EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

Achievement has been a hallmark of the life and professional career of Hon. Manuel C. Ortega. For more than two decades, Manuel C. Ortega has touched the lives of his constituents and keeps on shaping the bright future of the Province of La Union. Before becoming the Father of the Province, he was a well loved mayor of then Municipality of San Fernando which is now a chartered city through his initiative. After the mandatory three-year term, he ran and won as representative of La Union’s 1st District from 1998 to 2007, after which, he was elected as Governor of La Union in 2007 and the recent May 2010 elections.

He is more than a leader who leads his people in realizing his political and economic schema.  He is a public servant, who serves not because it is his duty but because it is his will and purpose. He envisions a decade ahead of his time.  Hence, he plans year after year to accomplish a bottomless pit of dreams for the welfare of his people.  It is a non-stop mission that prepared him to take all consequences and confront all obstacles that may hinder him along the way.

A “jack of all trades”, his vast experience and academic competencies make him a very effective leader.  He was a consistent student leader during his college days in the University of Santo Tomas where he finished his Bachelor of Science in Commerce, majoring in Management and Business Administration. Governor Ortega also holds a Master’s Degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) from the National Defense College of the Philippines. Unknown to many, he is also a bemedalled officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines where he holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Like his brother La Union 1st District Congressman Victor F. Ortega, he is a teacher by heart. From 1977 to 1980, he was a UST professor in commerce. A business guru himself, he held top positions on some of the country’s largest private corporations.

POLITICAL LIFE

He eventually sought and carved his own niche in La Union politics, consistent with the legacy of public service handed down by his grandfather, Don Joaquin Joaquino Ortega, La Union’s first elected civilian governor and his father, former House Speaker Pro Tempore Francisco “Pacoy” L. Ortega.

Elected mayor of then town of San Fernando in 1988, he served for three full consecutive terms until May 10, 1998.  When San Fernando residents voted for the conversion of their town into a city through a plebiscite, he served as mayor of the now City of San Fernando.  Ortega’s incumbency as chief executive of the then town of San Fernando was remarkable for unerring focus on peace and order, stimulating socio-economic development, cleaning and greening of its communities and superb delivery of public services.

For his relentless efforts to develop San Fernando to unprecedented levels of peace, progress and prosperity, he was rewarded with many accolades. From 1988 to 1995, he was voted by his peers as president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) La Union Chapter; president of LMP Region I Chapter; adviser of the LMP La Union Chapter; and Public Relations Officer of the LMP National directorate during the same period. 

In 1995, in recognition of his remarkable contribution toward making La Union the most peaceful province in Region I and one of the cleanest and greenest in the country, he received the Saranay Award, the highest distinction that the province of La Union can confer to its people. In 1993, during his second term as local chief executive of San Fernando, he was conferred the Likas Yaman Award by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for his support to the project Magsidalus iti Arubayanna (Operation MIA). The same year, he was bestowed the Department of Interior and Local Government’s Hall of Fame Award for outstanding performance as municipal mayor for four consecutive years from 1989 to 1993.

Under his stewardship, San Fernando received several Awards of Excellence from the President of the Philippines for commitment, discipline and unity of its citizens toward the cause of a healthy environment.  In the search for the cleanest and greenest Local Government Units of the Philippines, San Fernando was adjudged Regional Champion from 1994 to 1997 with second runner-up awards at the national level in 1994 and 1997.

In 1996, he was conferred by the Department of Interior and Local Government the Region’s Outstanding Municipal Executive more popularly known as ROME, a gold medallion for his proven abilities in local governance.  The honor came in tandem with the Region’s Most Outstanding Municipality of the Year (ROMY) Award given to San Fernando under his leadership.

Before becoming the Father of the Province, he ran and won as representative of La Union’s 1st District from 1998 to 2007. During his three terms as member of the House of Representatives, he earned the respect of the leadership of the chamber and of his peers.  Governor Ortega, either as principal author or co-sponsor, has filed a number of legislative measures seeking among others, the grant of greater autonomy to local government units; reduction of red tape in the bureaucracy; increase in the effectiveness and efficiency of the Philippine National Police; rationalization of the use of funds allocated for public works and infrastructure projects; increase of the monetary and other benefits of barangay officials, barangay health workers, teachers, policemen, firemen and other frontline civil servants; and introduction of reforms to the national tax and revenue system particularly on its effects to the tobacco industry.

His initiative in Congress included making personal representation with appropriate government agencies and LGUs.  Public works and infrastructure projects mushroomed in the province’s First District, together with roads, bridges, school buildings, health centers, irrigations and post-harvest facilities.  Cooperative projects and the sustained construction and fast development of the San Fernando City Seaport, San Fernando City Airport and facilities of the Poro Point Management Corporation as a component of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle that have salutary effects on the quality of life of his constituents were on top of his agenda.

INITIATIVES FOR PEACE AND ORDER

“Peace, Order and Security for ALL.” This has been and still is the battle-cry of the Provincial Government of La Union under the leadership of Gov. Manoling Ortega since he assumed office as the Chief Executive of the Province in 2007. He has recognized the critical need to further strengthen and improve peace and order and security of the province and concretize it by the organization of the first Provincial Council of the Five (5) Pillars of Criminal Justice with the theme, “Where Everything Else Matters, Everyone Counts.” The council is a new initiative and an innovative model of Governor Ortega as Chair of the Provincial Peace and Order Council which consists of Law Enforcement, Prosecution, Judiciary and Dispute Resolution, Correction, and Community.

On September 3, 2008, Governor Ortega was appointed as Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officer by virtue of Section IX of DENR Administrative Order No. 2000-11. Apo Manoling was empowered to apprehend natural resources products used and produces in the commission of offenses.

Meanwhile, on September 24, 2009. La Union Governor was adjudged as the Regional Best “One-Town-One-Product” (OTOP) Implementer by the Department of Trade and Industry Region I.

Governor Ortega’s First 100 days of his 2nd term focused on the attainment of the Vision of the Province: “La Union: Haven of Peace, Unity and Prosperity in a much improved quality of life”.  Apo Manoling continued with his flagship programs for peace and order through his administration’s PEACE Agenda which stands for Participatory Local Administration and Governance; Economic Development for Sustained Growth and Equity; Availability of Efficient Infrastructure and Utilities; Comprehensive Social Services; and Environment and Natural Resources Development.  This is his administration’s development blueprint, the basic foundation and necessary building block of all sectors of development, may it be political, economic, social, physical and even spiritual.  Giving confidence to potential investors in the province, La Union bagged the “Most Business Friendly Province in 2009 given by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) which was awarded by no other than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

Gov. MCO’s plan of action includes the completion of on-going provincial legacy programs and projects like the La Union Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center; La Union Honey Processing Center; Provincial Employees Housing and Human Settlements Project; Integrated Sustainable Support for Urban Environment Project (ISSUE 2); implementation of the La Union Provincial Integrated Plan for Health with funding support of the Department of Health and foreign funding partners; expansion and renewal of Philhealth (Medicare Para sa Masa) Coverage Program; completion of  the Provincial Comprehensive Provincial Disaster Risk Management Plan; completion of the Provincial Tourism Master Plan; facilitation of the local government units’ compliance to environmental laws such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Clean Air Act and the Environment Code; legitimization of the Revised La Union Investment Incentive Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations for most effective results in terms on actual investments to promote additional jobs; acceleration in the implementation of public services delivery based on the 1st La Union Citizen’s Charter dubbed as “Wagas ti Servicio Publiko;” and the initiation of a Community Empowerment and Capacity Building Program for provincial and municipal workforce to keep our labor force globally competitive.

[Personal Information] [Educational Background] [Experience] [Citations & Awards]