DEFENSOR, MICHAEL "'TOL" T.: SLB Profile

Date of Birth: June 30, 1969
Place of Birth: Manila
Civil Status: Married

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Elementary: UP Elementary School, 1981

High School: Miles McKinley High School, Ohio, USA, 1985

College: History, University of the Philippines, 1991

Higher Studies: Master’s in Public Administration, University of the Philippines, 1999

TRACK RECORD:

August 18, 2004-present Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources

2001-2004 Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council

2004 Presidential campaign spokesperson, Office of the President

1995-2001 Representative, 3rd district, Quezon City, House of Representatives

1992-1995 Councilor, Quezon City

ATTENDANCE*

	Total Sessions	Present	Absent	Mission
11th Congress
First Session	88	65	4	0
Second Session	97	43	15	0

* There were days that roll call was dispensed with; M=official mission/business

PLATFORM:

Housing program, agrarian reform

HONORS/AWARDS:

1. one of the top 10 Legislators

2. New Millennium’s Most Outstanding Solons

3. Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for three consecutive years by the Gladiators Magazine and Congress Watch Magazine

4. voted by his party-mates as assistant minority floor leader of the Eleventh Congress

5. appointed presidential adviser on housing

6. appointed chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)

7. Most Outstanding Cabinet Secretary by the Gawad Paglilingkod Metro Manila Radio Reporters Organization in 2002 in recognition of his performance as chairman of HUDCC

8. one of Asia’s Political Leaders of the New Millennium by Asiaweek in 1999

HOUSE BILLS AUTHORED:

RA 8313, An Act upgrading the Quirino Memorial Medical Center

RA 8976, An Act Requiring the Fortification of Processed Foods with Essential Micronutrients.

Co-authored:

An Act Creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development

Dangerous Drugs Act of 1998

Act Amending the Magna Carta of the Disabled Persons

Act Mandating the Nationwide Rabies Vaccination Program

STAND ON CHARTER CHANGE ISSUE:

Defensor, for his part, admitted con-ass, which he called Malacaňang’s “best option”, needs the concurrence of the Senate.
“Without the support of the Senate, then again we go back to the Supreme Court for a legal decision, and that I think is the problem,” he said.
Defensor admitted he would rather support the holding of a constitutional convention. At least we get the senate support and the basic sector supporting us, the church leaders,” Defensor said.

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