Monico Puentevella
| Monico Puentevella | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Bacolod City | |
|
In office 30 June 2013 – present | |
| Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Bacolod City's Lone District | |
|
Assumed office 30 June 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Juan Nuega Orola, Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Golez, Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Monico Ogtong Puentevella July 2, 1946 Manila, Philippines |
| Political party | National Unity Party (2015-present) |
| Spouse(s) | Josefa Alunan |
| Alma mater | University of St. La Salle |
Monico O. Puentevella (born 2 July 1946 in Manila, Philippines) is a Filipino politician. Formerly a member of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, he was elected to three terms as a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing the Legislative district of Bacolod City. He was first elected to Congress in 2001, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2007. He is the incumbent mayor of Bacolod. He finished both his elementary and secondary education at the De La Salle Bacolod in 1962 and 1965, respectively. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree from De La Salle, Manila in 1960. He furtherly pursued Professional Management Development Program study at the Asian Institute of Management in 1994.
Political life
Monico had been a contributing writer for Manila Bulletin newspaper and Sports Weekly Magazine and Program host for West Negros Radio Station in 1967. He also became part of the television world when he hosted "Monico and Friends" and "Awit ng Tanghalan" in ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, and "Monico" (he also produced) in RPN TV 8.
Monico also worked as company officer for IPC-Sugar Trading Co., Philsugar, Sugar Planters, RH Fabricators and Designs Inc., and JOSMON Management Co. Inc. He also was an employee at Philippine National Bank and served as Director of the Cultural Sports Commission.
Prior to his election to Congress, Puentevella served as a Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission from 1994 to 2000.
In 1994, he became the President of Cebu Rolling Hills Memorial Chapels and Rolling Hills Foundation,as well as Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (until 2004).
'Newks’ as he is fondly called by his contemporaries is not new to public service as he had represented the Lone District of Bacolod in Congress from 2001 to 2010. As a three-term Congressman, Mayor Monico authored thirteen National Laws including the Quarantine Act of 2004, the Cheaper Medicines Law, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Law and the Alternative Fuel Act of 2004, among others. He also helped authored and co-authored at least 586 house bills and resolutions of Local and National importance. Mayor Monico’s name is also synonymous with sports; the former De La Salle Manila stalwart was once voted Chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission and the current Marketing and Television Committee Director of the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA).
Helping him in his administration will be a consortium of past, present and future "servant-leaders" of the City that follows Mayor Puentevella’ s philosophy to "work as a team and succeed as one." In as such, Bacolod is assured that she is in good hands, ready and willing to upraise her name as one of the prime cities and the top tourist hub of the country.[1]
He was elected as mayor of Bacolod City in 2013.
In 2015, Puentevella was suspended for 90-days which started on November 16 and was charged with violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) for the alleged overpriced purchase of IT packages worth P26 million using his Priority Development Assistance Funds when he was congressman from 2002 to 2007. These IT packages were for public elementary and secondary schools in Bacolod. Also charged with Puentevella were the late Victorino Tirol, former Department of Education Western Visayas director; and Merryland Publishing chairman Jessie Garcia, supplier of the IT packages. Puentevella denied the accusations and questioned the validity of the information filed against him, however he willfully accepted the suspension with no reported hesitation. As a result, while Puentevella served his suspension, Bacolod Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya sat as acting mayor and Councilor El Cid Familiaran as vice mayor.[2]
The Sandiganbayan’s 90-day preventive suspension of Puentevella over graft charges ended on February 14, 2016 and Puentevella was able to return to his previous post as Bacolod City Mayor. Puentevella is also running for Mayoralty re-election on the 2016 Philippine local elections.[3]
Personal life
He is married to Josefa Alunan who is a Company manager of the Rolling Hills Inc. His brother-in-law, Rolando R. Dizon, is the Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. He has three sons Nicky, Rocky and Kalaw who is a current councilor in Bacolod City.
References
- ↑ "Bacolod City Officials". www.bacolodcity.gov.ph. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
- ↑ Bacolod mayor suspended for 90 days over computer deal for schools – Inquirer.
- ↑ Monico celebrates end of 90-day suspension – Panay News.