Bernadette Ramirez Herrera (born February 22, 1976) is a Filipina politician, Deputy Minority Leader Philippine House of Representatives and First Representative of the Bagong Henerasyon party-list.[2] She is also a TV host at Serbisyong Bayanihan, a public service program under UNTV. She is known as an advocate for the rights of Solo Parents, being the co author of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parent Act.

Bernadette Herrera
Herrera official portrait during the 19th Congress
Senior Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
July 25, 2022
LeaderMarcelino Libanan
In office
December 7, 2020 – June 30, 2022
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the Bagong Henerasyon party-list
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
In office
June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2013
Member of Quezon City's 1st District City Council
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Personal details
Born
Bernadette Ramirez Herrera

(1976-02-22) February 22, 1976 (age 48)[1]
Quezon City, Philippines
Political partyBH Party List (2016–Present, 2010–2013)
Other political
affiliations
Lakas-CMD (before 2010)
Children2
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
OccupationPolitician

Education

edit

Herrera attended the University of the Philippines, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in business economics and a master's degree in finance.[1]

Career

edit

Quezon City councilor

edit

Herrera was first elected as councilor for the 1st district of Quezon City in 2001, when she was 26.[1] She ran under the ticket of mayoral candidate Feliciano Belmonte Jr.[3] She was re-elected twice, serving until 2010.[1][4]

Bagong Henerasyon

edit

Herrera is the founder of Bagong Henerasyon Foundation Inc. in 2001, which was accredited and authorized by the Commission on Elections to vow for party-list representation in the House of Representatives in 2009.[1]

Bagong Henerasyon fielded Herrera as its first nominee in the 2010 elections, in which they secured a single seat for the 15th Congress.[1] The party lost their seat in the 2013 elections (16th Congress).

The partylist would regain its seat in the 2016 elections, which was filled by Herrera[5][6] In the 17th Congress, Herrara co-authored with Tom Villarin of Akbayan House Bill No. 4113, which eventually signed into law as Republic Act No. 11210 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law in 2019.[6][7][8]

During the 18th Congress, Herrera was named Deputy Speaker.[9] She co-authored a bill banning child marriage in the Philippines which lapsed into law as Republic Act No. 11596, also known as the Prohibition of Child Marriage Law.[10][11]

In the 19th Congress,[12] she questioned the bidding process for the Department of Education procurement of laptops through the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service (PS-DBM)[13]

Herrera has also advocated the legal recognition of same-sex union in the Philippines; she filed bills seeking the legalization of civil unions for same sex partners in the 18th and 19th Congress.[14][15]

In 2022, under the leadership of House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, Herrera was chosen as Senior Deputy Minority Leader at the House of Representatives.

Personal life

edit

Herrera is a Solo Parent to two children.[16]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f "Who's who: Winning party-lists and their representatives". The Philippine Star. July 22, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "House of Representatives Members: Herrera-Dy, Bernadette "BH"". House of Representatives. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ^ Sison, Bebot Jr.; Felipe, Cecille Suerte (March 1, 2001). "Estrada, people power proxy war in Quezon City". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  4. ^ "In 2022 poll, party-lists still 'backdoor' for political dynasties". Bulatlat. May 24, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  5. ^ Adel, Rosette (May 19, 2016). "Comelec proclaims 46 winning party-lists". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Lawmaker, deputy speaker, woman: Herrera wants to leave a mark to inspire others". Manila Bulletin. March 30, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "Women workers laud progress of expanded maternity leave House bill". Philippine News Agency. August 29, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "House Bill 4113 and Senate Bill 1305 or the "105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law,"". eFOI - Electronic Freedom of Information. Presidential Legislative Liaison Office. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  9. ^ "More Velasco allies elected as deputy speakers". CNN Philippines. December 7, 2020. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  10. ^ Mercado, Neil Arwin (January 6, 2022). "Bill banning, criminalizing child marriage in PH lapsed into law — solon". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  11. ^ "Anti-Child Marriage Bill ganap ng batas – BH Partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera". DZIQ Radyo Inquirer 990AM. January 6, 2022. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  12. ^ Pacpaco, Ryan Ponce (May 14, 2022). "Herrera grateful for BH party-list reelection". Journal News. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  13. ^ Vera, Ben O. de (June 25, 2021). "Lawmaker trying to 'influence' bidding process, says DBM". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Civil Unions Bill discards administrating officer". ABS-CBN News. March 12, 2018. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  15. ^ Gregorio, Xave (July 6, 2022). "Civil partnerships for straight, same-sex couples pushed anew in House". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  16. ^ Son, Art (October 31, 2012). "'Herrera-Dy takes oath as House Deputy Speaker'". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved October 10, 2022.