Living Up to the Family’s Standard of Public Service

The province of Rizal, similar to virtually every province in the Philippines, is generally known, among other things, for families long engaged in politics and public service. One cannot miss the surname Tanjuatco when discussing and, especially, visiting the different towns of the province. At present, one of the emerging leaders of Rizal who is carving a name in public service is Representative Emigdio “Dino” P. Tanjuatco III of the province’s second legislative district.

RUNNING IN THE FAMILY

The saying “The apple does not fall far from the tree” clearly holds true for Tanjuatco, given that his father, former Representative Emigdio “Ding” S. Tanjuatco, Jr., was likewise a renowned political leader in Rizal and serves as his role model in his young political career. And in pursuing a career in a field that has almost always been associated with influence and excesses, the traits and words of his father ground him to tread the right path. “He had so many traits that I still hold on to, to this very day, foremost of which is simplicity. My father was really never extravagant when it came to material things. Although we did have a comfortable life, it was not luxurious in any form,” he explains.

Tanjuatco likewise notes that his father stressed that in politics and public service, there is a need to create an environment of consensus building, particularly given the presence of various sectors in his district, including farmers, fisherfolks, persons with disability, and even single parents. In Tanjuatco’s perspective, consensus building, which his father instilled in him and his siblings, entails finding out what the people need. “Always ask them, then get the consensus of the majority. And that’s what you present wherever you are, wherever you come from, wherever you go,” the lawmaker adds. He admits he was constantly reminded that being elected a representative, mayor, or governor does not mean that one is considered “the boss” automatically. “It is really the other way around; the votes of the people are really the trust given to those elected. They trust us to be their voice because they cannot speak for themselves due to external factors and circumstances,” Tanjuatco emphasizes.

DISCOURAGED… INITIALLY

Tanjuatco confesses that his father, despite being a renowned politician during his time, actually discouraged him and his siblings from entering politics because of the “difficult” nature of the field. “Politics is a different creature… you have to have the heart, mind, and willingness to serve,” he adds.

Indeed, his father wanted him to experience the life of a lawyer, specifically as a litigator, and not merely a corporate lawyer sitting behind a desk and reviewing or drafting documents. “He wanted me to experience appearing in court, arguing with the opposing counsel, and trying to defend and serve clients… that’s what I did for five years,” Tanjuatco elaborates. He adds that he specializes in family relations, labor law, and corporate law, but took on some criminal cases as well, although most of the cases he handled were civil cases. He likewise appeared and argued before the Sandiganbayan, which was presided at that time by Justice Francis Garchitorena, who apparently had a reputation for “initiating” new lawyers. “In that sense, I was able to build the confidence of speaking in public, knowing how to argue without getting too emotional,” he adds.

FROM CLIENTS TO CONSTITUENTS

For Tanjuatco, the transition from the practice of law to engaging in politics and public service was not that difficult, given that his clients and constituents’ primary need is practically the same: to be served. “When I was in legal practice, I was serving the needs of my clients. In politics, I have to serve the needs of my constituents. I guess at the end of the day, it’s all about serving ‘the client,’” he reiterates. And serve he did, guided by the reputation that his grandparents and parents had built as public servants. “They were not tainted with any issues of corruption… and I don’t want to be the one to break, or tarnish, that tradition. So, there is pressure to perform, which I use in a constructive way.”

Tanjuatco’s initial foray into politics began in 2001, when he was elected member of the Rizal Provincial Board, representing the province’s second district until 2004. He ran again in 2007 and served until 2017 but was unable to complete his term as board member because he was appointed by then-President Benigno S. Aquino III as president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) in 2014. “My position as CEO [of CIAC] is totally different from that of a legislator because the function of a CEO is more of an executive,” Tanjuatco elaborates. “My first few months as CEO, I have to admit, were very difficult… I had to manage an airport with several departments and… about a thousand employees at that time.”

Despite the challenging nature of being CIAC CEO, Tanjuatco eventually went back to what his father taught him: to have a consensus-building mindset. “Because I was exposed to being a provincial board member before my stint in Clark, I knew how to deal with different kinds of people. And it was totally different because Clark is situated in Pampanga. So, I had to deal with Kapampangans,” he shares. As such, Tanjuatco proudly shares that his ability to communicate with airport employees and the locals, including learning their language and culture, among other things, enabled him to eventually adjust to his work and made things smoother in the long run.

After serving as CIAC CEO until 2016, Tanjuatco returned to local politics in 2019 when he again ran and won as a provincial board member, serving in this capacity for another two terms, until 2022. Inevitably, the lawmaking function of the provincial board further honed his acumen and skills not only as a public servant but also as a lawmaker. In the 2022 elections, Tanjuatco ran and was elected representative of Rizal’s second legislative district, which comprises the towns of Teresa, Morong, Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Pililla, and Jalajala.

LIFE IN BATASAN

Tanjuatco shares that in terms of schedule, life as a congressional representative is relatively unpredictable “but exciting.” Apart from the session days that he has to attend, there are days devoted to committee meetings and hearings, as well various activities outside the Batasan complex, such as speaking engagements, meetings with various sectors, and, of course, attending to the needs of his constituents in his district. “I have to be very flexible, but I don’t get bored because I’m not stuck in front of a desk or tied to a strict, rigid schedule… it allows me to balance work from the legislative and social services sides,” Tanjuatco explains.

The congressman admits that in his first few months as a national legislator, he thought that it would be the same as working as a provincial board member. After all, both responsibilities entail crafting laws to benefit the people and the country. Evidently, the huge difference is observed, primarily in the composition of the House of Representatives. “I had to learn how to maneuver… because district and party-list representatives have their own interests and constituents… you can’t just throw your weight around,” Tanjuatco says.

Given his status as a neophyte lawmaker, Tanjuatco naturally turns to his “elders” for guidance, especially that some of the seasoned representatives knew his father. Moreover, he learned that part of his responsibility is to continuously learn, particularly the lawmaking process. “My first time on the podium during plenary, I made a mistake.

They say that it usually happens. But when I make a mistake, I learn from it,” he says. “During committee hearings, I also look at my seniors [lawmakers]. Because they’re the ones who ask the questions first. And then I try to learn from them… I always ask questions… that’s the challenge.”

LAWMAKER IN ACTION

Although just in his first term, Tanjuatco has already proven that he is not one to back down from the challenges he and his colleagues constantly face in Congress. This early, he has filed over a hundred bills, one of which is, perhaps, among the most critical ones for the province of Rizal: declaring the Kaliwa River Forest and Wildlife Sanctuary as a protected area. “The Kaliwa Watershed Forest area is within the town of Tanay and is home to and protects various flora and fauna, including the civet cat… unfortunately, it is not yet a protected area under the [National Integrated Protected Areas System] NIPAS law, so the local government is the one providing funds for its protection,” Tanjuatco shares.

The lawmaker explains that the passage of the Kaliwa Watershed bill into law will provide funding from the national government, protect the area in a systematic manner through the hiring of more foresters and establishment of security structures, prevent commercialization, attend to the welfare of indigenous peoples (e.g., Dumagats, Remontados) in the locality, and preserve the forest to prevent flooding in nearby low-lying areas during the rainy season. “The area should remain untouched,” he reiterates.

Meanwhile, Tanjuatco is currently working closely with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to institutionalize how protected areas will be managed. To this end, he refers to DENR’s Project TRANSFORM, in which the management of protected areas is coordinated by three entities: DENR, the local government where a protected area is located, and the private entity that will develop ecotourism in the area. Tanjuatco cites the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park as a model. “I’m asking the DENR if we can do that kind of model in Rizal,” he shares. He particularly adds that in his district, “each town has its distinct characteristics. And when we talk about tourism in the second district, what comes to mind would be Tanay because of the mountainous area, and then Pililla because of the windmills.”

Another major piece of legislation that Tanjuatco is pushing is definitely close to his heart: a revision of the provisions of the Consumer Act, a law co-authored by his father. As head of the technical working group that worked on the law’s amendments, he had to involve many stakeholders and various government agencies, primarily the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), to present a draft bill that essentially considered the majority of consumer stakeholders.

Other important pieces of legislation that Tanjuatco prioritizes include much-needed election-related reforms, including early voting, strengthening voter registration, and provision of satellite registration centers; institutionalization of the Philippine National Games to enhance the identification and development of potential national athletes who will compete internationally; and the establishment of a Department of Sports to focus on all matters related to the proper development and training of athletes, including the provision of the necessary budget and funding.

DREAMING FOR THE PROVINCE OF RIZAL

Tanjuatco is optimistic that Rizal will eventually achieve what other more progressive provinces near Metro Manila have achieved. “One of the frustrating characteristics of the province is that with its proximity with Metro Manila, we have yet to achieve what we want to achieve in terms of tourism and economic activities… we still lack infrastructure in terms of roads, so that people can have proper access to the province… traffic is a concern,” he confides. “Apart from providing our people’s basic needs, officials of Rizal are also focusing on how to make people come back to and explore our province.”

Lastly, Tanjuatco shares that he is fortunate to have his constituents in the 2nd District and the people of Rizal in general. “I’m lucky to have them because they’re the ones who feed me the information I need to be able to provide for their needs. I’m very fortunate to have a constituency that is still very warm, still very provincial and rural in nature. And I always tell them that no one’s going to help Rizaleños except Rizaleños.”