Jose Locsin

Jose Locsin was a Filipino senator.

A successful medical practitioner, Senator Jose C. Locsin was born in Silay, Negros Occidental in 1890. His parents sent him to Manila to study, and in 1907, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Liceo de Manila. At 21, he graduated from the University of Santo Tomas as a Doctor of Medicine, with honors.

He started his medical practice in Silay, Negros Occidental and in no time had a prosperous practice. He was named representative of the Social Welfare Commissioner in Negros Occidental. Locsin was also elected president of the Negros Occidental Medical Association, and in 1938 he became president of the Philippine Medical Association and reelected in 1939.

Silay townfolks and barrio inhabitants elected him municipal councilor for three years, then the province elected him provincial board member, and finally provincial governor of Negros Occidental. After his governorship, he was elected member of the House of Representatives where he served as chairman of the Committee of Public Instruction for three years.

He was also delegate to the Philippine Constitutional Convention, and chairman of that body's Committee on Nationalization of Natural Resources. He advocated safeguards to protect the national patrimony.

Dr. Locsin is a staunch Nacionalista party member and after Liberation, Commonwealth President Sergio Osmeña summoned him from his hometown Silay and made him Secretary of Health and Public Welfare.

In 1951 the Nacionalista party was beginning to return to power, and Locsin won a seat in the Senate for a six-tear term. He was chairman of two Senate committees: Account and Health, and member of other Senate committees.

Senator Locsin was a member of the Philippine economic mission headed by Senator Laurel which worked for the Laurel-Langley Trade Agreement of 1945. He was senator up to 1957.

He married Salvacion Montelibano with whom he had 17 children.

External links

* [http://www.senate.gov.ph/senators/former_senators/jose_locsin.htm Official Senate site]