Know your candidates via AI: Teodorico Haresco Jr.

Disclaimer: The Boracay Island News Network will be posting series of local personalities running for 2025 election as to what AI (Artificial Intelligence) tells about them. The BINN is not being paid in this endeavor. This is an AI assisted reporting.

Teodorico “Nonong” Tumbocon Haresco Jr. is a Filipino politician and businessman. He is currently the representative of the 2nd District of Aklan in the 19th Congress of the Philippines.

Early Life and Education

Haresco was born in Iloilo City, Iloilo on August 12, 1970. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from De La Salle University in Manila in 1973. He later obtained a Master’s degree in International Economics from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 1978.

Career in the Private Sector

Haresco founded the Haresco Trade Specialists Co. and Silver Thread Inc., which specialized in exporting local capiz shells from Western Visayas to Europe. He also served as a managing director at Asia-Pacific Matière in France and Mabey Group in the UK. He was a member of the board of directors of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

Political Career

Haresco’s political career began in 2010 when he was elected as a party-list representative of the Ang Kasangga party-list in the 15th Congress of the Philippines. He represented the marginalized sector of micro-entrepreneurs. In 2013, he won as a district representative of the lone district of Aklan in the 16th Congress of the Philippines. He was re-elected in 2016 but lost to former Aklan governor Carlito Marquez in the 2019 elections.

In 2019, Haresco was elected as the representative of the newly created 2nd District of Aklan in the 18th Congress of the Philippines. He was re-elected in 2022 to represent the same district in the 19th Congress.

Key Policy Focus

As a congressman, Haresco’s policy focus is the promotion of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises). He believes that empowering MSMEs is crucial to uplift Filipinos from poverty. He has introduced several bills aimed at providing better safeguards to small businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship.

Awards and Achievements

Haresco has received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to business and public service, including:

– Second Honors, De La Salle University (1973)

– Nominee, Ten Most Outstanding Aklanon (1985)

– Most Outstanding Project, Manila Jaycees (1985)

– Postal Bank Board Commendation (May 1994)

– Deutsche Bank Banker of the Year Award (2005)

– People Asia’s Person of the Year (2008)

– PCCI’s “Businessman of the Year” (Pearl Award 2008)

– One of the Modern Day Filipino Heroes (2008)

– Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for Win Source Solutions Inc.

– Most Outstanding Award on Business Entrepreneurship

Haresco is a prominent figure in Aklan’s political landscape and is known for his advocacy for MSMEs and his dedication to public