SENADO 2016, sino nga ba?
Profile written by REK
Photo sourced from official campaign website
<http://joelvillanueva.ph>
Emmanuel "Joel" Villanueva
Liberal Party
Born: August 2, 1975, Bulacan
Despite being a newbie in the Senate run, Emmanuel “Joel” Villanueva is not new to politics. He started his political career as a three-term party-list representative of Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC). Where he was the youngest member of the Lower House. During his stint in Congress, he also served in two top posts, i.e. Assistant Majority Floor Leader and Deputy Minority Leader during the Arroyo Administration. He was awarded the Ten Outstanding Legislators of the Philippines Award in 2003 and 2005.
He began his Congress term by earnestly supporting the impeachment case against Ombudsman Aniano Desierto who was then accused of bribery, violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.
He was also the driving force behind Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act, which sought to reduce, if not eliminate, the bureaucratic red tape. This law required the government to respond efficiently to public requests. He was also behind RA No. 9184, which called for a modernized, standardized and regulated procurement process to help root out corruption. He also worked hard in calling for additional incentives for members of the Public Attorney's Office to boost their effort in providing free and quality legal assistance to the poor.
He also sponsored the law on absentee voting, which provided an opportunity for Filipinos abroad to exercise their right to vote. He supported the Senior Citizens' Act to provide additional privileges to the elderly who spent their years working and serving the public.
Running under the Liberal Party flag, Villanueva served in the Aquino Administration as the Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), where he improved its programs and policies that made the skills and development training that the agency provided more attunedwith the job market's current needs.
He holds a graduate degree in Business from Harvard University (1998) and a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Sto. Tomas (1996). He was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 2013.
References:
<http://business.inquirer.net/94827/tesda-chief-joel-villanueva-posting-growth-strides>