Sen JV Ejercito’s professional record is highlighted by accomplishments that have ensured the development and well-being of the people he pledged to serve. He has successfully combined managerial acumen, leadership skills and people support to shape a better community.
JV Ejercito as Local Chief Executive: Sterling Local Governance to Lead the Forward Surge of San Juan
As a 3-time Mayor of San Juan, Sen JV Ejercito is credited with the distinction of spearheading San Juan’s economic boom from 2001 to 2010. Utilizing his business acumen and wide network, he led the reforms and strengthening of San Juan’s fundamentals to increase the municipal revenue from 300 million to 1 billion pesos in just 9 years. Because of the significant growth, San Juan was converted into a highly urbanized city in June 2007.
The year before, in 2006, San Juan was recognized as the Most Progressive Municipality, testament to the leadership of JV Ejercito and the cooperative spirit that has driven the entire San Juan community. Ejercito’s sound financial management practices also led to an AA credit rating for San Juan from the Local Government Unit Guaranty Corporation.
The solid support from the citizens and organizations of San Juan ensured the accomplishment of major local projects such as the renovation of the Museo ng Katipunan and the scholarship foundation without utilizing a single centavo from the budget allotted by the Arroyo administration.
It was also under his leadership as San Juan’s local chief executive that the San Juan Community College was opened, continuing the legacy of his father, former President Joseph Estrada who had built and established the first and the only local high school in San Juan, the San Juan National High School.
As the Representative of San Juan in the lower House of Congress, JV Ejercito not only applied his skills to crafting relevant legislation but also to leading various Committees as follows: Chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development; Vice-Chairman of the House Committees on Labor & Employment, and Local Government; Member for the Majority for Committees on Appropriations, Energy, Public Works & Highways, Transportation, Games and Amusement, Information & Communication Technology, and Youth & Sports.
JV Ejercito, Youth Development Advocate: Serving the Youth, Protecting their Future
Sen JV Ejercito’s concern for the youth and issues affecting their future were honed further during his stint as National Chairman of the Kabataan ng Masang Pilipino [KAMPIL], the youth arm of the Lapian ng Masang Pilipino. As the KAMPIL candidate for the youth sector during the first party-list elections in 1998, he won a sizeable number of votes and was qualified for a seat as a duly elected party list representative. However, to avoid further controversy about using presidential influence to win a favourable resolution from the Commission on Elections, he chose to withdraw.
Under the banner of the MAMAMAYAN AYAW SA DROGA or MAD of which he was the National Founder, he poured time and effort to ensure that substantial programs were implemented to reduce drug abuse and the supply of illegal drugs, as well as boost the effectivity and accessibility of rehabilitation centers.
JV Ejercito, The Legislator: Addressing Challenges Through Legislative Reform
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito has focused on three key advocacies in his years in the lower house of Congress: labor & employment, local government development and education reform/youth development.
Towards this end, Representative Ejercito has taken on a lead role in the legislative efforts to push the interests of labor, the marginalized and the youth.
In his first term as Representative of the lone congressional district of San Juan, Sen Ejercito has filed 149 House Bills and 18 House Resolutions.
After only 2 and a half years as a legislator, 5 of these initiatives have been approved and transmitted to the Senate for deliberation and approval. These are:
- HB 4225: Participatory Governance Through CSOs Empowerment Act of 2011
- HB 4541: Mercury Exposure Information Act of 2011
- HB 4565: Local Housing Boards Act
- HB 5870: Cadastral Survey Act of 2012
- HB 6144: Domestic Workers Act of 2012 or Kasambahay Bill
To push for youth development, Sen JV Ejercito consistently fought for additional budget allocations for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in 2011 and 2012. The determination has paid off with the allocation of an additional PhP 16 Billion for the 2013 SUC Budget. He has also prioritized reforms in the Sangguniang Kabataan system in his legislative agenda.
JV Ejercito, the businessman, is a Civic Leader, a global role model
Part of Sen JV Ejercito’s business career was his involvement in the Junior Chamber International, one of the most esteemed business and civic organizations worldwide. He was elected JCI National President in 1998. His initiatives and industry as JCI National President resulted in his being awarded “Most Outstanding National Jaycee President for Asia and the Pacific” during the 53rd JCI World Congress in Manila.
