Maria Fe Abunda

Maria Fe Romerica Abunda (Tagalog pronunciation: [ɐˈbʊnda]; born November 8, 1957) is a Filipino politician. She is currently a member of the Philippine House of Representatives representing the Eastern Samar's Lone District since 2019. She served as the mayor of Borongan from 2013 to 2019. She became the first woman to be elected as Eastern Samar representative.[1][2][3] She is the sister of television host Boy Abunda.[4]

Maria Fe Abunda
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Eastern Samar's at-large congressional district
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded byBen Evardone
Mayor of Borongan
In office
June 30, 2013 – June 30, 2019
Preceded byFidel V. Anacta
Succeeded byJose Ivan Dayan Agda
Personal details
Born
Maria Fe Romerica Abunda

(1957-11-03) November 3, 1957 (age 66)
Borongan, Samar, Philippines
Political partyLakas-CMD (2023-present)
Other political
affiliations
PDP–Laban (2021-2023)
Liberal (2012-2021)
RelativesBoy Abunda (brother)
Residence(s)Barangay Campesao, Borongan City
ProfessionPolitician

Political career

Mayor of Borongan (2013–2019)

Abunda became the Mayor of Borongan, the capital city of the province of Eastern Samar, from 2013 to 2019. During her mayoral tenure, she received criticisms regarding her affiliations with political parties.[5]

House of Representatives (2019–present)

Having been elected on 2019, Abunda represented Eastern Samar's Lone District in the 18th Philippine Congress. After being re-elected in May 2022, she currently represents once again for the 19th Philippine Congress.[1][4] While in Congress, she authored and co-authored several house bills and republic acts, namely:

Authored and Co-authored House Bills by Abunda
Principal Authored Bills
House Bill No.Full TitlePrimary ReferralBill StatusSignificance
03044AN ACT CONVERTING THE ARTECHE CAMPUS OF THE EASTERN SAMAR STATE UNIVERSITY (ESSU) LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ARTECHE, PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR, INTO A REGULAR CAMPUS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE R.A. 9312 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOREHigher and Technical EducationPendingLocal
03454AN ACT AMENDING SECTION TWO OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10868 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT HONORING AND GRANTING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES TO FILIPINO CENTENARIANS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESSenior CitizensPendingNational
03877AN ACT REAPPORTIONING THE LONE DISTRICT OF EASTERN SAMAR INTO TWO (2) LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTSLocal GovernmentPendingNational
04401AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9439 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "AN ACT PROHIBITING THE DETENTION OF PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CLINICS ON GROUNDS OF NONPAYMENT OF HOSPITAL BILLS OR MEDICAL EXPENSES"HealthPendingNational
04402AN ACT UPGRADING THE BENEFITS AND INCENTIVES OF BARANGAY TANOD BRIGADES, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SEC. 393 (d) OF REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991Local GovernmentPendingNational
04403AN ACT CONVERTING THE EASTERN SAMAR PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL IN BORONGAN, EASTERN SAMAR INTO THE EASTERN SAMAR MEDICAL CENTER, IN THE CITY OF BORONGAN, PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR, UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING ITS FACILITIES, DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESHealthPendingLocal
04404AN ACT RECLASSIFYING AND CONVERTING PARCELS OF TIMBERLAND LOCATED IN BARANGAYS 1 AND 2 (POBLACION), BULAWAN, CARAYCAY, LIBERTAD, MALOBAGO, MAPUTI, SAN ROQUE, SAN MIGUEL IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MASLOG AND SMALL PORTION IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ARTECHE, ORAS, AND DOLORES IN THE PROVINCE OF EASTERN SAMAR, AS ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LANDSNatural ResourcesPendingLocal
05087AN ACT MANDATING THE INTEGRATION OF THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6541 ENTITLED “AN ACT TO ORDAIN AND INSTITUTE A NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES” AS A MAJOR SUBJECT IN THE CURRICULUM OF THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, SANITARY ENGINEERING, ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING, AND ARCHITECTURE, AND ITS INCLUSION AS A TOPIC IN THE LICENSURE EXAMINATIONS FOR THESE PROFESSIONSRulesApprovedNational
05167AN ACT DECLARING THE TUGONAN WATERFALLS LOCATED IN BARANGAY SAN LORENZO, MUNICIPALITY OF PROSPERIDAD, PROVINCE OF AGUSAN DEL SUR, AN ECOTOURISM SITERulesApprovedLocal
05168AN ACT DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONS OF THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE BACLARAN CHURCH, LOCATED ALONG ROXAS BOULEVARD, PARANAQUE CITY, A HERITAGE SITE AND TOURIST DESTINATIONRulesApprovedLocal
05169AN ACT DECLARING MOUNT ARAYAT LOCATED ALONG THE BORDERS OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF ARAYAT AND MAGALANG, PROVINCE OF PAMPANGA, AN ECOTOURISM DESTINATIONRulesApprovedLocal
05170AN ACT DECLARING THE LUZON DATUM LOCATED IN BARANGAY HINANGGAYON, MUNICIPALITY OF MOGPOG, PROVINCE OF MARINDUQUE, A TOURIST SPOTRulesApprovedLocal
05171AN ACT DECLARING THE CEBU SAFARI AND ADVENTURE PARK LOCATED IN BARANGAY CORTE, MUNICIPALITY OF CARMEN, PROVINCE OF CEBU, A TOURISM DESTINATIONRulesApprovedLocal
05172AN ACT DISTINGUISHING THE DAO TREE LOCATED WITHIN A SECONDARY FOREST IN THE INTEGRATED FOREST MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT (IFMA) AREA OF THE E. PELAEZ RANCH IN BAYOMBONG, BARANGAY CUGMAN, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, AS THE CAGAYAN DE ORO HERITAGE TREE, AND DECLARING IT A TOURIST ATTRACTIONRulesApprovedLocal
05173AN ACT DECLARING THE GUINSAUGON ECO-ADVENTURE PARK LOCATED IN BARANGAY GUINSAUGON, MUNICIPALITY OF ST. BERNARD, PROVINCE OF SOUTHERN LEYTE, A TOURISM DESTINATIONRulesApprovedLocal
05174AN ACT DECLARING THE PASSIG ISLET LOCATED IN BARANGAY BATO, MUNICIPALITY OF STA. CRUZ, PROVINCE OF DAVAO DEL SUR, AN ECOTOURISM SITERulesApprovedLocal
Co-authored Bills
01952AN ACT STRENGHTENING THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES OF STATE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORHigher and Technical EducationPendingNational
03261AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN ONLINE PORTAL FOR NATIONAL TAX TRANSPARENCY, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE WHAT-YOU-SEE-IS-WHAT-YOU-GET TAX TRANSPARENCYWays and MeansPendingNational
03423AN ACT PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF MOTORISTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4136, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESTransportationPendingNational
03596AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10845, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ANTI-AGRICULTURAL SMUGGLING ACT OF 2016, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESAgriculture and FoodPendingNational
03797AN ACT EMANCIPATING AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES FROM DEBT THROUGH THE FREE AWARD OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESAgrarian ReformPendingNational
03844AN ACT PROVIDING FOR A NEW CHARTER OF THE LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINESBanks and Financial IntermediariesPendingNational
03845AN ACT REPEALING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4635 OR “AN ACT TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE AND MAINTAIN THE DIGNITY OF THE NATION BY DECLARING IT A NATIONAL POLICY TO PROHIBIT THE COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF TEXTILE ARTICLES COMMONLY KNOWN AS USED CLOTHING AND RAGS,” SETTING NATIONAL POLICIES ON THE COMMERCIAL IMPORTATION OF USED TEXTILES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSESTrade and IndustryPendingNational

Other appointments (2022–present)

  • Vice-Chairman, Committee on Basic Education And Culture
  • Vice-Chairman, Committee on Higher And Technical Education
  • Vice-Chairman, Committee on Poverty Alleviation
  • Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Member, Committee on Health
  • Member, Committee on Social Services
  • Member, Committee on Tourism
  • Member, Committee on Trade And Industry
  • Member, Committee on Visayas Development
  • Member, Committee on Women And Gender Equality

References

External links

House of Representatives of the Philippines
Preceded by
Ben P. Evardone
Member of the House of Representatives
from Eastern Samar's Lone District

2019–2025
Succeeded by
Incumbent