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Hon. Oscar S. Rodriguez
City Mayor

About our City Mayor

Married to Dolores Pineda Pabustan, father to Raissa & Wito Bautista, Oscar Jr., Orson & Joy (y Maglalang), Malou & Dindo Caguiat and Omar and grandfather to Jomo Bautista

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Laws Far Eastern University (1973)
Bachelor of Arts Harvardian Colleges (1969)
High School Pampanga High School (1963)
Elementary (Valedictorian) San Pablo Elementary School (1959)

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT

City Mayor of San Fernando, Pampanga (July 2004 - present)

Representative, Twelfth Congress (2001 to June 2004)
Third Congressional District of Pampanga

- Member, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET)
- President, Central Luzon Congressional Caucus (CLCC), the only official organization of all twenty representatives from the various legislative districts of Central Luzon
- Senior Vice-Chairman, Committee on Justice
- Senior Vice-Chairman, Committee on Bases Conversion
- Member, Committee on Appropriations, Oversight, Good Government, Agriculture, Food & Fisheries, Ways & Means, Human Rights, Economic Affairs, Constitutional Amendments, Higher and Technical Education, Housing & Urban Development, Games & Amusements and Dangerous Drugs
- Member and Delegate of the World Jurist Association, WJA’s Regional Stuggart Conference on “Alternative Dispute Resolution”, Germany, September 29 – October 4, 2002
- Member of the Official Delegation headed by H.E. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, to Malaysia and Thailand, May 7-8, 2002
- Member and Delegate of World Jurist Association, WJA’s to a conference on “International Terrorism and its Implications,” Madrid, Spain, April 13 – 20, 2002
- Delegate of the World Jurist Association to the 20th Biennial Conference, Dublin, Ireland, Sept. 29 – Oct. 6, 2001
- The only Representative of Pampanga not to have signed the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide
- Principal author of over ninety house bills (ranging from human rights, revisions of laws, justice, labor and employment, health and infrastructure) and resolutions
- Principal author of bills seeking prohibition of political dynasties, amendments to the illegal discharge of firearms; the declaration of Mt. Pinatubo as a tourist spot; the declaration of the 4th of February as Foundation Day of the City of San Fernando
- Principal author of the Birthday Leave law
- Principal author of Republic Act 9225, The Dual Citizenship Law providing for overseas Filipinos to participate in political processes; Republic Act 9211, The Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 and Republic Act 9173 which seeks to strengthen the Nursing Profession in the Philippines
- Co-author of over seventy (70) bills and resolutions
- Co-author and endorser of the Bill converting the Pampanga Agricultural College into a University


Representative, Eleventh Congress (1998 – 2001)

- Member, House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (2001) Member, Committees on Agriculture and Food, Economic Affairs, Civil, Political and Human Rights, Foreign Affairs, Local Government, Tourism (1998 – 2001)
- Elected as one of eleven Prosecutors, Impeachment Trial of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada (2000 – 2001)
- Chairman, Committee on Constitutional Amendments (1998 – 2000) – conducted nationwide and international consultations; Vice-Chairman, Committee on Justice
- Acting Chairman, Congressional Committee hearings on the impeachment complaint against former President Estrada
- Vice-Chairman, Committee of Higher and Technical Education; Subcommittee Chairman on Student Welfare, Enhancement and Protection of Human Rights, Immigration and Deprtation (1998 – 2001)
- Delegate, Congressional Study Mission to the Ryerson Polytechnic School, Harvard, Georgetown, Toronto, New York and California Universities (May, 2000)
- Principal author of over fifty (50) house bills (ranging from human rights, revision of laws, justice, labor and employment, health and infrastructure) and resolutions; Co-author of over sixty (60) bills and resolutions
- Principal author of R.A. 8815, the law increasing the coverage of the Jose Abad Santos Day as a local holiday in Angeles City; R.A. 8860, establishing national high school in the municipality of Sta. Ana; R.A. 8990, converting the Municipality of San Fernando into a City Government of San Fernando, Pampanga
- Co-author of the Clean Air Act
- Tireless leader in the rehabilitation of lahar devastated communities and the funding of roads, bridges, livelihood projects, construction of schools, hospitals and day care centers totaling at least half a billion pesos in his term of office

Representative, Tenth Congress (1995 – 1998)

- Deputy Majority Floor Leader
- Participant, 21st Convention Against Torture, United Nations Committee on Human Rights, Geneva, Switzerland, November – 1998;
- Delegate, Liberal International Congress, London, U.K., November – 1997
- Participant, Executive Program for Leaders, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.A., July – 1997
- Delegate, 13th Convention on Asian Population and Development, Kobe, Japan, March – 1997
- Delegate, United Nations Second Reading of the Draft Optional Protocol Against Torture, Geneva Switzerland, October – 1996
- Member, Oversight Committee on the Bases Conversions, Athens, Greece/Taipei, April – 1996

Representative, Eight Congress (1987 – 1992)
- The first elected representative under the 1987 Constitution
- One of the principal authors of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law and measures combating illegal recruitment
- Institutionalized and strengthened laws providing free elementary and secondary education
- Acclaimed as on of the Outstanding Representatives of the progressive bloc
- Participant, Congressional Study Mission on the Israeli Cooperative System, Tel Aviv, Israel, July – 1990

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AS A LAWYER, EDUCATOR AND CIVIL SERVANT

Fellow of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (February 2006 to date)
Member of the Philippine Bar Association (January 18, 2006 to date)
Delegate to the Consultative Commission to Propose Revisions to the 1987 Constitutions (2005)
Human Rights/Litigation Lawyer (1974 -1986/1992 – 1995)
Founding Member, Congressional/Political Consultants and Associates (CPCA< 1993 – 1995)
Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (1974 - to date)
PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR, Province of Pampanga (1986 – 1987)
Full Professor, University of Assumption, San Fernando Pampanga, Contract Law (1983 – 1986/1992 – 1995); Participant in the drafting of the Rules of Criminal Procedure UP Law Center (1985); Associate Professor, san Sebastian College of Law, Negotiable Instrument and Contract Law (1976 – 1980); associate Professor, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Commercial Law (1976 – 1980)
Clerk of Court (1975 – 1979)
Stenographer and Steno-typist in the Regional Trial Court of Angeles and Caloocan Cities, the Provincial Health Office of Pampanga and the Provincial Fiscal’s Office of San Fernando, Pampanga (1965 – 1974)


SOCIAL AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS

Founding Chair, Opportunities for Community Advancement Foundation (OCA)
Co-Founder and Honorary Chair, Save Pampanga Movement
Co-Founder and Honorary Chair, Save San Fernando Foundation Incorporated;
Founding President, Movement for the Advancement of Young Advocates of Pampanga (MAYAP)
Founding Chair, Manananggol para sa Karapatang Pantao, Gitnang Luzon (MAKATAO)
Member and former Trustee, Movement of Attorneys for Brotherhood, Integrity, Nationalism, Inc. (MABINI)
Member, Kiwanis Club of San Fernando, Pampanga; Rotary Club of San Fernando Pampanga
Member, Rotary Club of San Fernando, Pampanga
Member, QUOTA International of San Fernando, Pampanga
Member, World Jurist Association, Washington, DC


AWARDS AND CITATIONS

3rd Runner-Up World City Mayor
Most Outstanding Congressman of the Eleventh Congress, League of Press Association of the Philippines, February 7, 2001
Most Outstanding Congressman in Region III, Asusasyon ng Kumentarista at Anaunser ng Pilipinas (AKAP), January 16, 2001
Citations from the Partylist Sectoral Group AKBAYAN and the Civil Society Group of COPA, for the stellar performance in the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada
Award for Excellence and Key-note Speaker of the Far Eastern University College of Law (April 2000)
Awards and Citations for Excellence and Outstanding Achievements in Government Service from the Municipalities of Mexico, Sta. Ana and Arayat
Most Outstanding Kapampangan in Government Service (1986)

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MAYOR RODRIGUEZ SETS 8-POINT AGENDA FOR THE CITY OF SAN FERNANDO


City of San Fernando - Being one of the catalysts of progress in Region 3 and in the province of Pampanga, the priorities of Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez for the city of San Fernando are geared towards a stronger economy and the capability building of Fernandinos through the efficient and effective delivery of basic services, especially to the poor. These are linked to the global gateways strategy since the city is tactically located in the heart of Central Luzon.

“We will increase the capability and improve the quality of life of every citizen of San Fernando as we promote a more proactive, dynamic and responsive governance for continued, genuine and sustainable development in preparation for the aggressive growth ushered by the Global Gateways” says Mayor Rodriguez.

The “gateways” aim to establish first rate infrastructure to attract local and foreign investors in Region 3. The opening of the ports in Subic and the Diosdado Macapagal Airport in Clark, and the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTE) are part of the development strategy that will pave the way for the establishment of a world class economic corridor in this part of the country.

San Fernando, being in the center of the region, plays a vital role in the preparation for this development. Along this line, the eight-point agenda of Mayor Rodriguez focuses on the establishment of soft and hard infrastructures that will enhance the capability of the city and its citizenry to make them active participants and beneficiaries of the project.

First in the agenda is education. Mayor Rodriguez believes that an educated citizenry will pave the way for a more dynamic community. The city government will ensure that the poorest of the poor will have access to quality education so that they can take an active part in the economic activities in the region. Foremost in the list of priority projects along this line, is the nationalization of the City Information, Communication and Technology High School (CICTHS) so that it can source logistical support from the national government for its expansion.

CICTHS prepares the high school students to global competition. It is the only public high school in the region that offers a curriculum based on information technology. It has limited its enrollees to students who graduated at the top of their class from the public elementary schools in the city.

Next academic year, the high school level of the Panipuan Integrated School will be opened for freshmen. This will provide relief for students in the northern part of the city who still go to Barangay Sindalan or the poblacion to study, if not in the neighboring Angeles City.

Health is second in the agenda of Mayor Rodriguez. Free basic medical services will be made available to more Fernandinos. The Health Centers and the barangay health units will be strengthened and the health workers will be empowered through trainings and other developmental programs.

The city government will see to it that specialized medical services will be made available to Fernandinos at affordable costs. Each of the existing hospitals will be encouraged to concentrate on particular specialization. In order to get premium rates from these hospitals for the Fernandinos, the city government will provide assistance and incentives within the bounds mandated to it by law.

Corollary to providing health services is the protection of the environment as a preventive measure. The city government shall enhance the solid waste management program, control air and noise pollution and promote the care for the natural resources.

Mayor Rodriguez is aware that “economic development such as the global gateways strategy entails ecological costs”. But his commitment to the protection of the environment is unwavering that he will see to it that all economic activities in the city will not “create a serious disequilibrium between the people and their habitat.”

In many instances, culture and tradition are set aside in the name of economic development. Mayor Rodriguez, however, believes that the two can co-exist. He says, “we shall open our doors to local and foreign investments but we will make certain that our heritage is respected and preserved and that the investors will contribute along this line and in the promotion of tourism.”

As part of the priorities of Mayor Rodriguez, San Fernando will be promoted as a tourist hub. The city government will promote guided tours in the heritage district where the historical sites and structures can be found. “Kutseros” will be trained as tour guides. This will also save the vanishing “calesas” which are part of the rich tradition of the Fernandinos.

In order to boost the economy further, Mayor Rodriguez plans to invite more investors to put up their logistics and distribution centers in the city. Its proximity to the SCTE should encourage them to establish their trading centers here. The city government shall provide the necessary assistance to these investors within the bounds of law as incentives.

The establishment of a “Bagsakan Area” or a trading center for farm products is fifth among the priority of the Rodriguez administration. The trading center should help promote and develop local agriculture and reduce the cost of basic commodities in the area. Corollary to this, the city shall improve the roads to the proposed area.

The sixth agenda of Mayor Rodriguez is the promotion of the City of San Fernando as a transshipment terminal. Bus companies will be encouraged to set up their stations in the city. This backs the proposed “bagsakan center” and will also help the micro enterprises.

Under the administration of Mayor Rodriguez, San Fernando will be touted as the Financial Center in Region 3. Banks and other financial institutions will be encouraged to set up their financial centers in their branches in San Fernando. This will facilitate the processing of loans for SMEs and revitalize commerce and industry.

The eighth priority of Mayor Rodriguez is the development of the Government Center in Barangay Maimpis to encourage all the national government agencies to establish their regional offices in the area. Many of these agencies are renting their offices elsewhere. The city government shall encourage the construction of their offices in the center through the built-operate-transfer scheme. The staging of offices by national agencies in the city will aid in making the processing of required permits easy for the investors.

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