SETTING THE MOMENTUM FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE
Setting the momentum for outstanding performance
MICHAEL "MIKEE" L. ROMERO IS KNOWN FOR HIS no-nonsense, go-getter attitude that catapulted him to success in sports, in business, and now as a legislator. Six months in office, veritably a rookie, senior assistant majority leader Rep. Romero brings in his own brand of intensity and focus, if not more for the sake of nation building.
Romero has been making breakthroughs in this new political career. In the May 2016 elections, he became the party-list representative of One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals (1-PACMAN), one of the top three vote-getting partylists in the recent election with 1.31 million votes.
Dealing with scrutiny, especially from the long-timers in Congress, Romero didn’t back down but buckled up and worked hard. Now his record speaks volumes about his dedication as a government official.
Romero has already authored some 80 house bills anchored on his three main thrusts, sports, education, and jobs generation. But a closer look at his work reveals a well-rounded list of measures that include interventions for agriculture, housing, tax amnesty, and even the medical industry.
Romero’s enthusiasm attracts other legislators to go on board with them in their initiatives. As a result, he has co-authored over 100 house bills, a noteworthy proof that he is willing to work with other legislators to create laws that champion the needs of Filipinos.
The Superbrands awards group, an arbiter of brands and branding, has taken notice and very recently named Romero as Superbrands outstanding congressman in its roster. COMMITTEE WORK
Fueled by a spirit, seemingly riding on a chariot on fire, Romero goes out of his way to get involved. Romero is a trailblazer in the way he works with other committees.
“I see to it that we finish a bill in the Committee report. At least the bills that I get to work on move forward,” he says.
Romero has taken on many roles in various committees. He is a senior member of the powerful Rules Committee and the vice chairman of the Youth and Sports Committee, and the Housing Committee.
He is also an active member of the Committees on Aquaculture and Fishery Resources; Banks and Financial Intermediaries; Legislative Franchise; Justice; Public Information; Government Enterprises and Privatization; and Food Security.
In his work as an overseer of the committees, Romero says that he has learned to take time in aligning his thoughts and relating the bill’s provisions to the current situation of the country. He adds that one of his contributions is the act of balancing different points of view.
“I just don’t look at bills as a standalone. I look at them and compare them realistically to what is happening. I have to relate them all the time. For example, if there is a labor bill, I have to look at the employer-employee
relationship. I always have to look at the other side,” he explains. Romero adds, “I think that is what I bring to the table – more on how to balance points of views from different segments of society. It is important to know the pros and cons of a law for those who will be affected.” The bottom line, Romero says, is that the law to be passed must be for the best interest of the many. However, he states that although Congress allows time for debates and other processes to polish a law, Romero is still keen on producing results. “For me, work is work. I am resultdriven so we have to produce results more than what we talk about,” he says. Eschewing the traditional approach in Congress, Romero, who sees himself to be a new breed of politician, says that he wants to maximize his time in Congress by producing solutions that matter. “We need to give results because, at the end of the day, they (the people) will grade the 17th Congress. And we are here for only three years. That’s fast. We do not have the luxury of time,” he states. Vital use of time is something that cannot be overemphasized with Romero, who has seen good results happen in less than a minute in his time as an athlete, and yes, as one-time Olympic delegation head and owner of a Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) team. GAME CHANGER
Even as a political neophyte, Romero says that he is not afraid to rock the boat if it would improve and streamline the current processes practiced in the Congress.
“I try to find the flaws in the system and try to change it if possible,” he says.
It is a bold statement but Romero adds that there is a need to cut through the red tape that slows down the passage of a bill. Being countercultural, he says that he will readily take on this responsibility. He shrugs off the sacrifices that it entails.
“We have to overhaul some of the systems that are not working. Process flow from the origins of a bill then passing it as a law, there are so many in-betweens, politics involved. If we are taking a road from one point to another, there are a lot of curves instead of making a straight line,” Romero says.
Solid years in leading logistics-related companies such as the Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI) and AirAsia Philippines, Inc. (AirAsia), among others, have honed his ability to look at processes to achieve optimum productivity and results.
“If we are to become the catalyst of change in Congress by cutting red tape, and in the bureaucracy through legislation, I would have to take on that project,” Romero enthuses.
Romero knows that changes do not come overnight. It will be a laborious work, but in the meantime, he says he will continue working for the million Filipinos who trusted him.
“I always look at how many people voted for me. I always bring that badge and responsibility. I have to represent each of them properly in Congress,” he says. “They took the risk to vote for me. At least those 1.31 million votes will see my work and its results.”
“As a legislator, I have to be the voice of the people. Whatever their problems, I have to voice it out and legislate something out of it,” Romero shares. SPORTS LEADER
The country’s athletes can count on Romero as he makes far-reaching improvements in the local sports development program.
As the Sub-committee on Sports chairman, Romero is currently working on the passage of the “National Sports Training Center Act” that will pave the way for the establishment of a stateofcomplex to be situated in Pampanga.
Once the measure is approved by the Senate and House of Representatives, Romero said that the 50-hectare national training center will be established at the Clark Green City located at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) in Pampanga.
The facility will house equipment and dormitories for the athletes and the offices of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Outside politics, Romero continues to hold other positions of leadership in the field of sports.
Recently voted as the chairman of PBA, Romero is on a roll to bring the basketball action closer to Filipinos here and abroad by making a PBA application.
“We are bringing the games live not only in the Philippines but all over the world as well. We are making the PBA app so that they can watch anywhere,” he says. FUTURE PLANS
From a sportsman to a business tycoon to a politician, Romero keeps on reinventing himself and defying boundaries. A tour de force, his persistence in taking risks and embracing change propels him to the top of any fi eld he chooses to pursue.
And yet, when asked about his plans in the years to come, Romero’s answer shows a surrender to a bigger power than himself.
“You have to let destiny path its own course,” he says with a knowing smile.