Eduardo del Rosario
Eduardo "Ed" Drueco del Rosario (born November 22, 1956)[1] is a Philippine Army veteran and government official who currently serves as the first Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development of the Philippines, beginning January 2, 2020.[2] He previously served as Chairperson of the now-defunct Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council which was abolished and replaced by the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development created through Republic Act No. 11201 on February 14, 2019.[3] Del Rosario served 37 years in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, retiring as a major general in 2012.[4] His service included tours as commander of the AFP Southern Luzon Command and of the 2nd Infantry Division.[5]
Eduardo del Rosario | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development (ad interim) | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2020 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Position created |
| Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council | |
| In office July 12, 2017 – December 31, 2019 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Leoncio Evasco Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Undersecretary of the Department of National Defense Civil, Veterans and Retiree Affairs | |
| In office June 30, 2016 – July 11, 2017 | |
| President | Rodrigo Duterte |
| Preceded by | Jesus Millan |
| Succeeded by | Reynaldo Mapagu |
| Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense and Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council | |
| In office February 1, 2013 – May 12, 2014 | |
| President | Benigno Aquino III |
| Preceded by | Benito Ramos |
| Succeeded by | Alexander Pama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Eduardo Drueco del Rosario November 22, 1956 Talavera, Nueva Ecija, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Spouse(s) | Annie Rita del Rosario |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Adamson University (B.Sc. ME) Philippine Military Academy (B.Sc. Mil.) Ateneo de Manila University (MBA) Philippine Christian University (MPA) |
| Occupation | Government official |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  |
| Branch/service | Philippine Army |
| Years of service | 1975–2012 |
| Rank |  |
| Commands | 2nd Infantry Division, PA AFP Southern Luzon Command 803rd Infantry Brigade, 8ID, PA 1003rd Infantry Brigade, 10ID, PA 73rd Infantry Battalion, 10ID, PA |
| Battles/wars | CPP–NPA–NDF rebellion Moro conflict |
Early life and education
Del Rosario is a native of Nueva Ecija, having been born in Talavera on November 22, 1956.[6] He went to Adamson University in Manila to take up a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from 1973 to 1975 before attending military college in Baguio.[7] Del Rosario graduated from the Philippine Military Academy as part of the Mapitagan Class of 1980.[5]
Del Rosario's professional military training includes: Scout Ranger Course and Basic Airborne Course where he ranked third out of 103 in 1980; Field Artillery Officer Basic Course at Combat Arms School, TC, PA in 1989 where he topped his class; Field Artillery Officer Advance Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA in 1991; Pre-Command Course for Battalion Commanders at the CGSS, TRADOC, PA in 1995; Command and General Staff Course in CGSS, TRADOC, PA in 1999; and Counter Terrorism Course at Naval Postgraduate School, California, USA in 2003.[6]
Del Rosario earned a Master of Business Administration from Ateneo de Manila University in 1994. He also holds a Master of Public Administration from Philippine Christian University (2012).[5] Del Rosario also completed his training for Public Corporate Governance at the Development Academy of the Philippines in 2017.[7]
Military service
Del Rosario served in the Special Forces Regiment based in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija from 1981 to 1989. In 1990, he was assigned with the 8th Infantry Division in Catbalogan, Samar as a battery commander of the 8th Field Artillery Battery. Between 1993 and 1994, he was in charge of the Philippine Army's Doctrine Development Center as its Commanding Officer. He remained in Fort Magsaysay and served as Assistant Chief of Staff of the 7th Infantry Division in 2000.[6]
Del Rosario then served as Battalion Commander of the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry Division based in Davao City at the height of the CPP-NPA-NDF conflict in southern Mindanao in the early 2000s. In 2003, he took on the position of Commanding Officer of the Philippine Army's Civil Affairs Group.[6] He became commander of Task Force Davao in 2004 which initiated the revival of the Alsa Lumad, a counter-insurgency program from the 1980s and 1990s that mobilised the Lumad indigenous communities against the New People's Army during the term of then-Mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte.[8] Del Rosario held this position until 2006. He then served briefly as commander of the AFP Joint Special Operations Group based in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City before returning to Samar as Commander of the 803rd Infantry Brigade from 2007 to 2009 and as Assistant Division Commander in 2009.[6][4]
In 2009, then Brigadier General del Rosario returned to Davao City as commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and reactivated the recruitment of indigenous peoples into the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) with the aim of diminishing the strength of the Communist rebels operating in the city's Toril, Calinan, Marilog and Paquibato districts.[8] He earned the nickname "Datu Limbotong" ("Protector of Lumad's interest") and was baptized by the tribal chieftains of Davao.[6] B.Gen. del Rosario was also Internal Auditor of the Philippine Army and head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Civil Relations Service when he was promoted by President Benigno Aquino III to the rank of Major General in 2011.[9]
M.Gen. del Rosario was reassigned briefly as General Officer-in-Charge of the AFP Southern Luzon Command based in Lucena in 2012. As SoLCom chief, del Rosario spearheaded the military mission Task Force Kalihim for the search and retrieval for the remains of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo who died in the 2012 Philippines Piper Seneca crash in Masbate in August 2012.[5] President Aquino awarded him the Bakas Parangal ng Kabayanihan for this mission.[7] His last military assignment was as commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division based in Tanay, Rizal before his compulsory retirement in November 2012.[7]
Political career
Retired M.Gen. del Rosario was appointed by President Benigno Aquino III as Administrator of the Office of Civil Defense in February 2013 following his mandatory retirement from the Armed Forces at age 56. Concurrent to his duties with the OCD, he also held the position of Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council under the Aquino administration.[10] As OCD and NDRRMC chief, he led the government's emergency and disaster management councils in assisting victims of the 2013 Bohol earthquake, the Zamboanga City crisis and Tropical Storm Lingling. Del Rosario resigned from his post in April 2014 citing health reasons, but which critics said was due to the government's poor preparations and response in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan.[11][12]
Del Rosario ran unsuccessfully for Senate as an independent in 2016.[13] In June 2016, upon assumption of Rodrigo Duterte as president of the country, del Rosario returned to government service as Undersecretary for Civil, Vetarans and Retiree Affairs of the Department of National Defense.[5] Del Rosario then served as Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council succeeding Leoncio Evasco Jr. in July 2017.[14] As housing secretary, del Rosario also served as Chairman of the Boards of the National Housing Authority, Social Housing Finance Corporation, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Home Development Mutual Fund (PAGIBIG), National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation and as Vice Chairman of the Home Guarantee Corporation.[4] He also headed the Task Force Bangon Marawi created in June 2017 in the aftermath of the Battle of Marawi. Following the creation of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development through Republic Act No. 11201 signed by President Duterte in February 2019, del Rosario was appointed as the executive department's first acting secretary with his appointment paper signed on January 2, 2020.[3]
Personal life
Del Rosario is married to Dr. Annie Rita A. del Rosario. They have one son named Henry.[6]
Awards
- Bakas Parangal ng Kabayanihan
References
- Tubeza, P.C. (14 July 2017). "Ex-general is new housing czar". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Mendez, C. (8 January 2020). "Department of human settlements gets secretary". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Gita-Carlos, R.A. (7 January 2020). "Duterte names heads of new housing dep't, space agency". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "Profile of HUDCC Sec. Eduardo D. Del Rosario". Rotary Club of Manila. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "Eduardo D. del Rosario". Home Development Mutual Fund. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- PIA Press Release (11 September 2009). "1003rd Brigade receives returning commander". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "Annual Report 2017" (PDF). Social Housing Finance Corporation (Philippines). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- International Crisis Group (14 February 2011). "The Communist Insurgency in the Philippines: Tactics and Talks (Crisis Group.Asia Report No. 202)" (PDF). International Crisis Group (Refworld). Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- LBG (12 November 2011). "AFP: PNoy approves promotion of five generals". GMA News. GMA Network. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "Finally, NDRRMC has new chief". Rappler. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Laude, J. (30 April 2014). "NDRRMC chief resigns due to health reasons". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Fonbuena, C. (12 May 2014). "Stressed-out Del Rosario: NDRRMC is in Pama's 'good hands'". Rappler. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- "DAY 5 List: Who filed COCs for president, VP, senator". ABS-CBN News. 17 October 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- Ranada, P. (13 July 2017). "Retired general Eduardo del Rosario is new housing czar". Rappler. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Position created |
Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development 2020–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Leoncio Evasco Jr. |
Chairman of Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council 2017–2019 |
Succeeded by Position abolished |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded by Ramon Lopez as Secretary of Trade and Industry |
Order of Precedence of the Philippines as Secretary of Human Settlements and Urban Development |
Succeeded by Rolando Joselito Bautista as Secretary of Social Welfare and Development |