Mikee Romero | |
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Congressman House of Representatives | |
In office July 2016 – Present | |
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 1-Pacman party-list | |
Assumed office 3-termer Congressman, 1PACMAN Partylist | |
Personal details | |
Born | Michael L. Romero Ph.D. March 21, 1972[1] |
Political party | 1-Pacman |
Spouse |
Sheila Bermudez (m. 1992) |
Children | 5 |
Education | De La Salle University |
Michael Odylon "Mikee" Lagman Romero (Tagalog: [ˈmaɪki roˈmɛɾo]; born March 21, 1972) is a Filipino businessman, politician, and polo player who previously served as a House Deputy Speaker from 2019 to 2022, except for a 12-day period out of office in October 2020 due to a House leadership crisis. For Seven straight years, He was consistently the Richest Legislator in the Country having a net worth based on his SALN of over P9 Billion. He was likewise consistently a part of Forbes Magazine’s List of Richest Filipinos since 2013.
Currently he is a three-term Congressman from the Party-list Representative for 1-Pacman. In the 18th Congress (2019-2022), Rep. Romero was elected as the most Senior Deputy Speaker in charge of the Political Affairs of the whole House of Representatives (DS for Political Affairs). He likewise was elected as the Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives (HOR) contingent to the Annual Philippine bicameral budget conferences for year 2021 and 2022.
Romero was formerly the Leader and President of the second biggest block in the 18th Congress, the 54-congress member Party List Coalition (PLC) group. It is during his leadership wherein the Party List Coalition became a strong force to reckon with and a big swing vote in the Philippine congress.
In his first six years in Congress (17th and 18th Congress), he has been a manifestation of his own brand of leadership and legislative work. He has set new bars on legislative work by authoring over 800 House Bills and Resolutions. Out of his more than 800 Bills and Resolutions, “Sixty-One” (61) of his work are now stamped as Philippine Republic Acts or new Laws of the country.
From 2016 to 2022, various award giving bodies has taken note of his exemplary performance in public service. He was consistently awarded annually as a “top performer congressman and an outstanding congressman awardee” by Superbrands Philippines, Asia Leaders Awards, Nation Builders Award, Elite Leaders Awards and others.
Education
editRomero finished two doctor in Philosophy degrees in Management (PhD in Management, 2006 with High Academic Distinction) and PhD in Political Economy (2008). Rep. Romero likewise finished an academics only Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA, 1998-2005) at DLSU. Romero’s Masters in Business Management was at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM, 1997) . Rep Romero from 2008-2010 taught Finance in both the Ateneo and DLSU MBA schools. He created the Financial Executive Institute of the Philippines (FINEX) flagship program of Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition, which is now a 50 plus school financial and economic competition around the country.
Political career
editRomero was named as one of the new deputy speakers of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on August 13, 2019.[2] During a House leadership crisis which began in late September 2020, Romero supported Lord Allan Velasco's speakership bid in accordance with the term-sharing agreement between Cayetano and Velasco during the commencement of the 18th Congress. On October 2, Fredenil Castro (Capiz–2nd) challenged the representatives to resign if they cannot cooperate with Cayetano's leadership. Deputy Majority Leader Xavier Jesus Romualdo moved to have Castro replace Romero as a deputy speaker. The motion was approved without objections, removing Romero from the position.[3]
On October 12, a majority of House members held session at the Celebrity Sports Complex in Quezon City. After they declared the speakership vacant, Romero was one of those who nominated Velasco as speaker.[4][5] Velasco was declared as the new speaker after garnering 186 votes, more than the 151 needed for a majority. However, Cayetano's side questioned the legality of the session.[6] The next day, Velasco was formally elected in an official session held at the Batasang Pambansa while Cayetano resigned.[7] On October 14, Romero was again elected as a deputy speaker, replacing the ousted Luis Raymund Villafuerte (Camarines Sur–2nd), a Cayetano ally.[8][9]
Here are some of the laws (Republic Acts) Rep. Romero principally authored and created:
Laws Passed
editAGRICULTURE LAWS
- RA 10969 Free Irrigation Service Act
- RA 11203 Rice Tariffication Act
- RA11398 Fisheries Regulation Act
- RA 11511 Amending the Organic Agriculture Act
- RA 11524 Cocolevy Trust Fund Act
POVERTY ALLEVIATION
- RA 11310 4P’s Act
- RA 10931 Free Tuition Fee Act
HEALTHCARE LAWS
- RA 11215 National Integrated Cancer Control Act
- RA 11223 Universal Health Act
- RA 11228 Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for All PWD`s
- RA 11166 Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018
- RA 11509 Doktor para sa Bayan
ECONOMIC LAWS
- RA 10929 Free Internet Access in Public Places
- RA 11032 Ease of Doing Business Act
- RA1121 New Bangko ng Sentral ng Pilipinas Act
- RA 11293 Philippines Innovation Act
- RA11337 Innovative Startup Act
SPORTS LAW
- RA 11214 Philippine Sports Training Center Act
SOCIAL SERVICES AND LABOR LAWS
- RA 10968 Philippine Qualifications Framework
- RA 11058 Occupational Safety & Health Standards Act
- RA 11199 SSS Rationalization Act
- RA 11466 Salary Standardization Act of 2019
PANDEMIC RESPONSE LAW
- RA 11469 Bayanihan Act to Heal as One 1
PERMITS, LICENSES AND PASSPORTS LAWS
- RA 10928 Ext Validity of PH Passports to 10yrs
- RA10930 Ext Validity of Driver`s License to 5yrs
FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- RA 11312 Magna Carta for Scientists & Engrs
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
- RA 11350 National Comm. Of Senior Citizen Act
FOR MUSLIM AFFAIRS
- RA 11054 BANGSAMORO Organic Law
FOR ANTI-TERRORISM
- RA 11479 Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020
FOR NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY
- RA 11038 Expanded Natl. Integrated Protected Area of 2018
- RA 11039 Electric Cooperatives Emergency Act
FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
- RA11202 Mobile Number Portability Act
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAWS
- RA 11292 Seal of Local Governance Act of 2019
- RA 11053 Anti-Hazing Law
TAXES AND REVENUES LAWS
- RA 10963 TRAIN Act
- RA11534 CREATE Act
- RA 11346 Additional Tobacco Sin Tax
Businesses
editRomero, prior to joining government was already one of Forbes Magazine’s Top 50 List of Richest Filipinos (Forbes listed in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017). He has created several businesses which became big empires in the Philippines.
His family’s business interests are in the following Industries:
a) Airline (Philippine Air Asia and Zest Airways);
b) Power Distribution (CrownInvestments and Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative IMC);
c) Power Generation (1Power-100MW, Fort Pilar Energy-650MW, ADSI Solar-40MW);
d) Ports and Terminals (Globalport Terminals in Zamboanga City, Ozamiz, Iligan, Agusan, Surigao, Matnog, Tacloban, Pulupandan, Tagbilaran and Davao City);
e) Financial Investments (Globalport 900 and Mikrotech Capital);
In 2010, He transformed the notorious Manila North Harbour to a world class port facility with a modern and world-class Passenger Terminal that can
accommodate up to 3 million passengers a year. This is after he won the P16.5 Billion modernization of the Philippines main Domestic terminal in 2010.
Sports
editIn Sports, He captained the Philippine National team that won the bronze medal in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Competition held in his Miguel Romero Polo field in Calatagan, Batangas. In 2012, he also led his polo team in winning the 2012 United States Polo Associations’ Mid-West 12 Goal Tournament.
He was formerly the youngest Federation President of both the Philippine Sports Associations of Shooting (Philippine National Shooting Association) and Cycling (Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines). In 2007, he bankrolled the Philippine National Basketball Team to a Southeast Asian Games (SEAG 2007) Gold Medal in Thailand and Southeast Asian Basketball Association (SEABA) Gold Medal in Indonesia. He was recognized and awarded as the Godfather of Philippine Amateur Basketball in 2007 and 2008 by the Philippine Sportswriters Association. In 2010, He co-founded the Asean Basketball League (ABL), which is the first professional regional basketball league in Southeast Asia. The Philippine Patriots, Romero owned professional basketball team was the inaugural champions of the ABL. In 2016, He was elected as Chairman of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).
In 2010, Romero was one of the founders of Philippine Baseball, the first professional baseball league in the Philippines. In 2012 led the Philippine Olympic team to the 2012 London Olympics as its Official Team Leader.
Sports Team
edit- NorthPort Batang Pier (Philippine Basketball Association, 2012–present)
- AirAsia Flying Spikers (Philippine Super Liga, 2014)
- Manila Sharks (Baseball Philippines, 2007-2012)
- AirAsia Philippine Patriots (ASEAN Basketball League, 2009-2012)
- Harbour Centre Batang Pier/Oracle Residences Titans (Philippine Basketball League, 2004-2010)
Awards
editAside from the many Outstanding Congressman Awards. He has been given recognition this 2021 as PeopleAsia’s People of the Year Awardee as well as 2021 DLSU’s Hall of Fame in Sports Inductee.
Forbes Magazines “Top 50 List of Richest in the Philippines” 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017.
In 2014, He was named by Mega Magazine as one of the 10 Most Powerful Personalities in the Philippines and likewise as Top 5 Powerful Men in the Country, while Town and Country Magazine ranked Rep. Romero as one of the Top 50 personalities under 50 years old. In 2012, Rep. Romero was named 2012 Men Who Matter Award by Stargate’s People Magazine.
In 2008, He was voted as the “2008 Management Man of the Year”, awarded by the Philippine Council of Management (PhilcoMan). In that same year, the Consumer Union of the Philippines (CUP) awarded Romero with the 2012 Best business Port in the Philippines. The Junior Chamber International (JCI) or Jaycees voted Rep. Romero as the 2010 Creative Young Entrepreneur Award. The Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines or FINEX awarded Rep. Romero for Pioneering and Creating the Inter-Collegiate Finance Competition in 2010. Political Magazine, Graphic Magazine awarded him with the 2008 Young Leadership Award.
References
edit- ^ Celis, Beth (March 21, 2013). "Treasured birthday gift for Romero". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ^ Diaz, Jess (August 15, 2019). "Recto, 3 others named House deputy speakers". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (October 2, 2020). "Velasco ally Mikee Romero removed as House deputy speaker". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
- ^ Tolentino, Reina C. (October 12, 2020). "Speakers' seat declared vacant; Velasco nominated speaker". The Manila Times. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (October 12, 2020). "Velasco installed as new Speaker in session outside House". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
- ^ Villamor-Ilano, Marites (October 12, 2020). "186 lawmakers unseat Cayetano, elect Velasco as Speaker". SunStar Philippines. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "House ratifies Velasco's election as Speaker". CNN Philippines. October 13, 2020. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Ferreras, Vince (October 14, 2020). "Romero back as deputy speaker, replaces Cayetano ally Villafuerte". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (October 14, 2020). "House revamp: Cayetano ally ousted, Romero back as Deputy Speaker". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2020.