Secretary Defensor was elected congressman of the third district of Quezon City in 1995, the youngest member of the House of Representatives. He won reelection in 1998. Defensor soon distinguished himself as a leading member of the group of young legislators in the House. He was named one of the top 10 Legislators, New Millennium’s Most Outstanding Solons and Most Consistent Outstanding Congressman for three consecutive years by the Gladiators Magazine and Congress Watch Magazine. Reelected in 1998, Defensor was voted by his party-mates as assistant minority floor leader of the Eleventh Congress.

His legislative accomplishments include the passage of RA 8313, An Act upgrading the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, and RA 8976, An Act Requiring the Fortification of Processed Foods with Essential Micronutrients.

He co-authored priority bill including, An Act Creating the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Dangerous Drugs Act of 1998, Act Amending the Magna Carta of the Disabled Persons, and an Act Mandating the Nationwide Rabies Vaccination Program.

Following President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s assumption of the presidency, Defensor was named presidential adviser on housing and chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). He was awarded Most Outstanding Cabinet Secretary by the Gawad Paglilingkod Metro Manila Radio Reporters Organization in 2002 in recognition of his performance as chairman of HUDCC. In 1999, he was cited by Asiaweek as one of Asia’s Political Leaders of the New Millennium.

Born on June 30, 1969, Defensor was elected councilor of Quezon City in 1992, the youngest member of that body. He was reelected in 1992.

Defensor finished high school, Bachelor of Arts in History, and Masters in Public Administration at the University of the Philippines.

Originally posted at www.op.gov.ph