Board of Trustee
As Secretary of the House Trade and Industry Committee, Mr. Palanca supervises and leads the Secretariat Staff in providing the technical assistance and administrative support leading to the enactment of laws relating to domestic trade and industry; foreign trade and investments; intellectual property rights; electronic commerce; trade regulation; consumer protection; small business and entrepreneurship development; and the promotion, coordination, and diversification of industry and investments in general.
His core functions include facilitating the conduct of congressional deliberations on proposed bills and resolutions, advising legislators on trade laws and matters, crafting the language of proposed laws, assisting in the preparation of implementing rules and regulations of enacted laws, performing legislative oversight on state plans and programs, and representing the Committee and the Philippine Congress in various fora both here and abroad.
Because of his work, Mr. Palanca has gained extensive exposure on various industries, understanding the issues that confront them. These industries include the automotive/motor vehicle, banking and finance, cement, construction and real estate development, electronics, exports, food processing, furniture, oil and power, pharmaceutical and telecommunications sectors, to cite a few. As such, he has developed and maintained enduring working relationships with various government agencies, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry and its attached agencies, and non-government organizations.
Among the landmark laws which Mr. Palanca helped pass are the Consumer Act of the Philippines, the Foreign Investments Act, the Price Act, amendments to the Omnibus Investments Code, the Retail Trade Liberalization Act, the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, the E-Commerce Act, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act (i.e. Cheaper Medicines Law), and the law amending the Magna Carta for Small and Medium Enterprises.
Under the Sixteenth (16th) Congress, Mr. Palanca worked closely with Philippine legislators and concerned stakeholders towards the enactment of the Philippine Competition Act, the law allowing foreign vessels to transport and co-load foreign cargoes for domestic transshipment, the Go-Negosyo Act, and the Philippine Lemon Law.
He also served as Head of Secretariat of the Special Committee on Entrepreneurship Development and of the Task Force Subic Special Economic Zone in concurrent capacities.
Across his professional career, Mr. Palanca attended domestic and foreign trainings covering a wide range of subjects ranging from competition policy and law, foreign trade agreements, intellectual property rights, consumer protection, MSME financing, to biotechnology.
Prior to joining the Philippine Congress, Mr. Palanca’s work experience includes project monitoring, corporate planning and financial management. Likewise, he holds a Career Service Executive Eligibility for Third Level positions in government.
Mr. Palanca earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration and Bachelor’s degree in Business Economic both from the University of the Philippines.