Isagani Amatong

Isagani Sybico Amatong (born October 19, 1940) is a Filipino politician from the province of Zamboanga del Norte. He last served as Congressman in the House of Representatives of the Philippines representing the 3rd legislative district of Zamboanga del Norte.[1][2]

In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Sybico and the surname or paternal family name is Amatong.
The Honorable
Isagani S. Amatong
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Zamboanga del Norte's Third District
In office
June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2022
Preceded byCesar G. Jalosjos
Succeeded byAdrian Michael A. Amatong
Governor of Zamboanga del Norte
In office
1998–2004
PresidentJoseph Estrada
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Vice GovernorConcordio R. Adriatico
Eduardito S. Pacatang
Preceded byRoldan B. Dalman
Succeeded byRolando E. Yebes
In office
1986–1995
PresidentCorazon Aquino
Fidel Ramos
Vice GovernorRoldan B. Dalman
Eduardito S. Pacatang
Preceded byAlberto Q. Ubay
Succeeded byRoldan B. Dalman
City Councilor of Dipolog
In office
1984–1986
Personal details
Born
Isagani Sybico Amatong

(1940-10-19) October 19, 1940
Dipolog, Zamboanga Province, Philippine Islands
Political partyLiberal
RelationsJuanita Amatong (sister-in-law)
Jacobo Amatong (brother)
Prospero Amatong (brother)
Rommel Amatong (nephew)
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines Diliman
Andres Bonifacio College
OccupationLawyer, politician
Nickname(s)Gani
Tatay Gani

Early years

Isagani Sybico Amatong was born in Dipolog, Province of Zamboanga, on October 19, 1940, to Amando Borja Amatong and Felicidad Mabanag Sybico who were founders of Andres Bonifacio College. He graduated elementary from Miputak Elementary School, and finished her secondary education at Andres Bonifacio College as a valedictorian. He obtained his pre-medicine from University of the Philippines Manila in 1960; earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Master of Business Administration from University of the Philippines Diliman in 1964 and 1970 respectively. In 1970, he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from Andres Bonifacio College, and then became a full-fledged lawyer the same year. He also finished his Master of Laws in UP Diliman.[2][3]

Career

Prior to his entry into politics, Amatong was a law associate. He also worked as a management consultant, a financial comptroller and trustee[4] in Andres Bonifacio College, and founder-publisher for the Mindanao Observer.[5]

In 1984, he was appointed as City Councilor of Dipolog after the death of his brother, Jacobo Amatong. He would then be appointed by former President Corazon Aquino to serve as Officer-in-Charge Governor of Zamboanga del Norte from 1986, until being elected as such in 1988 and 1992.[6] After leaving the provincial capitol in 1995, he ran again for, won and served as Governor from 1998 to 2004. From there, he briefly retired from politics.[6]

Amatong made his run for Governor in 2010 but was defeated. In 2013, he ran for Congressman of the 3rd District of Zamboanga del Norte and won.[7] He would later on run for and win re-election bids in 2016 and 2019.

House of Representatives

In the 18th Congress, he is currently the minority leader of the House Committee on Accounts, and a member of the House Committees on Appropriations, Agriculture and Food, and Basic Education and Culture.

Notable works

In 2017, Amatong introduced House Bill No. 5040 in the House of Representatives seeking to carve out a new province from Zamboanga del Norte. The proposed Zamboanga Hermosa province was to consist of 12 municipalities and 2 legislative districts that make up the 3rd legislative district of Zamboanga del Norte:[8][9] Baliguian, Godod, Gutalac, Kalawit, Labason, Leon B. Postigo, Liloy (its proposed capital), Salug, Sibuco, Siocon, Sirawai, and Tampilisan. However, the bill ultimately did not pass the 16th congress.[10]

In 2020, House Bill No. 4226 which Congressman Amatong authored in 2019 was approved by the House Committee on Basic Education. HB No. 4226 seeks to convert Siocon National High School in the far-flung municipality of Siocon into Siocon Science High School.[11] This measured would be passed in to law as Republic Act No. 11629, and was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2021.[12]

Recognitions

In 2014, Amatong was one of the awardees of the UPAA Distinguished Awardees by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association for his role in Good Governance.[13]

Electoral history
2019 Philippine House of Representatives election in the Third District of Zamboanga del Norte[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Liberal Isagani S. Amatong (incumbent) 91,319
Nacionalista Norbideiri "Bong" Edding 68,418
Total votes
Liberal hold
2010 Zamboanga del Norte gubernatorial election
Party Candidate Votes %
Lakas–Kampi Rolando Yebes (incumbent) 216,004 57.00
Liberal Isagani S. Amatong 148,192 39.11
PDSP Carlito Feras 9,354 2.47
Independent Franklin Ubay 3,134 0.83
Independent Bernardo Arboiz, Jr. 1,303 0.34
Independent Rogelio Gumanas 936 0.25
Total votes 432,494 100.00

Personal life

Amatong is married to Anita Alto Amatong, and have three children together including Adrian Michael.

See also

References
  1. "Isagani Amatong Biography – PeoPlaid Profile, Career". PeoPlaid. November 8, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  2. "PROFILE OF A GOVERNOR". zamboangadelnorte.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2004. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  3. "Personal Profile of Gov. Isagani Sybico Amatong". oocities.org. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  4. "Zamboanga del Norte's Tatay Gani Receives UP Alumni Award on Good Governance". Andres Bonifacio College. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  5. Maslog, Crispin C. (1993). The Rise and Fall of Philippine Community Newspapers. Philippine Press Institute. p. 25. ISBN 9789718703090.
  6. "Distinguished Governors of the Province". Old website of the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte (ZaNorte). Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  7. Pangilinan, Rei Maricon (May 23, 2013). "LP dominates lower House races". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  8. Isagani S. Amatong (February 14, 2017). "House Bill No. 5040: An Act Creating the Province of Zamboanga Hermosa from the Province of Zamboanga Del Norte" (PDF). www.congress.gov.ph. Republic of the Philippines – House of Representatives. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  9. "Seventeenth Congress First Regular Session 2016 – 2017" (PDF). Journal of the House of Representatives. Journal Service Plenary Affairs Bureau. No. 73. February 21, 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  10. RMN News TEAM (June 23, 2017). "Zamboanga del Norte, planong hatiin sa dalawang probinsya". rmn.ph. Radio Mindanao Network. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. Quismorio, Ellson (August 6, 2020). "Siocon Science High School bill hurdles House panel". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  12. "20211210-RA-11629-RRD.pdf" (PDF). Official Gazette. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  13. "UPAA announces this year's Distinguished Alumni Awardees". GMA News. June 10, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  14. "Halalan 2019 ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, REGION IX Election Results". ABS-CBN News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
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