by Eva Visperas
THE Pangasinan Provincial Board is considering a proposal to declare December 26 of every year as “Jose de Venecia Jr. Day” in honor of the late former Speaker of the House, widely known as JDV.
According to Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino, the proposed ordinance is currently undergoing committee hearings to further refine its provisions.
Lambino said it is only fitting to honor the memory and lasting contributions of JDV to the nation. He added that discussions are ongoing on whether the observance will be a working or non-working holiday in the province, possibly modeled after the celebration of Pangasinan Day.
The measure was authored by 4th District Board Member Jerry Agerico Rosario and will go through further deliberations before final approval.
Meanwhile, 4th District Rep. Gina de Venecia expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the continued recognition of her husband’s legacy. She emphasized that such an initiative not only remembers a statesman but also highlights his significant contributions to the Philippines and even beyond its shores.
In Dagupan City, JDV’s birthplace on December 26, 1936, a similar ordinance has already been passed declaring the date as “Speaker Jose de Venecia Day,” observed as a special working day of commemoration.
Jose de Venecia Jr. served seven terms in the House of Representatives, five of them as Speaker, making him the longest-serving House leader in the post-war Congress.
Fondly called “JDV” or “Speaker Joe,” he was the architect of the Rainbow Coalition, which united various political parties. He was also the principal author of landmark laws such as the Dollar Remittance Program, Bases Conversion and Development Act, Build-Operate-Transfer Law, Philippine Economic Zone Act, and the New Central Bank Act.
He passed away on February 10 at the age of 89.