary at Ateneo de Manila Grade School in 1970, high school at Ateneo de Manila High School in 1974 and the Wharton School of Economics at the University of Pennsylvania in 1979.

[edit] Personal life

He is an unwed father to a 12-year-old boy by former Miss Young Philippines 1971 Maricar Zaldarriaga.[7]

He is currently in a relationship with Korina Sanchez, one of the Philippines' most popular and critically acclaimed broadcasters from ABS-CBN. He has never given any true indication on his intentions to Sanchez in regards to matrimony. Sanchez said that she is prioritizing her journalism career as of the moment, and that she is not yet planning to marry Mar Roxas.[8] In the first place, Roxas has never proposed to her.

[edit] House of Representatives

Roxas joined the government in 1993 as a Congressman representing the 1st District of Capiz. He later became Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

As congressman, he espoused consumer protection, underscoring the right of every Filipino to affordable medicines, as his personal advocacy. His landmark laws include, among others:

  • Republic Act No. 8759 - establishing in all municipalities a Public Employment Service Office which serves as employment facilitation and information center, and links all job opportunities within the region;
  • Republic Act No. 8748 - amending the Special Economic Zone Act by directly allocating to the municipality or city 2% (out of the 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;
  • Republic Act No. 8756 - incentivizing the establishment of regional headquarters to encourage investment and operation of multinational companies in the country and to generate more jobs.

His tenure in the House was most noted for his principal authorship of Republic Act No. 7880 (Roxas Law), which ensures 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.[9]

[edit] DTI Secretary

In 2000, Roxas served as Trade and Industry Secretary after he was appointed by President Joseph Ejercito-Estrada. During his four-year stint as DTI Secretary, he pushed for the development of the "palengke" (market) as the basic unit of the economy and the root of progress, advocating not only consumer welfare and protection but also sound trade and investment policies, particularly SME development.[9]

He intensified his commitment to quality education through the Personal Computers for Public Schools (PCPS) Program, which distributed over 30,000 computers to 2,000 public high schools all over the Philippines. PCPS computers provided 500,000 high school students with the necessary ICT tools and skills.[10]

His work regarding trade policy was highlighted during the 2003 WTO Meeting in Cancún, Mexico, where he fought for increased market access for Philippine exports, particularly agricultural products and a rationalized Philippine trade regime so that domestic industries would not be harmed.[10]

Hailed as the 'Father of the Call Center and Business Process Outsourcing Industries', he saw and harnessed the potential of the Philippines as a global e-services hub. He launched 'Make IT Philippines' and organized the first IT-enabled services (ITES) to the US which led to the biggest global industry names to invest in the Philippines. He pioneered the establishment of high-technology industry centers and the promotion of the business process outsourcing (BPO) market in the Philippines, particularly call center operations. From a mere 2000 jobs at the onset, the BPO industry now provides hundreds of thousands of jobs, thereby putting the Philippines on the map as a major IT/BPO destination.[10]

He worked for the reopening of the National Steel Corporation which provided thousands of jobs, income and livelihood to Iligan City, Northern Mindanao and adjacent regions. He later launched the Garment Export Industry Transformation Plan and Assistance Package to enhance the competitiveness of the industry and ensure its viability and vibrancy beyond 2004. He also initiated the Motor/Vehicle Development Program to promote exports, create a viable market base for our car manufacturers and secure jobs for our workers.[10]

Believing that micro, small and medium enterprises or MSMEs serve as the prime engine for job generation, he pushed for MSME development through the SULONG (SMEs Unified Lending Opportunities for National Growth) Program, which granted almost P26.7 billion on low-interest loans to 281,229 SMEs on its first year.[10]

He promoted the Tamang Timbang, Tamang Presyo (Right Scale, Right Price) program for consumers; the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya (Right Price, Family Medicine) to make affordable and quality medicines accessible to Filipinos, and Pinoy Pandesal, Palengke ng Bayan, among others. These programs promoted supply chain efficiencies leading to growth and productivity, and a wide range of opportunities and long-term gains.[10]

Being the proponent of the philosophy of 'palengkenomics', which considers the "palengke" (market) as the economy's weathervane and the mirror by which its over-all health can be seen and measured, Roxas to this day continues to conduct weekly monitoring of the prices of prime commodities and maintains strong linkages with suppliers, traders, and vendors in the different wet markets.[10]

[edit] Senate career

Roxas was proclaimed by the COMELEC as Senator-elect on May 24, 2004 and officially assumed the office at noon of June 30, 2004. He was elected under the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4) of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[11]

Roxas currently holds assignments on the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce and Senate Oversight Committee on Optical Media Board serving alongside with Ramon Revilla, Jr..

[edit] 13th Congress

Roxas authored 43 bills and 46 resolutions brought before the 13th Congress in July 2004 and 2007. He has filed bills on fighting smuggling, supporting labor, education, economy, and alternative energy.

[edit] 14th Congress

During the start of the 14th Congress, he voted for his colleague Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. as Senate President together with Senators Benigno Aquino III, Rodolfo Biazon, Francis Escudero, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Jamby Madrigal but unfortunately Pimentel lost to incumbent Senate President Manny Villar. On his latest statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), he listed his net worth as P140.3 million behind Villar's P921.4 million and Madrigal's P148.9 million.[12]

Roxas' legislative agenda for the 14th Congress are as follows:

  • Affordable Medicines

He has filed Senate Bill No. 101 (Law on Patents, Tradenames and Trademarks) to amend Republic Act No. 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, to lower 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.[13]

  • EVAT Funds for Education and Healthcare

He has filed Senate Bill No. 102 (People's Fund Act) to ease the effect of the 12% E-VAT. The People's Fund would be comprised of thirty percent (30%) of all proceeds from the VAT collected under Title IV of the National Internal Revenue Code. This portion estimates the share of incremental revenues from Republic Act No. 9337, the Expanded Value-Added Tax law, which increased to 12% the VAT and removed the exemption.[14]

  • Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners

He has filed Senate Bill No. 103 (Individual Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners Bill) to exempt minimum wage earners in the private sector and government workers in Salary Grades 1 to 3, amending certain provisions of Republic Act No. 8424, otherwise known as the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

As per estimates by the National Wages and Productivity Board, there are 7 million workers earning the minimum wage and even below. For him, it is unfair and unjust that the government, under the law, is taking away a portion of their already subsistence-level income.[15]

  • Amendments to the Roxas Law

He has filed Senate Bill No. 104 to amend Republic Act No. 7880, also known as the Fair and Equitable Access to Education Act, to eliminate the problem of classroom shortages in the Philippines, as well as enhancing the process of construction, rehabilitation, replacement, completion, and repair of needed school buildings and classrooms.[16]

  • Regulating the Pre-Need Industry

He has filed Senate Bill No. 105 (Pre-Need Industry Act of 2007) to address the absence of a statute that regulates the pre-need industry by establishing the Pre-Need Industry Act of 2007 to govern the operations of firms which issue or sell pre-need plans or similar contracts and investments.[17]

  • Anti-Smuggling Bill

He has filed Senate Bill No. 106 (Anti-Smuggling Act of 2007) to amend certain provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1464, otherwise known as the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended. Under the proposed bill, an Audit and Transparency Group under the Bureau of Customs, headed by a Deputy Commissioner, 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. On the basis of these inspections and reports, the Audit and Transparency Deputy Commissioner can initiate investigations of fraud and other graft and corrupt practices in the bureau, and shall recommend to the Office of the Ombudsman the filing of any cases against personnel and officers involved.[18]

  • Lemon Law

He has filed Senate Bill No. 107 (Lemon Law of 2007) to have a one (1) year period in which buyers of brand-new vehicles can avail of the provisions of this Lemon Law, which allows up to four repairs on the same defect before a replacement or refund of the vehicle can be claimed. For him, it would ensure that the investment on a vehicle is money well-spent.[19]

  • SME Magna Carta

He has filed Senate Bill No. 108 (Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) to strengthen Republic Act No. 6977, the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises. The focus of the amendments of this bill focuses on three points: guidelines, institutional support and organizational support. Guidelines refer to the specific asset size definition, appropriating a definite and regular amount for the Small and Medium Enterprise Development (SMED) Council and increase in the mandatory allocation to lending activities. Institutional support comprises additional government agencies to coordinate SME efforts and formalization of the SME Development Plan. Lastly, organizational support to intensify the powers and increase capitalization of the Small Business and Guarantee Finance Corporation to complement the growing demands for financing. Other features of the bill include formalizing the celebration of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Week and recognition of outstanding MSMEs.[20]

  • Free Information Act

He has filed Senate Bill No. 109 (Free Information Act) to implement 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.

The bill also proposes the adoption by all government bodies a mechanism wherein all written requests for information shall be responded to within two days, unless proper justification is given by the government body, subject only to the payment of reasonable fees for the viewing or reproduction of such information. To compel disclosure of information, in case a government body refuses access to such information on whatever grounds, the Office of the Ombudsman would be tapped to hear any citizens' complaints of not being properly assisted by the pertinent government body. Penalties will be levied to officials or employees who knowingly and unjustly refuse to provide access to information, or who consciously release false or misleading information.[21]

  • Decriminalizing Libel

He has filed Senate Bill No. 110 (Penalty of Imprisonment in Libel Cases Abolition Bill) to decriminalize libel and limit the venue of filing libel suits. He believes that the approval of the said measure would be a small way by which Congress may help in alleviating the plight of journalists.[22]

[edit] Presidential ambition

After he garnered the highest votes in the Philippine election history when he ran as Senator, many people had already made him a potential presidential candidate by 2010. While he has been coy on his plans for 2010, the Mar Roxas for president in 2010 movement has been gathering steam with the Liberal Party revival targeting the youth (considering that the bulk of the voting population is aged below 30 years old). Other signs include the sprouting of Mar Roxas for president spots in cyberspace (http://marroxas2010.blogspot.com and http://liberalpresident2010.blogspot.com); and his colleagues endorsing him as the party's standard bearer -- Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III declaring him Liberal Party's candidate for 2010, Liberal Party's chair emeritus Jovito Salonga introducing him as "the next president of the Philippine republic"[23] and former Liberal Party Chairman Franklin Drilon saying that Roxas is the party's standard bearer in the 2010 elections.[24]

On January 18, 2008, Senators Roxas and Edgardo Angara stated that in the upcoming 2010 Presidential elections, there will be at least 7 presidential aspirants namely Roxas, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Manuel Villar, Jr., Sen. Loren Legarda, Sen. Richard Gordon, Chairman Bayani Fernando of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay. Sen. Francis Escudero denied any interest in 2010.[25]

[edit] New LP President

On November 26, 2007, at Club Filipino, Greenhills, San Juan, the LP National Executive Council officials resolved to appoint him as president of the Liberal Party (Philippines). Former Philippine President Corazon Aquino and former Senate President Jovito Salonga, inter alia, signed the resolution.

Roxas is to unite the two LP factions, and set the stage for his presidential campaign in the 2010 election.[26] Lito Atienza, however, forthwith questioned Roxas' appointment, attacking the composition of Liberal Party’s National Executive Council (NECO) and alleged that the Supreme Court of the Philippines' June 5 resolution ordered the LP leadership's status quo maintenance. Atienza stated: “I have no invitation. They kicked me out of the meeting; How can you (Roxas) unite the party when you take the wrong step?”[27]

[edit] Political advocacy

Senator Mar Roxas speaks before a crowd in Tacloban City, during a recent visit for the city’s Alay Lakad event last September 30, 2007.
Senator Mar Roxas speaks before a crowd in Tacloban City, during a recent visit for the city’s Alay Lakad event last September 30, 2007.
See also: Political positions of Mar Roxas

Senator Mar Roxas has taken positions on many national issues since his election as senator during the 2004 Philippine elections

About the ZTE deal, Roxas introduced a resolution urging President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to cancel the Philippine government's National Broadband Network (NBN) project with China's Zhong Xing Telecommunications Equipment (ZTE) Corporation.

Roxas said that the $329.4-million deal "was driven by supply and not by demand" and will not benefit Filipinos. He believes that the cancellation of the deal would not affect the relationship of the Philippines with China.[28]

In order to finally put a just closure to national divisiveness, Roxas filed Senate Resolution No. 135 calling on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to issue a pardon to former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada (popularly known as "Erap") at the appropriate time.

"The grant of pardon to Erap on humanitarian grounds should not in any way be construed as condoning corruption, or as diminishing the legal weight of the ruling of the Sandiganbayan, but serves solely as an embodiment of the people's will for closure on one of the most divisive chapters of our national life," he added.[29]

"In trade negotiations, no deal is always better than a bad deal." This is what Roxas said on JPEPA.[30]

He issued a warning after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pressed on the Senate to ratify the Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) amid concerns aired by Tokyo for the early approval.

Roxas was optimistic that the pact would be given serious consideration by the Senate if the government revised the deal to get a better trade-off.[31]

[edit] Awards, honors and recognitions

  • On 1996, Roxas was recognized by the World Economic Forum as "one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow who are expected to shape the future."[32]
  • On February 16, 2007, the E-Services Philippines awarded Roxas with the E-Champion Award recognizing his pioneering efforts and leadership in making the Philippines a popular outsourcing destination of choice.[35]
  • On September 18, 2007, Roxas was conferred with the Palanca Awards Gawad Dangal ng Lahi by CP Group Chairman Carlos Palanca III, Palanca Foundation Director General Sylvia Palanca-Quirino and Deputy Director General Christine Quirino-Pacheco for serving as an exemplary leader and role model to the Filipino.[36]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Personal Information of Mar Roxas. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
  2. ^ Vanzi, Sol Jose (2000-01-08). Lim heads DILG, Mar Roxas is Trade Chief. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  3. ^ Maglalang, Ferdie (2001-01-27). GMA swears in 14 Cabinet officials. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  4. ^ Villanueva, Marichu (2003-12-11). Manuel Roxas II quits DTI for Senate run. Philippine Star. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  5. ^ Patino, Patrick (2007-05-10). GMA swears in 14 Cabinet officials. Institute for Popular Democracy. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  6. ^ JUDY A. ROXAS, recipient of the Benigno S. Aquino Jr. Award for Nationalism. Institute for Popular Democracy. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  7. ^ Constantino, Ronald (2007-11-08). Mar & Korina, other lovey-dovey couples. Telebisyon.Net. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  8. ^ Deveza, Reyma (April 13, 2008). Korina wants to be Mar's 'Only Lady'. ABS-CBN News. Retrieved on 2008-04-14.
  9. ^ a b Senator Mar A. Roxas - Senate of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g About Mar. Retrieved on 2007-09-16.
  11. ^ Patinio, Bong (2004-05-24). 11 Proclaimed, Biazon and Barbers fight for 12th Senate slot. Manila Times. Retrieved on 2008-01-11.
  12. ^ Cabacungan Jr., Gil (2007-09-17). 11 Proclaimed, Biazon and Barbers fight for 12th Senate slot. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  13. ^ Affordable Medicines. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  14. ^ EVAT Funds for Education and Healthcare. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  15. ^ Tax Exemption for Minimum Wage Earners. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  16. ^ Amendments to the Roxas Law. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  17. ^ Regulating the Pre-Need Industry. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  18. ^ Anti-Smuggling Bill. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  19. ^ Lemon Law. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  20. ^ SME Magna Carta. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  21. ^ Free Information Act. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  22. ^ Decriminalizing Libel. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  23. ^ Battle looming between LP and NP for presidency in 2010
  24. ^ Roxas is the standard bearer of LP in 2010, Drilon says. Philippine Information Agency (2007-11-19). Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
  25. ^ Angara sees 7 bets in 2010. Manila Times (2008-01-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  26. ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Roxas is new LP president, sets sights on 2010 poll
  27. ^ ABS-CBN Interactive, Atienza questions Roxas' assumption as new LP prexy
  28. ^ Roxas files resolution for ZTE deal cancellation (2007-09-24). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  29. ^ Roxas: Pardon Erap at the appropriate time (2007-09-17). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  30. ^ Statement of Sen. Roxas on JPEPA (2007-10-04). Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  31. ^ Cabacungan Jr., Gil (2007-06-06). Roxas warns: JPEPA safety nets needed. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  32. ^ DTI - Roxas. Office of the President - Philippines. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  33. ^ DTI - Roxas. Tinig ng Marino - Special Features: Mar Roxas and Rodolfo Biazon. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  34. ^ SENATOR MANUEL A. ROXAS II - Profile. Liberal Party of the Philippines. Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  35. ^ e-Services Philippines 2007 : 111. E-Services Philippines (2007-02-16). Retrieved on 2008-01-30.
  36. ^ Palanca Awards confers Gawad Dangal ng Lahi to Senator Mar Roxas. ClickTheCity.Com (2007-09-18). Retrieved on 2008-01-30.

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Manuel Araneta Roxas II
Family and Important Persons
Gerardo Roxas (father) · Manuel Roxas (grandfather) · Trinidad de Leon-Roxas (grandmother) · Korina Sanchez (in current relationship with)
Offices held
Senate of the Philippines
2010 Presidential Elections
v • d • e
Senators of the 14th Congress of the Philippines
Term ends June 30, 2010
Biazon · Lapid · Estrada · Enrile · P. Cayetano · Santiago · Gordon · Madrigal · Pimentel · Revilla · Roxas
Term ends June 30, 2013


Persondata
NAME Roxas II, Manuel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Roxas, Mar; Mr. Palengke
SHORT DESCRIPTION Incumbent Philippine Senator
DATE OF BIRTH May 13, 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH Quezon City, Philippines
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages