1-Pacman Party-list Representative Michael L. Romero. (House of Representatives)
From the hardwood courts of collegiate basketball to the carpeted boardrooms of the corporate world, Dr. Michael “Mikee” L. Romero emerged in the Philippine political scene in 2016, running under the banner of the One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals Inc., and serving consecutive terms in the House of Representatives in the 17th and 18th Congress.
In the national elections of May 9, 2022, Dr. Romero (PhD) was elected to a third and final term as 1-PACMAN representative in the 19th Congress.
According to its official website, 1PACMAN seeks to represent sectors in the Philippines that because of “distance and other socio-political factors” are left in “perpetual isolation.” Coming to the aid of retired Filipino athletes who have brought honor to the country is also a top priority.
Romero made his way to the 17th Congress with immediate impact, getting elected by his colleagues as Assistant Majority Floor Leader. He then assumed the post of senior deputy speaker for political affairs during the 18th Congress in 2019, before getting elected president of the 54-member Partylist Coalition Foundation, Inc. (PCFI).
From 1-Pacman’s official records, Romero has authored 795 House measures, “the most of any Representative from the 17th Congress with a total of 475,” and 320 bills during the 18th Congress.
Among the significant measures that he has helped push as one of the principal authors that were enacted into law are: RA11534, the CREATE law (Corporate Income Tax Law); RA11223, Universal Health Care Act; RA11466, Salary Standardization Act of 2019; RA11479, Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020; RA11228, Mandatory PhilHealth Coverage for all PWDs; RA10929, RA10931, Free Tuition Fee Law.
Since the 19th Congress opened in June 2022, Romero has worked on numerous bills as principal author that are now awaiting deliberation by different committees in the House.
These include: an act establishing the strategic fuel reserve system of the Philippines; one seeking to postpone the December 5, 2022 Barangay and SK elections to first Monday of 2024; another seeking to create a Department of Sports; an act creating the National Cancer Center of the Philippines; another one creating the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission; an act granting Philippine citizenship to PBA import Justin Brownlee; an act creating the Metro Railways Transit Regulatory Board; an act penalizing all forms fake/false news; and an act creating the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines.
Named to Forbes Philippines’ 50 Richest list in 2020, Romero graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from De La Salle University.
He earned his Masters degree in Business Administration from the Asian Institute of Management, and his doctorate degrees in Political Economics and Business Administration from DLSU. His doctorate degree in Management was from the International Academy of Management and Economics.
According to 1-PACMAN partylist, Romero, prior to his stint in Congress, held various high-ranking positions in his business empire, including CEO of GlobalPort 900, president and CEO of Link Phil. Holdings Inc., CEO of Sunglow Land Inc., chairman and president of Freightlinks.com, CEO of Harbour Centre Port Terminal, and chairman of Air Asia Zest Philippines.
Born on March 21, 1973 in Manila, Romero, who lives with his wife, Sheila, and their children, is an advocate of healthcare, with his “Save A Heart” program having made available medical operations to more than 700 children with congenital heart disease.