Benjamin Abalos Jr.
Benjamin "Benhur" de Castro Abalos Jr. (born July 19, 1962) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who currently serves as the Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Previously, he served as the city mayor of Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, for five terms and as congressman for the same city. He is the son of Benjamin Abalos, a former Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and MMDA chairman. In January 2021, Abalos was appointed to the same position in the MMDA as his father following the death of Danilo Lim who died from complications of COVID-19.[1]
Benjamin Abalos Jr. | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) Abalos (center) sworn in by President Rodrigo Duterte as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman, January 11, 2021 | |
| Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Danilo Lim |
| Mayor of Mandaluyong | |
| In office June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Neptali Gonzales II |
| Succeeded by | Carmelita Abalos |
| In office June 30, 1998 – June 30, 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Benjamin Abalos |
| Succeeded by | Neptali Gonzales II |
| Member of the House of Representatives from Mandaluyong City | |
| In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Neptali Gonzales II |
| Succeeded by | Neptali Gonzales II |
| Member of the Mandaluyong City Council from the 1st district | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Benjamin de Castro Abalos Jr. July 19, 1962 Mandaluyong, Rizal, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | PDP–Laban (2017–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Lakas CMD (2003–2009) Lakas Kampi CMD (2009–2017) |
| Spouse(s) | Carmelita "Menchie" Aguilar |
| Children | 7 |
| Parents | Bejamin Abalos Sr. Corazon de Castro |
| Residence | Mandaluyong, Metro Manila |
| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University De La Salle University |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
| Nickname(s) | Benhur |
Early life
Abalos is the second eldest of the five children of Benjamin Abalos and Corazon de Castro.[2][3]
Political career
Mayor of Mandaluyong (1995—2016)
Abalos first served as Councilor from the 1st district of Mandaluyong from 1995 to 1998.[4] In that role, he chaired the Committee on Laws, Peace & Order and Public Safety and served on the Committee on Angara Affairs and Livelihood and Cooperatives.
Abalos was first elected mayor in 1998. His brand of governance was credited for transforming Mandaluyong into the “Tiger City of the Philippines” in just one term of office. He served as the local chief executive until 2004.
In the 2004 elections, he switched positions with a longtime political ally, Rep. Neptali Gonzales II, to become the city's lone representative to the House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress. Abalos served in this capacity until 2007. As a member of the lower house, he authored a total of 25 House bills and co-authored 54 others. He sponsored the biggest budget of the Philippine Sports Commission in its entire history. In addition, Abalos was the principal author of Republic Act No. 9397, otherwise known as the Amended Urban Development Housing Act of 1992.
In 2007, Abalos was again elected mayor of Mandaluyong. In his second term as mayor, Abalos set new records after being elected as president of two national organizations. The first organization was the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), an organization of all 1.2 million elected/appointed local officials in the country and their umbrella organizations (League of Governors, League of Vice Governors, Board Members, City Mayors, Municipal Mayors, Vice Mayors, Councillors, and Sangguinaang Kabataan, as well as nurses' and midwives' organizations). The second organization was the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), an organization of all 122 city mayors of the country. He was the first mayor to hold the presidency of these two prestigious organizations concurrently. His term in ULAP was also the first time a mayor had headed ULAP, which had traditionally been headed by a governor.
Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (2021—present)
Abalos was appointed as the chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on January 11, 2021, replacing Danilo Lim, who died due to the coronavirus.[5]
Personal life
Abalos is married to Carmelita "Menchie" Aguilar, who currently serves as the mayor of Mandaluyong. They have six children: twins Charisse and Ciara Marie, Benjamin III, Charlene Marie, Maria Corazon, and Celine Marie.[4] He also has other children, most notably Bharles. Their one identical twin, Ciara Marie, is deceased. Their daughter Charisse and son Benjamin III are both in politics, serving as councilor for the 1st and 2nd districts of Mandaluyong, respectively.
Health
On July 2020, Abalos tested positive for COVID-19, after his father, Benjamin Sr., his mother, and his daughter Charisse tested positive for the disease prior to his diagnosis.[6] He was able to recover from the disease.[7]
Awards
| Date | Awards | Description |
|---|---|---|
| November 27, 2017 | Pioneering Leader in Green Building Program | Given by International Finance Corporation World Bank and adopted by the Department of Public Works and Highways
Shangri-La Hotel, Makati City |
| December 13, 2016 | Nutrition Honor Award | The highest award conferred by the National Nutrition Council to an LGUthat has consistently achieved the CROWN Award for three consecutive years.
Awarded by National Nutrition Council Philippine International Convention Center |
| October 27, 2016 | Seal of Good Local Governance | For passing all criterion the Core and Essential Components: Good Financial Housekeeping; Social Protection; Disaster Preparedness; Business-friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Management; and Peace and Order.
Awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, Pasay City |
| June 25,2015 | United Nations Public Service Award | In recognition of his excellent performance as a public servantin initiating Project TEACH, a program that extends free services and intervention to childrenwith special needs of indigent families.
Awarded by the United Nations thru its Division forPublic Administration and Development Management Medellin, Colombia |
| September 14, 2015 | Seal of Good Local Governance | For passing all criterion the Core and Essential Components: Good Financial Housekeeping; Social Protection; Disaster Preparedness; Business-friendliness and Competitiveness; Environmental Management; and Peace and Order.
Awarded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Executive Building, Mandaluyong City Hall |
| March 13, 2013 | Galing Pook 2012 Awards - Top Ten Outstanding Local Governance Programs - |
Awarded by the Galing Pook Foundation in partnership with the Local Government Academy-Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Ford Foundation Diosdado Macapagal Hall, Landbank Plaza, Malate, Manila
|
| 2012 | Presidential Award For Most Child Friendly City in the Philippines (Highly Urbanized City Category) | Awarded by the Council for the Welfare of Children
Malacañang Palace, Manila October 2011 National Level Finalist – 2012. |
| October 13, 2003 | Outstanding City Mayor | Local Government Leadership Award (LGLA), Senate of the Philippines.
Awarded by Senator Aquilino Pimentel, Senator Franklin Drilonand DILG Secretary Joey Lina, University of the Philippines, Ateneo School of Government –Ateneo de Manila, La Salle Institute of Governance – DLSU, Center for Governance, Development Academy of the Philippines, San Carlos University, Mindanao State Universityand Kalayaan College |
References
- Calapati, Jimmy (31 July 2002). "Development with a heart". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- CoM (2008). "Mandaluyong City Mayor". City of Mandaluyong. Retrieved 2010-04-03.
- Cabuenas, J.V.D. (January 10, 2020). "Benhur Abalos to take over as MMDA chief". GMA News. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
- http://mandaluyong.gov.ph/govt/mayor.aspx
- Mocon-Ciriao, Claudeth (January 12, 2021). "Abalos: Metro Manila needs 'coordinated' urban planning". BusinessWorld. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
- Casinas, John Aldrin (July 26, 2020). "Ex-Mandaluyong mayor Benhur Abalos tested positive for COVID-19". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- "Mandaluyong ex-mayor says Chinese meds helped him beat COVID". CNN Philippines. July 26, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Benjamin Abalos |
Mayor of Mandaluyong 1998-2004 |
Succeeded by Neptali Gonzales II |
| Preceded by Neptali Gonzales II |
Mayor of Mandaluyong 2007-2016 |
Succeeded by Carmelita Abalos |
| Preceded by Danilo Lim |
Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority 2021-present |
Incumbent |
| House of Representatives of the Philippines | ||
| Preceded by Neptali Gonzales II |
Member of the House of Representatives from Mandaluyong City 2004-2007 |
Succeeded by Neptali Gonzales II |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Salvador Panelo as Chief Presidential Legal Counsel |
Order of Precedence of the Philippines as Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |
Succeeded by Saidamen Balt Pangarungan as Secretary of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos |
| Governor of Metro Manila |
| _2020.svg.png.webp) |
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan Manila Commission |
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| Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |
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