It is but natural or even a matter of filial obligation for every father to help his children. And with more reason should a father support his children when they choose to pursue a career that promotes the welfare and the interests of many other people in their community and country. It is thus quite understandable that fathers will openly and fully support and give some good words in favor of their children who are running for public office.
Hence, today, three days before the election, let me just pitch in for my son Joseph Peter, “Jopet” Sison who is running for Congressman of the first district of Marikina. Of course my endorsement of Jopet for Congressman may appear biased and self serving to some people. Nevertheless, let me just present his educational background and record of public service so that the people of the first district of Marikina will be adequately informed and properly guided in their choice of the candidate most qualified for the position.
Joseph Peter Sison, now 50 years old (date of birth Oct. 19, 1965), is married to Cef, with three children, Jat, Jigo and Javi. He is the first born of the five sons of my wife Josie and myself. His brothers are Joel, Jay, Jolly and Jaybee. They have a sister, Joyce the eldest who already died. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila University from Grade School up to College, graduating in 1987 with a Degree in Bachelor of Science, Major in Legal Management. Thereafter, he enrolled at the Manuel L. Quezon University where he obtained his bachelor of Laws Degree in 1992.
Even while studying he was already elected as Barangay Kagawad of their Barangay Pinagkaisahan and later elected as City Councilor of the fourth district of Quezon City where he started his legislative service, authoring 100 approved ordinances and 170 approved resolutions. While sitting as councilor, he served as the assistant majority floor leader, vice chairman of the committee on laws, rules and internal government, and chairman of the following committees: Blue Ribbon committee, police and peace and order (1996-98), revision of ordinances and consolidation of proposed legislative measures, public affairs and information, transportation and communication, QC Tricycle Franchising Board, and Labor and Conciliation.
He also had a stint in Congress itself serving as political officer-Office of the Majority Floor Leader, House of Representatives, and chief of staff, Office of the Minority Floor Leader, House of Representatives.
In the Executive Branch of the government, he served as assistant general manager of the National Housing Authority (NHA), which is the housing production arm of the government in charge of putting up relocation sites, relocating informal settlers and upgrading slum communities. He likewise became president of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corp. (NHMFC) which has the mandate of establishing the secondary mortgage market in the Philippines that launched the country’s first Residential Mortgage Backed Securities or the “Bahay Bonds” which were twice oversubscribed, and thus awarded as the “Best Securitization Deal of the Years” by the Asset Asian Awards. During his stint as president, the NHMFC also implemented numerous collection and loan restructuring policies of the government and transferred the socialized functions of the Corporation to a newly created wholly owned subsidiary, the Social Housing Finance Corporation. He is presently the Head Secretariat of the National Housing and Urban Development Summit.
Even when he was no longer in the government, Jopet has been involved in public service particularly in sharing basic knowledge of the law as contained in Supreme Court decisions, by acting as co-host of the legal drama anthology, “Kapag Nasa Katwiran, Ipaglaban Mo”, and by volunteering as one of the legal advisers in the ABS-CBN Tulong Center that provides legal advice to the people.
With this background and record in public service, Jopet is quite well prepared and fit for the job as Congressman in the first district of Marikina. A Congressman is the district Representative of the people in the Lower House of Congress which is mainly tasked with the enactment of laws. The main function of a Congressman involves legislation which is different from the function of other local government officials, like a Mayor or Governor, which involves execution or enforcement of laws and delivery of basic services and facilities to the people in the locality. Voters in local government units should know that elective positions have different qualifications and different functions. One who has served as Mayor or Governor may not really be as qualified to serve as Congressman or vice versa. Voters should not likewise expect their Congressman to give them the services rendered by a Mayor or Governor and vice versa.
Being a “native” of a locality is not likewise a gauge in electing local officials. It must be pointed out that even if an individual is not born in a particular locality, or katutubo sa isang lugar, he can be elected for any position in said place for as long he has complied with the residency requirement which is one year immediately preceding the day of the election (Section 6, Article VI, Constitution) In the case of Jopet, he has been a resident of the Loyola Grand Villas (LGV) for more than ten years already. LGV is part of Barangay Malanday located in the first district of Marikina. In fact even if he is a native of Quezon City and had previously served there, he had to comply with the law by running in the first district of Marikina since he is already a resident of that place for more than ten years.
Even with all these obstacles along the campaign trail, Jopet has been relentlessly campaigning since the start of the campaign period last March 26, 2016 or 45 days before the election with the help of people from Mariquina and friends who willingly offered their help. The most inspiring aspect in his campaign is the selfless and dedicated assistance of his younger brother Joel who has been accompanying him in his house to house sortie. I am therefore appealing to the voters in Barangays Malanday, Sto. Niño. Santa Elena, San Roque, Jesus Dela Peña, Calumpang, Industrial Valley, Barangka and Tañong, to elect Jopet as their Congressman. Let us give the young generation the opportunity to serve.
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E-mail: attyjosesison@gmail.com