Finest Philippine Leaders Filipinos Overlooked Or Ignored Part I

Richard Gordon as Chairman of Philippine Red Cross one of the first to take action spearheading the relief efforts in times of calamities and natural disasters strike 

Richard Gordon Accomplishments

As 1971 Constitutional Convention Delegate

     

-          While still studying at UP, he was elected as the delegate of the first district of Zambales to the 1971 Constitutional Convention which drafted the 1973 Constitution. He was the youngest delegate at the said convention.

As Mayor Of Olongapo City

-          Prior to his election as mayor of Olongapo, Gordon helped his mother Amelia run the city government of Olongapo after the assassination of his father, James in the late 1960s.

-          During his term as mayor, Olongapo became a highly urbanized city in 1983.

-          Made Olongapo City as a “model city” from being a “sin city” by raising police accountability through I.D. systems, proper health and sanitation, waste management and the strict observance of color-coding in public transport.

As Chairman Of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA)

-          Appointed as the Chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) by President Corazon C. Aquino on April 3, 1992.

-          On November 24, 1992, the U.S. Navy completed its withdrawal from the facility and its conversion for civilian and commercial use began.

-          Gordon with the citizens of Olongapo lobbied the national government for the inclusion of a free port concept into the national legislation for the conversion of the U.S. bases. The effort was successful, with the inclusion of the establishment of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (also known as the Subic Special Economic Zone) in Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7227, otherwise known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act, which was approved on March 13, 1992. Section 13 of the same legislation also provided for the establishment of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which was tasked to administer the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

-          In 1996, Subic graciously hosted the APEC Summit and the 18 world leaders were so impressed with the facility thus making Subic the new investment hub in Southeast Asia. Large companies such as FedEx Express, Enron and computer giant Acer poured in US $2.1 billion worth of investments creating 200,000 jobs.

As Secretary Of Tourism Department

-          Spearheaded the successful Wow Philippines! Campaign in aggressively marketing and promoting Philippines in several international tourism expositions and roadshows winning awards from International Tourism Board and WTM.

-          More Than The Usual In The Philippines media campaign in several international media organization such as BBC, CNN, Time Magazine etc. were successful to bring in hordes of foreign tourists.

-          From 2002, after four years of negative growth and in spite of threats of terror post 9-11, Abu Sayyaf kidnappings, SARS, Oakwood Mutiny, tourism arrival increased heavily. He also encouraged domestic tourism by holding regional events and having provincial destinations showcased at Intramuros and the rationalization of Holiday Economics.

-          Successful campaigns and strategies mentioned were successful in bringing in millions of foreign tourists and also spur domestic tourism creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.

As Senator of the Philippines

-          In 2004, Dick Gordon was elected Senator of the Republic of the Philippines with 12,707,151 votes, finishing 5th place among the elected Senators in this batch.

-          In the first half of his term as a senator of the 13^th Congress, Richard Gordon accomplished the following:

1.         Authored 79 bills and 29 resolutions advocating political reform, justice, job creation, education, and disaster preparedness. He is primarily recognized for passing two significant bills in the Senate, namely the new automated election system law for fast, accurate and credible elections, and the holiday economics bill for spurring domestic tourism, employment and socio-economic growth.

      

2.       Passed the very first law in the 13^th Congress, Republic Act No. 9333, fixing the regular elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim    

               Mindanao (ARMM), and several other important laws, including Republic Act No. 9369, the new Automated Elections System law;

               Republic Act No. 9334, the sin tax law; Republic Act No. 9399 and 9400, fixing the tax regime in Special Economic Zones and Freeports

               of Clark and Poro Point; Republic Act No. 9492, the holiday economics law; Republic Act No. 9346, the abolition of the death penalty

               law; and Republic Act No. 9367, the Biofuels Act of 2007.

3.       Convinced IPU member countries to participate in the 112^thInter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, where he also proposed a resolution

on behalf of the Philippine delegation which was adopted, recognizing the role of parliaments in the prevention, rehabilitation, reconstruction and protection of groups that are vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters, and further encouraging the creation of Regional Disaster, Training, Logistics and Reaction Centres in collaboration with international humanitarian organizations and their local counterparts such as the Philippine National Red Cross as well as local disaster coordinating councils to train local field disaster response teams, share international technical know-how, expertise, technology and other information relating to disaster prevention training, and management.

4.        Led the Senate to come together for a Strategic Planning Caucus at the start of the 13th Congress to address the most urgent problems of the nation. He authored proposed Senate Resolution No. 56, which was adopted and became Senate Resolution No. 8, entitled Resolution Calling a Caucus of All Senators to Identify Strategic Measures and Priority Legislation to Effectively and Efficiently Solve the Most Urgent Problems of our Nation. Through his efforts, Dick Gordon united the Senate to pass enabling legislation to solve the country’s budget deficit and fiscal debt, as well as equipped the Senators with many important facts to pass necessary legislation on fiscal reforms, financial reforms, job and income generation, security and peace and order, and education and health.

5.       As Chairman of the Senate Committee of Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Laws, he upheld the supremacy of the Constitution at all times. Though he may not have voted for the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, he took an oath to preserve and defend it. He insisted on the lawful process of Charter Change only according to the process set forth in the Constitution. He opposed the method of Constituent Assembly or "con-ass" initiated by President Arroyo and House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr., which was possible in the 1935 Constitution but unlawful in the current Constitution, as well as the dubious Sigaw ng Bayan People's Initiative and was one of the triumphant parties in the case of Lambino and Aumentado vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 174153, October 25, 2006. He also preserved the separation of powers in government and asserted the Senate’s constitutional right and duty to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation against Executive Order No. 464 in Senate, et al. vs. Ermita, G.R. No. 169777, April 20, 2006, and Executive Order No. 1 in Sabio vs. Gordon, et al., G.R. No. 174340, October 17, 2006.

6.       Preserved the separation of powers in government and asserted the Senate’s constitutional right and duty to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation against Executive Order No. 464 in Senate, et al. vs. Ermita, G.R. No. 169777, April 20, 2006, and Executive Order No. 1 in Sabio vs. Gordon, et al., G.R. No. 174340, October 17, 2006. In Sabio, he was upheld as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Government Corporations and Public Enterprises in his resolve to investigate the accountability of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in managing the government’s interest in Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (PHILCOMSAT), pursuant to the Constitutional precept that public office is a public trust.

7.        Resolute as a staunch advocate of civil liberties. He has fought numerous times to protect the fundamental liberties of the people guaranteed by the Constitution under threat by extrajudicial killings and abductions, Calibrated Preemptive Response (CPR), Presidential Proclamation No. 1017, etc.

8.       He was the first to speak against extrajudicial killings of journalists and judges. He has consistently supported giving a high premium on justice as part of the basic duty of the State to protect and serve the people. Knowing how it is to be a victim of crime when his father was assassinated but refusing to take the law into his own hands, he denounced the numerous assassinations of journalists, judges, politicians, activists, etc. and called for swift action to deliver justice.

9.       Advocated electoral reform and protection of the people’s right of suffrage. He principally authored and sponsored Republic Act No. 9369, the new Automated Election System law, to bring forth election modernization and minimize election fraud.

Chaired the following Senate Committees:

1. Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws

2. Government Corporations and Public Enterprises

3. Tourism

Member of the following Senate Committees:

1. Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies

2. Blue Ribbon

3. Cultural Communities

4. Economic Affairs

5. Education, Arts and Culture

6. Energy

7. Environment and Natural Resources

8. Finance

9. Foreign Relations

10. Health and Demography

11. Justice and Human Rights

12. Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development

13. Local Government

14. National Defense and Security

15. Peace, Unification and Reconciliation

16. Public Information and Mass Media

17. Public Order and Illegal Drugs

18. Public Services

19. Public Works

20. Trade and Commerce

21. Ways and Means

22. Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement

23. Youth, Women and Family Relations

         - In the second half of his term as a senator of the 14th Congress, Richard Gordon accomplished the following:

1.         Authored 106 bills and 56 resolutions, advocating political reform, public order, health, justice, job creation, education and disaster preparedness. He is recognized for passing several significant bills in the Senate, namely, the Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act which allows veterans to receive pensions from both Philippine and United States Governments; the Tourism Act of 2007 which provides for the strengthening of the tourism industry through strengthened promotion and the formation of Tourism Enterprise Zones (TEZs); and the Act Penalizing Violations Against International Humanitarian Law which ensures the protection of persons in times of armed conflict.

2.       Passed, as sponsor, the following bills: Republic Act No. 9499, the Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits; Republic Act No. 9593, the Tourism Act of 2007; Republic Act No. 9803, the Food Donation Act; Republic Act No. 9851, Penalizing Violations of International Humanitarian Law; Republic Act No. 9903, Establishing a one-time SSS Condonation Program; Republic Act No. 9996, Creating the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (MinDA); Republic Act No. 10023, Extending Free Patent to Residential Lands; Republic Act No. 10072, Philippine Red Cross Charter; and Republic Act No. 10073, Girl Scouts of the Philippines Charter.

3.       Co-authored the following important laws: Republic Act No. 9496, Extending Utilization Period of ACEF; Republic Act No. 9500, creating the University of the Philippines Charter of 2007; Republic Act No. 9504, Small Income and Minimum Wage Earners Exemption from Filing of Individual Income Tax Returns; Republic Act No. 9513, the Renewable Energy Act of 2007; Republic Act No. 9576, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Charter of 2008; Republic Act No. 9679, strengthening the Pag-IBIG Charter; Republic Act No. 9710, the Magna Carta of Women; and Republic Act No. 9993, Philippine Coast Guard Law.

4.        Member of the Bicameral Conference Committee of Republic Act No. 9700, CARP Extension with Reforms; and Joint Resolution No. 36, the New Salary Standardization Scheme for Government Employees.

5.       Authored and sponsored the following legislative initiatives which are on third reading, pending in the House of Representatives, or awaiting the President’s approval: Senate Bill No. 2162, Adlaw ni Lapu-Lapu; Senate Bill No. 2590, an Act proposing Nine Rays on the Sun on the Philippine Flag; Senate Bill No. 3086, the Philippine Disaster Risk Management Act of 2009.

6.       As Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, spearheaded the investigation on the 2004 P728-million Fertilizer Fund Scam, promptly releasing Committee Report No. 254 which recommended amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the Government Procurement Reform Act; and on the assailed ZTE National Broadband Contract, resolved under Committee Report No. 743 with recommendations to prosecute key government personalities for violations of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and to enact a Whistleblower Bill of Rights.

7.        Member of the Senate Contingent to the Commission on Appointments.

8.     Opposed the imposition of Martial Law in Maguindanao. He challenged the constitutional validity of Proclamation No. 1959, arguing that the requisites for Martial Law did not exist.
       

9.        Despite his ties to Arroyo, the senator led investigations into the fertilizer fund scam and the botched NBN-ZTE deal. In his committee reports, he recommended the prosecution of Arroyo officials. For him his loyalty to his country begins when his loyalty to his party ends.
 

Chaired the following Senate Committees:

1. Blue Ribbon Committee for the Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations

2. Government Corporations and Public EnterprisesGovernment Corporations and Public Enterprises

Appointed Vice-Chair of the following Committees:

1. Ethics and Privileges

2. Finance

3. National Defense and Security

Member of the following Senate Committees:

1. Accounts

2. Agriculture and Food

3. Civil Service and Government Reorganization

4. Climate Change

5. Constitutional Amendments, Revisions of Codes and Laws

6. Cooperatives

7. Education and Culture

8. Energy

9. Environment and Natural Resources

10. Foreign Relations

11. Games, Amusement and Sports

12. Health and Demography

13. Labor, Employment and Human Resource Management

14. Local Government

15. Public Information and Mass Media

16. Public Order and Illegal Drugs

17. Public Services

18. Public Works

19. Rules

20. Science and Technology

21. Tourism

22. Trade and Commerce

23. Ways and Means

24. Youth, Women and Family Relations

Automated Election Law

He was also responsible for the passage of Republic Act No. 9369 — or the Automated Elections System to obviate cheating and post-election controversies and protests that hound Philippine elections.

WWII Veterans Compensation

On April 9, 2008, Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor in Bataan, President Arroyo signed into law Republic Act No. 9499- Gordon's Veterans Bill. The Filipino World War II Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008 amends Sections 10 and 11 of Republic Act No. 6948, as amended, by removing the prohibition against our veterans receiving benefits from the United States government. Before the law was signed, the Philippine government benefits of veterans would be revoked once they were granted benefits by the United States government. Because of Gordon’s advocacy and persistence, this prohibition is now eliminated, and Filipino veterans will now be able to receive any form of benefit from any foreign government without losing the benefits given to them by the Philippine government.

National Tourism Policy Act of 2009

He was the principal author of the National Tourism Policy Act of 2009 or Republic Act 9593, declaring a national policy for tourism as an engine of Investment and employment, growth and national development that was signed by President Arroyo in Cebu on May 12, 2009 and witnessed by the country's tourism private sector

-          Despite his ties to Arroyo, the senator led investigations into the fertilizer fund scam and the botched NBN-ZTE deal. In his committee reports, he recommended the prosecution of Arroyo officials.

As Chairman of Philippine Red Cross

-          Elected Governor of Philippine Red Cross in 1986

-          Chairman of the Philippine Red Cross since 2004

-          Spearheaded the rescue, relief and rehabilitation of various disasters from shipwrecks, typhoons, 1990 earthquake in Cabanatuan, 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 2004 landslides in Aurora, Quezon and 2006 Ginsaugun, Southern Leyte mudslide and the PhilSports Arena stampede, typhoon Ondoy in Luzon, Visayas earth quake and Super typhoon Yolanda in the Visayas and some parts of the country in 2013.

Some of the Bills He Passed:

                Veterans Pensions and Benefits Act of 2008 (author and sponsor)

                National Tourism Policy Act (author and sponsor)

                New Automated Elections System Law (author and sponsor)

                An Act Penalizing Violations of International Humanitarian Law (author and sponsor)

                Holiday Economics Law (sponsor)

                Philippine Red Cross Law (sponsor)

                Food Donation Law (sponsor)

                Extending Free Patent to Residential Lands (author and sponsor)

                Mindanao Development Act (sponsor)

                Creating the Freeport Area of Bataan (sponsor)

                Establishing a one-time SSS Condonation Law (author and sponsor)

                An Act Creating the Mindanao Economic Development Authority (sponsor)

                Girl Scouts of the Philippines Charter (sponsor)

*Source: Gordon and richardgordon.blogspot.com

Advocacies:

                Education

                Agriculture

                Enhancement of tourism

                Information technology

                National defense

Achievements and Distinctions:

•              Tourism Secretary, Wow! Philippines

•              Chairman and Governor, Phil. National Red Cross (1986-present)

•              Founding Chairman& Administrator, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) (1992-1998)

•              Youngest delegate of the Constitutional Convention (1971 to 1972)

•              The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL 1996)

•              Some authored bills enacted to law: Automated Elections Law, Veteran’s Law, National Tourism Policy Act of 2009, among others

•              Gold Humanitarian Award, Japan Red Cross (2008

•              Gold Vision Triangle Award, National YMCA

•              Who’s Who in Asia, NHK TV Japan (1995)

•              20 Great Asians of the Future, Asiaweek Magazine (1995)

•              Man of the Year, Alas Singko y Media Program, ABS-CBN (1996)

•              Most Distinguished Alumnus, UP Alumni Association (1997)

•              International Awardee, Visit Korea, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Korea (2003)

Quotes:

“I just didn’t like the idea that you can inherit the presidency. I just didn’t like the idea that you can buy the presidency. I just didn’t like the idea that people run based on names without track records. I have to be part of the debate,” - Gordon told Rappler on why he ran for President

“I’m prepared for it, and perhaps more prepared than the others.” - On his bid to return to Senate in 2013

“When I say something, I have something to prove it.” - On his explanation for his reputation as being proud and demanding

“I picked cigarettes that were thrown by other people and that wasn’t meant to insult. We must lead by example,” - On being a mayor of Olongapo City by example

“When a surveying company takes it upon itself to survey and charge a candidate or put their results in public, that is an invitation to pecuniary and mercantile pursuits that can only harm the people because it’s mind management.” - on his opinion about survey after he sued pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Station

“The illegitimate brother of surveys is excessive advertising. They’ll tell you you’re weak, you need to advertise. In the meantime, our so-called guardians of the people (the media), they run a business. What happens to the candidate with no money?” - On his opinion about media advertising

“So the electorate can really find out what is the capability of this candidate. Ano ba talaga? (What is the real score?) In this country, you have the right to ask your candidate, ‘How are you going to execute your plan?’”- on his plan to push the Commission on Elections to require candidates to debate

“Can you deny when I was running for president, the boat sank and I just had a ‘Silent Night’ [ad]? We couldn’t afford an agency. As they were playing ‘Silent Night,’ I was seen in the middle of the night working, while everyone was sleeping. - on his explanation about his Red Cross commercial while being a Senatorial candidate in 2013

“I’m going to win on my terms. I’m not going to employ what other people are doing. Playing to the gallery, dancing, making jokes. To me, it’s a very serious effort. Leaders raise the level of awareness, understanding, and responsibility of their constituents.”- on how to win the votes of the people

“The country is not working, my dear, and I don’t want to be like one of those in Gone With the Wind who says, ‘Frankly, Scarlett, I don’t give a damn.’”

“I do give a damn.” - on the conditions of his country and what does he feel

“It’s better to know where you’re going and not know how to get there than to know how you’re going and not know where.” - when asked if his campaign strategy is enough


Source:

Rappler
RichardGordon.blogspot.com
Wikipedia
 

Photo Sources:

ivote.ph
news.gov.sg
thedailyopium.com
Richard J. Gordon Facebook Page