1. 17th Congress of the
Philippines
Cong. Jose Tejada

2. Jose Tejada
• Jose "Pingping" Inserto Tejada (born June 10, 1958) is a Filipino
politician who served as the Representative of Cotabato's 3rd
district from 2013 to 2022. He previously served as a member of
the Cotabato Provincial Board from 1992 to 2001 and from 2004 to
2013. He briefly served as Vice Governor of Cotabato in 1998, by
virtue of succession.

3. Personal life
• Pingping Tejada is the Son of Lawyer Enriqueto Fernandez Tejada and
RTC Judge Fabiana Yerro Inserto. He graduated as class salutatorian of
Mlang National High School in 1974. He took Bachelor of Arts in
Economics from the University of Santo Tomas and graduated in 1979.
He subsequently earned his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1984 from the
College of Law-San Sebastian College, Manila.
• “Pingping” as he is known to family and friends, when outside politics, is a
simple farmer in the Municipality of Mlang, Cotabato. He is married to
Nelda O. Tejada with whom he is blessed with three children.

4. Political career
• Before his election to public office, Pingping Tejada was a Para
Legal Officer at the Department of Agrarian Reform. It was during
this time that he became immersed with the plight of our farmers
and countryside workers. This inspired him to action, seeking to
improve the livelihood of those in the rural and farming
communities. In 1992 when he was elected as Provincial Board
Member, he devoted much of his time working on the promotion
and advancement of rural development initiatives in the Province of
Cotabato.

5. • In his eighteen (18) years as Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member, he was
instrumental in the passage of various landmark legislations to include,
among others, the enactment of the Provincial Cooperative Code,
Cotabato Health Insurance Program, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Code and the creation of an additional Congressional
District for the Province of Cotabato. In 1998, by virtue of succession, he
assumed office as Vice Governor of the Province of Cotabato and was
dubbed as Cotabato's "Centennial Vice Governor" as the nation was
celebrating its centennial anniversary during his Vice-Governorship.

6. • In 2013 he was elected via landslide victory to become the
inaugural holder of the newly created 3rd Congressional District of
Cotabato. He was re-elected in 2016 by an overwhelming majority
against his closest political rival. His unprecedented political feat
remains unmatched, as he run unopposed for his 3rd term as
Congressman in the 2019 elections.
• On July 10, 2020, He is one of the 11 representatives who voted to
grant the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN and one of the three
Mindanaoans to grant the franchise.

7. Congress
• Together with like-minded congressmen he was able to pass nationally-
significant legislations to include the Free Irrigation Act (RA 10969); the
Universal Access to Quality Education Act (RA 10931); the Credit Surety
Fund Cooperative Act Of 2015 (RA 10744); the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of
2015 (RA 10648); and the Mandatory Philhealth for Senior Citizens Act
(RA 10645). He is also a staunch advocate for the protection and
preservation of North Cotabato’s environment and natural resources,
being the principal author of House Bill 3119 which seeks to declare the
entire province of North Cotabato as Mining-Free Zone.

8. • Aside from his outstanding legislative accomplishments, Congressman
Tejada has successfully delivered countless infrastructure and social
services to his constituents. During his first and second term as
congressman, he was able to lobby for additional budget to build roads,
classroom buildings, birthing centers, water system, irrigation canals,
barangay halls and other much needed infrastructure services that offer
inclusive social and economic benefits to the people of the 3rd
Congressional District of North Cotabato.
• He is a member of various Congressional Committees and Vice-
Chairman of the influential House Committee on Appropriations.

9. Awards and honors
• In 2018, he was a recipient of the Thomasian Alumni Award for
Government Service from the University of Santo Tomas Alumni
Association, for being an outstanding alumnus who served as
catalyst for change in public service. He was also a recipient of the
2016 Idol at Kabalikat ng TESDA Award for his significant
contributions in the improvement of technical-vocational education
and training (TVET) in the country.

10. References
• Perez-Rubio, Bella (July 10, 2020). "List of lawmakers who voted
for and against ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Philstar.com.
Retrieved July 22, 2020.