Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Civil Status: Married
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
Elementary: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1960
High School: Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1964
College: English, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 1969
TRACK RECORD:
1998-2004 Senator, Philippine Senate
1992-1998 Senator, Philippine Senate
1988-1992 City vice mayor,
not given Company president/general manager, Tasha Recording Studio
not given Vice president for special projects, Television and Production Exponents Inc.
not given Vice president, Vicor Music Corp.
not given Consultant, sports and cultural affairs,
not given Member of the board,
1970s Actor/TV host, “Eat Bulaga”, RPN 9
PLATFORM:
Anti-illegal drugs
ATTENDANCE*
Total Sessions | Present | Absent | ||
12th Congress | ||||
First Session | 83 | 80 | 1 | 2 |
Second Session | 92 | 81 | 1 | 10 |
11th Congress | ||||
First Session | 100 | 82 | 5 | 13 |
Second Session | 100 | 67 | 3 | 28 |
* There were days that roll call was dispensed with; M=official mission/business
BILLS AUTHORED:
Senator Sotto has successfully sponsored and steered the passage of sixty-one (61) Senate bills as principal sponsor during the Ninth (9th) Tenth (10th) Congress.
These measures include the conversion of a total of twenty-five (25) municipalities into cities such as the cities of
Senator Sotto was also responsible for the passage of several bills, which provided for the establishment of tourist zones in our country, considered vital to the promotion and advancement of our tourism industry towards international standards.
With much needed reforms in our country's electoral process, Senator Sotto also filed a bill on absentee voting, which is one of the mandates of the Constitution left unheeded. This bill seeks to provide the mechanism for the registration of qualified Filipinos abroad in order for them to exercise their right to vote.
A conscientious lawmaker, Senator Sotto was one of the only five senators who voted against the ratification of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) amidst strong pressures from various sectors.
As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Senator Sotto tackled major issues assigned to his Committee. One of the first legislation enacted into law in the 11th Congress, Republic Act No. 8750, also known as the Seats Belts Use Act of 1999,” also emanated from his Committee. The Senate Committee on Public Services conducted a total of thirty-six (36) public hearing addressing major issues like the Princess of the Orient maritime tragedy, the Philippine Airlines controversy, interconnection, the cable industry, and issues confronting the telecommunications industry, among others. These came side by side with the tedious deliberations of legislative franchises applications. The Senate Committee on Public Services has approved a total of thirty-nine (39) legislative franchises vital to our country's industrialization and attempt for modernization.
Senator Sotto during his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, filed Philippine Senate Resolution No. 86 directing the appropriate Senate Committees to make an inquiry, in aid of legislation, the impact on the computer industry and possible problems arising from the 'millennium bug' or 'Y2K bug' and the preparations which are being undertaken in anticipation thereof with the coming of the year 2000. He then co-authored and led the Committee to deliberate on Senate Bill No. 1505 that led to the enactment of Republic Act Number 8747, entitled “An Act requiring disclosure of Year 2000 statements and readiness of computer-based systems and products, providing funds therefore, for other purposes” that prepared the country to cope with the Y2K bug threat.
CITATIONS:
His genuine concern for the welfare of the Filipino youth expanded the horizon of Senator Sotto when he authored two books " Vision for a Drug-Free Philippines" and "The Filipino: Values and Vision", reflecting his dream and aspirations in building a better society. The two books clearly revealed the visionary character of Senator Sotto an his sincere desire to have a better
Senator Sotto's legislative record shows a deep commitment to the youth and the underprivileged, as well as, to the upliftment of the basic public services and the progress and development of the country.
In 1998, the Filipino people gave Senator Vicente C. Sotto III a fresh mandate when they elected him number one among the re-electionist senators. This gave Senator Sotto the opportunity to pursue and continue his commitment to the people to address and actively act on the problems confronting the country within the scope of his duty and influence as a senator.
At the onset of the 11th Congress, Senator Sotto was assigned the Chairmanship of the Senate Committees on Public Services which handles all matters affecting public services and utilities; communications; land, river, and sea transportation including railroads; inter-island navigation; and lighthouses; and the grant or amendment of legislative franchises. He also chaired the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, which handles all matters relating to science and technology including scientific and technological, development and advancement. Senator Sotto filed a total of one hundred ninety (190) legislative bills encompassing a wide range of concerns that affect the nation.
In spite of his busy schedule as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Senator Sotto continued his advocacy against the proliferation of illegal drugs by filing a number of bills addressing this menace plaguing the country. He filed several bills covering the different aspects to curb the drug problem. Senate Bill No. 383 entitled “An Act creating a Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency” is an organizational approach to control and eventually eliminate the drug problem by creating an agency that will focus on the coordination of the different anti-drug entities and the implementation of government policies addressing the drug problem. Senate Bill No. 384 entitled “An Act providing for the inclusion of “methamphetamine hydrochloride” commonly known as “shabu” under the classification of dangerous and prohibited drugs,” on the other hand, is a direct approach to ban certain substances prone to abuse.
Senator Sotto is a proactive advocate for the modernization of the telecommunications sector in the country. He filed a number of Senate Bills addressing the common problems besetting the telecommunications sector today like Senate Bill No. 1660 entitled “An Act mandating interconnection between and among public telecommunications entities” and Senate Bill No. 2084 entitled "An Act providing a service area scheme to all internet service providers (ISPs), liberalizing the granting of its operational license to offer expanded services and deploy internet broadband infrastructure and for other purposes."
A pragmatic nationalist who envisions a country free from the dictates of violence and internal threats, Senator Sotto voted for the approval of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), opening a new era of military cooperation between the
To further enhance his knowledge and competency in public governance, Senator Sotto embarked in an Executive program for Leaders in Development at the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government and completed it in June 2000.
Senator Sotto likewise served as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance and handled the deliberations of the annual budget of the Office of the President, Congress of the
Now in his final three years, Senator Vicente C. Sotto III continues his hard work and education through his experiences and challenges in the Senate halls. From a neophyte senator who faced the immense pressure from the prying eyes of critics and expectations of his colleagues, Senator Sotto has proven his mettle and has earned the respect and trust of the other senators and most importantly, the Filipino people. He is now considered as one of the senior legislators in the Senate and is looked upon for guidance by his new Senator-peers trying to grasp the dynamics of the Philippine Senate.
Senator Sotto has always been an advocate for a drug-free
Senator Sotto is currently one of the Assistant Minority Floor Leaders by virtue of his seniority and clear grasp of various issues and is a member of the Senate Electoral Tribunal.
His balanced and all-sided approach in addressing the wide gamut of problems facing our country reflects the maturity Senator Sotto has reached in the realm of legislation and public service. Amidst the lure of self-importance and arrogance particular to the nature of Philippine politics, Senator Sotto has maintained his humble disposition and selfless dedication maintaining close contact with the Filipino masses he swore to serve.
in his endeavors, but the peak of higher mountains in the distance still awaits him.
STAND ON CHARTER CHANGE ISSUE:
Senator Vicente Sotto III said there is emerging consensus on the “parameters” of undertaking Charter change through a constituent assembly even before the 2004 elections are “acceptable and practical.”
“I am now keeping my mind open for the holding of the constituent assembly,” said Sotto, a stalwart of the opposition Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.
Sotto made the admission after holding “exploratory meeting” with the House leaders led by Speaker Jose de Venecia for the purpose of finding out “common grounds” toward amending the Constitution through Congress acting as an assembly
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=politics01_mar24_2003
No comments:
Post a Comment