Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito
Biography
Senator Joseph Victor G. Ejercito was born on December 26, 1969 in Manila. He is the son of former San Juan City Mayor Guia Gomez and former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.
He is a proud alumnus of Xavier School, where he completed his elementary and secondary education. He earned a degree in Political Science at the De La Salle University Manila in 1991. Ejercito first entered the political limelight in 2001, when San Juan residents clamored him to run as mayor. He served as San Juan Mayor for three consecutive terms, from 2001 to 2010.
Under Ejercito's leadership, San Juan was distinguished for its dynamic local government reforms and economic boom, which resulted in an annual revenue increase of P100 million. From P300 million in 2001, San Juan's revenue reached P1.2 billion pesos in 2010. Because of this significant growth, San Juan was converted into a highly urbanized city in June 2007.
Ejercito’s accomplishments as Mayor garnered him several prestigious awards, such as the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award for Public Service and Governance in 2007.
In 2010, Ejercito ran unopposed as Representative for the Lone District of San Juan.
In the 15th Congress, Ejercito was recognized among the Fifteen Most Outstanding Congressmen. He chaired the House Committee on Metro Manila Development and served as Vice Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Employment and Committee on Local Government.
Ejercito was also distinguished as the 9th most prolific lawmaker in the 15th Congress, having authored a total of 149 House Bills, one of which was the Kasambahay Bill, and 18 House Resolution. He also fought to increase state subsidies for state universities and colleges (SUCs) and for the reformation of the Sangguniang Kabataan system.
Ejercito was elected Senator during the May 2013 national elections.
During the 16th Congress, Ejercito sought to legislate landmark reforms on local housing, economic affairs, education, job generation, and the welfare of the youth. At the time, he was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs and Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement. He was able to file a total of 117 Senate Bills and 18 Senate Resolutions.
In the 17th Congress, Ejercito advocated for significant measures on public health and housing. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, he principally sponsored two landmark laws, namely the Universal Healthcare Law and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Law. He also ensured the approval of at least 40 laws that sought to establish, upgrade, and convert public hospitals across the country. A total of 55 bills authored and co-authored by Ejercito in this Congress were enacted into law.
As a motorcycle enthusiast, Ejercito is a proponent of the Philippine Motorcycle Tourism (PMT) program. He is a Commissioned Reserve Officer of the Philippine Marine Corps with the rank of Major and an adopted member of the Philippine Military Academy Class ’88 of Maringal. He also likes to play golf and go on cycling tours during his spare time.
Senator JV Ejercito is married to Ma. Hyacinth Lotuaco. He is a father to two boys, Julio Jose and Jose Emilio.