Oriental Mindoro solon, 9 others chosen ‘outstanding congressmen’ in the country

CALAPAN CITY – Oriental Mindoro First District Congressman and nine other members of the House of Representatives has been chosen by a nationwide group of community press as this year’s “10 Most Outstanding Congressmen.”

In a report sent here by Juan Dayang, president of Publishers’ Association of the Philippines (PAPI), it was learned that the three-term Congresman Valencia, along with nine other veterans and neophyte congressmen, was conferred the said award for their outstanding contributions to their respective constituents and congressional district as part of PAPI’s 2012 Mid-year Media Conference.

The awarding ceremony was held last July 20 at the Makati Sports Club, with House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr. as guest of honor and speaker.

Dayang said the media sector covering all congressional districts all over the country, especially PAPI which is the Philippine’s largest and oldest association of publishers and mediamen in the provinces and urban communities, has kept a close watch of the performance of the members of the House of Representatives during last year until the first six months of this current year.

Aside from Valencia, also a former three-term governor of Oriental Mindoro, the other outstanding congressmen are: Reps. Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna partylist, Ma. Georgina de Venecia of Pangasinan, Rodolfo Fariñas of Ilocos Norte, Roilo Golez of Parañaque, Edcel Lagman of Albay, Hermilando Mandanas of Batangas, Emil Ong of Samar, Angelo Palmones of Agham partylist, Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan De Oro and Lorenzo Tañada III of Quezon province.

In choosing and honoring the 10 outstanding House members, Dayang stated the community press, has been documenting the accomplishments of all members of both Congress.  PAPI, he added, recognizes the excellent performance of some of the Representatives.

Dayang also pointed out that media has the inherent function to inform the people, especially those residing in the countryside, about the performance of their legislators in the House of Representatives.( By JUANCHO R. MAHUSAY)