House adopts resolution honoring former Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr.

House Resolution No. 758 was adopted Wednesday by the House of Representatives, honoring the late former House Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr. The resolution followed a memorial service held Monday.

The resolution was introduced by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III of Isabela, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos of Ilocos Norte, and House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan of the 4PS Party-list. It expressed the profound condolences of the House to the family of De Venecia, who served in the Ninth, 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Congresses and was married to Ma. Georgina P. de Venecia, representative of Pangasinan’s Fourth District.

De Venecia died 10 February at age 89. Fondly known as “JDV” or “Speaker Joe,” he was born 26 December 1936, in Barangay Pogo Grande, Dagupan City, Pangasinan, to Judge Jose Ravago de Venecia Sr. and Casimira Villamil Claveria. He is survived by his wife and their children: Christopher, Joey, Vivian, Leslie, and Alexandra de Venecia, as well as grandchildren.

De Venecia was the only House member to serve as Speaker for five terms and represented Pangasinan’s Fourth District for six terms and the Second District during the Seventh Congress. He co-founded Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and was credited as an “architect of political unity,” leading the “Rainbow Coalition” to support President Fidel V. Ramos and enact over 200 economic and social reform laws.

He authored landmark legislation, including the Build-Operate-Transfer Law (RA 6957), the Bases Conversion and Development Act (RA 7227), the New Central Bank Act (RA 7653), and the Philippine Economic Zone Act (RA 7916).

De Venecia also advanced regional cooperation, serving in leadership roles at the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization, and other regional assemblies. He facilitated peace agreements with Muslim secessionists, military officers, and communist insurgents, and promoted interfaith dialogue at the United Nations.

His awards include France’s Légion d’Honneur, a Spanish state decoration from King Juan Carlos I, and national honors from Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Equatorial Guinea. He was recognized as Man of the Century by ICAPP and received Distinguished Service Awards from ICAPP and AIPA.

De Venecia also had a distinguished career as an economist, journalist, and diplomat, contributing to the Filipino overseas dollar-remittance program in Vietnam and creating employment through business ventures in the Middle East and North Africa.

In his honor, a museum has been established at the House of Representatives’ People’s Center. The resolution directs that a copy be furnished to the bereaved family.House Resolution (HR) No. 758 was adopted by the House of Representatives on Wednesday honoring the late former Speaker Jose C. de Venecia Jr., as the chamber prepares to hold a memorial service for him on Monday at 10 a.m. at the Plenary Hall.

Introduced by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III of Isabela, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos of Ilocos Norte, and House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” C. Libanan of 4PS Party-list, the resolution expresses the “profound condolences of the House of Representatives to the family of the Honorable Jose C. de Venecia Jr., former Speaker of the House of Representatives during the Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth Congresses and spouse of the Honorable Ma. Georgina P. de Venecia, Representative of the Fourth Legislative District of Pangasinan.”

The memorial service, to be led by Speaker Dy and the members of the 20th Congress, will be held on 16 Feb. 2026 at 10 a.m. at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives.

De Venecia passed away on 10 February 2026 at the age of 89.

Fondly known as “JDV” or “Speaker Joe,” he was born on 26 Dec. 1936 in Barangay Pogo Grande, Dagupan City, Pangasinan to Judge Jose Ravago de Venecia Sr. and Casimira Villamil Claveria.

He is survived by his wife, Rep. de Venecia, and their children: Christopher P. de Venecia, who served as representative of the Fourth District of Pangasinan during the Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses; Joey de Venecia; Vivian de Venecia-Garcia; Leslie de Venecia-Norton; and Alexandra de Venecia-Hanner, as well as his grandchildren.

The House recognized De Venecia as the only member of the chamber to have served as Speaker for five terms — during the Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Congresses — and as representative of Pangasinan’s Fourth District for six terms. He also represented the province’s Second District during the Seventh Congress.

The resolution cited his role as an “architect of political unity,” recalling how he unified seven diverse political parties into the historic “Rainbow Coalition,” through which he supported then President Fidel V. Ramos in restoring political stability and ensuring the enactment of more than 200 economic and social reform laws.

It also noted his leadership in co-founding Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), where he served at various times as Secretary General, President, Chairperson and Chairperson Emeritus.

Among the landmark measures he helped author were Republic Act (RA) No. 6957 or the “B-O-T (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law,” RA 7227 or the “Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992,” RA 7653 or “The New Central Bank Act,” and RA 7916 or the “Philippine Economic Zone Act.”

Beyond the House, De Venecia was recognized for advancing Asian integration and regional cooperation. He served as Founder and Chairperson Emeritus of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties, chaired the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, and twice led the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization, now the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.

He was also a key figure in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly and the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council, and served as president of the Centrist Asia Pacific Democrats International.

The resolution highlighted his efforts in facilitating dialogue with Muslim secessionists, rightist military officers and communist insurgents, which led to peace agreements and amnesty programs, as well as his initiative in advancing Interfaith Dialogue at the United Nations.

For his work, De Venecia received numerous honors in the Philippines and abroad, including the Légion d’Honneur from France, a state decoration conferred by King Juan Carlos I of Spain, as well as national awards from Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Equatorial Guinea.

He was also recognized as Man of the Century by ICAPP and received Distinguished Service Awards from ICAPP and AIPA.

Apart from politics, the House recalled his career as an economist, journalist and diplomat, including his role in conceiving and implementing the overseas Filipino dollar-remittance program during his diplomatic service in Vietnam, and his business ventures in the Middle East and North Africa that generated employment for thousands of Filipinos.

In honor of his legacy, a museum has been established at the People’s Center of the House of Representatives.

“Resolved by the House of Representatives, to express its profound condolences to the family of Honorable Jose C. de Venecia Jr.,” the measure states, adding that a copy of the resolution shall be furnished to the bereaved family.

--30—