Benguet Congressman Fongwan passes away

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Benguet Rep. Nestor Bagtang Fongwan passed away Wednesday night at age 68 due to lingering illness.

Lower House colleagues of the late solon extended their sympathies to the family even as the flag at the House of Representatives was flown at half-mast in honor of Fongwan.

Fongwan, vice chairman of the committees on agrarian reform, indigenous cultural communities and indigenous people and natural resources of the House of Representatives.

His son Nestor “Bobot” Jr., Provincial Board member, said the remains of the former Benguet governor was brought to Guadayan, Puguis here on Thursday.

"My father is now with his creator," Fongwan Jr said.

A wake open to the public will be scheduled at the Provincial Capitol.

                “Our deepest sympathy to all you left behind... especially to the family of our action man Nestor Fongwan, who brought La Trinidad to greater heights. Thank you sir,” the La Trinidad municipal government said in a statement.

Fongwan served nine years as governor of the province from 2007 to 2016 before going on a hiatus from politics after his term ended.

He returned to politics by joining the congressional race last May and won, defeating candidate Thorsson Keith and former Mankayan mayor Materno Luspian.

Fongwan, who was a public servant for three decades, began his career as an employee of the Benguet Provincial Auditor’s Office.

He first ran and won in 1988 as councilor of La Trinidad.

He served as the town's vice mayor for a single term from 1992 to 1995 and was acting mayor of the municipality from October 1994 to January 1995.

Fongwan was elected mayor in 1998 and served as Benguet’s provincial governor from 2007 to 2016.

He was a director of the Benguet Electric Cooperative from 1978 to 1983 and the La Trinidad Water District from 1981-1983. He also served the catholic congregation as a member of the Knights of Columbus of La Trinidad.

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas described Fongwan as an “action man.”

“Lahat ng problema pagka dumating sa kanya, inaaksyunan niya kaagad. Pagka may landslide diyan sa Halsema (Highway), pumupunta siya mismo,” he said.

(All problems that reach him, he takes immediate action. When there's a landslide there at Halsema, he goes there himself.)

Diclas said the humble lawmaker would not hesitate meeting his constituents at home while still wearing slippers.

Before serving for the first time as congressman, Fongwan served three consecutive terms as governor of Benguet, after which he went on hiatus from politics from 2016 to 2019.

Fongwan had a long career in politics, starting as councilor of La Trinidad in 1988, before becoming vice mayor and mayor in the 1990s. He was then elected as Benguet governor in 2007 and served for two more terms until 2016.

He lost in the congressional race in 2016 against lawyer Ronald Cosalan. In 2019, he ran again as congressman and won against lawyers former Mankayan mayor Materno Luspian and Thorrsson Keith.

He was born of a Chinese farmer immigrant in La Trinidad.

Fongwan went to high school and eventually finished his accountancy degree with Masters in Business Administration at the University of Baguio.

Known as “Action Man,” he helped support the agricultural economy of the province when he was governor.

He was also a jolly man, known for his deadpan jokes.

As congressman, Fongwan authored 21 bills, mostly proposals of local application.

He was principal author of House Bill 345 providing for simplified procedure in the disposition of public agricultural lands by amending Section 24 of Commonwealth Act No. 141, otherwise known as the “Public Land Act.”

Fongwan also filed HB 2952 proposing the termination of collection of toll fees along the portion of Benguet Road (Kennon Road) from Klondyke’s Spring to Camp 6.

Among accomplishments during his term as governor were construction of the Capitol Building 2, Benguet Bahay Pag-asa, and Benguet Sports Center; establishment of a dialysis center and improvement of facilities at Benguet General Hospital; establishment of the Benguet Agri-eco farm in Sablan and Benguet Animal Learning Site and Farm Tourism in Tuba; and formulation of a 10-year provincial solid waste management plan for Benguet.

Fongwan is survived by wife Priscilla and children Marie Rose, Nestor “Bobot” Jr., Marilyn, Ma. Theresa, and Marson.