Erlpe John Amante

Congressman Erlpe John "Ping" M. Amante is currently the Representative of Agusan del Norte - 2nd District. He started his term last July 2013.

Amante took his elementary and secondary education at Trinity University of Asia, formerly called Trinity College of Quezon City, from 1973 to 1982. He took up AB Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

He entered politics his home province, Agusan del Norte, just like his father the late Cong. Edelmiro Amante, by being elected as Provincial Governor in 2004.^[1] He was re-elected for three consecutive terms until 2013.

As governor, he focused on improving the quality of education in the province and making it more accessible to the less privileged constituents, especially members of the indigenous groups. He distributed textbooks to all public elementary and secondary schools in the province and opened a scholarship program for indigent college students.

He was also given the privilege to attend international seminars sponsored by the Government of Sweden and the US State Department 2006 and 2009 respectively.

Taking public service to a higher level, he ran for Congressman and was elected last year representing the 2nd District of Agusan del Norte. He is a member of fifteen (15) House committees, including Basic Education and Culture, and serves as Vice Chairperson for the committees on Agrarian Reform, Information and Communications Technology, Natural Resources, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship Development. He is one of the most prolific neophyte lawmakers in the 16th Congress, having filed 31 house bills and resolutions and co-authored 30.

Just last September 2014, Congressman Amante was awarded 2014 Outstanding Filipino Achiever in Public Service by the Golden Globe Awards for Business Excellence in recognition of his efforts to progressively develop Agusan del Norte.

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Bills filed

The following are notable bills Amante filed during the 16th Congress (as of January 2015):

1. HB01454: AN ACT REGULATING INTERNET GAMBLING OPERATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR ITS VIOLATION
2. HB01549: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE EXCLUSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT IN THE INCOME CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, THEREBY AMENDING SECTION 4(A) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 249, SERIES OF 1987 ENTITLED 'PROVIDING FOR NEW INCOME CLASSIFICATION OF PROVINCES, CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES'
3. HB02715: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FIFTEEN (15) YEAR MORATORIUM ON THE PROCESSING AND APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR CONVERSION OF ALL IRRIGATED AND IRRIGABLE LANDS COVERED BY IRRIGATION PROJECTS
4. HB03734: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF TOURISM OFFICERS IN PROVINCES AND CITIES AND OPTIONAL APPOINTMENT IN MUNICIPALITIES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 AS AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
5. HB03735: AN ACT CREATING THE CARAGA NATIONAL DAIRY COW RESEARCH CENTER AT THE CARAGA STATE UNIVERSITY, BRGY. AMPAYON, BUTUAN CITY AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
6. HB03892: AN ACT MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF LOCAL AND PROVINCIAL HISTORY, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND TOURISM MODULES IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY LEVELS IN ALL PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
7. HB04727: AN ACT ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE EEL RESEARCH CENTER IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF JABONGA, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL NORTE AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREOF
8. HB04728: AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY DOMESTIC PROCESSING OF ALL MINERAL ORES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7942 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES^[3]
9. HB04764: AN ACT CREATING THE LAKE MAINIT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, PRESCRIBING ITS POWERS, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
10. HB05293: AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE MINERAL INDUSTRY AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF
11. HB05294: AN ACT PROHIBITING THE MALICIOUS AND WILLFUL DISSEMINATION OF FALSE INFORMATION ON THE PRESENCE OF BOMBS, EXPLOSIVES, OR ANY OTHER LIFE-THREATENING AND DESTRUCTIVE MATERIALS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES THEREFOR

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References