
Oscar "Richard" S. Garin, Jr.
More Than 25 Years of Public Service
Oscar “Richard” S. Garin, Jr. a two-term Member of the House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines representing the First Congressional District of Iloilo composed of seven (7) towns: Oton, Tigbauan, Tubungan, Igbaras, Miagao, San Joaquin and Guimbal, his hometown.
He served for six (6) consecutive years, from June, 2013 to June, 2019.
Track Record
His career in politics started in 1982 when he was elected as Guimbal Municipal Federation President of the Kabataang Barangay, the precursor of the present day Sangguniang Kabataan. At 24 years old, he was elected in 1992 as Provincial Board Member, representing the First District of Iloilo and re elected to the same position in 1995.
In 1998 he opted out on his last term as Board Member to become the Municipal Mayor of Guimbal which he served until 2007. His tenure as Mayor was highlighted by pragmatic innovation, resulting to policies and solutions based on real and actual situations. As proof, he was able to steer Guimbal into national recognition by garnering numerous national awards, most notably, the Most Business Friendly Municipality Award given by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as a Hall of Famer.
He returned to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan as Senior Board Member and Floor Leader in 2007. He was elected Vice Governor of the Province of Iloilo in 2010 elections with a margin of about 180,000 votes. It was an indication that majority of the Ilonggos aspire to be governed by young, competent, energetic and visionary leaders.
His two terms in office as Congressman of the First District of Iloilo is a hallmark of hard work and dedication, particularly on his advocacy for health, social services and education. As a legislator, he pushed for comprehensive and affordable health and social services programs for the people, and the expansion of technical and vocational education for the youth. Most significantly, anyone familiar with the southern part of Iloilo will readily attest that during the past six (6) years a frenzy of government project implementation swept over the First District, not only in infrastructure but also in social services, health, poverty alleviation and education.“Responsableng Gobyerno”, a catchword among his constituents, is in fact a declaration of his solemn desire to see government work for the people.
He specifically authored legislations providing social pensions for indigent senior citizens who are at least 70 years old, and the establishment of independent high schools in the country. He has filed several bills in Congress, among the most significant and important are House Bills 2147, 3417, 3418 and 3420. When he was Vice Governor of Iloilo from 2010 to 2013, he also promoted similar social legislations, like the Senior Citizens Ordinance of 2012, Person with Disability Ordinance of 2012 and the Solo Parents Ordinance of 2013.
Classrooms Built
Garinatiums Built
Years in Public Service
Proven Track Record
Richard S. Garin has a proven track record of public service.
Personal Life
Congressman Richard Garin is a civil engineer by profession. He finished his studies at the University of San Agustin in 1990 and passed the Board Examinations for Civil Engineers given that same year. He is married to Janette Petilla Loreto of Leyte, a doctor by profession, a former Secretary of the Department of Health and the incumbent Congresswoman of the First District of Iloilo. She was a Member of the House of Representatives for three terms, from 2004 to 2013. They have a daughter, Rica Jane, who is presently enrolled at Boston College as a Bachelor of Science in Economics student.
Even as a private citizen, former Congressman Richard Garin is still unrelenting in his advocacy for citizen participation not only in policy making and governance but most importantly, citizen participation in nation building, true to his advocacy that “Every private individual has his own public responsibility.”
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