Sherwin Gatchalian

Sherwin Gatchalian is a senator in the 19th Congress, serving his second term since 2016.

Gatchalian, the eldest son of industrialist William Gatchalian, majored in finance and operations management at Boston University in Massachusetts, where he graduated in 1995. Before he entered politics, Gatchalian was involved in his family’s businesses: the Wellex Group, Air Philippines Corporation, and Waterfront Philippines, Incorporated.

Gatchalian first entered politics as representative of the 1st District of Valenzuela from 2001 to 2004. He served as Valenzuela mayor for three consecutive terms, from 2004 to 2013, before returning to the House of Representatives for another term.

During his watch as mayor, Gatchalian was a Public Service Honoree of The Outstanding Young Men in 2011. Valenzuela topped the National Achievement Test for Elementary for school year 2010-2011 in Metro Manila, and received the Seal of Good Housekeeping, Bronze Category, from the Department of the Interior and Local Government in 2012. That same year, it was among the Top 10 Outstanding Local Government Programs for 3S in Public Service Programs of the Galing Pook Awards.

His advocacies as a legislator include accessible and quality education, a consumer-friendly energy policy, consumer welfare, and information and communications technology reforms.

Gatchalian is among the senators who support a total ban on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) in the country.