A CLASS ALL HIS OWN

ooAtty. Edgar M. Chatto, Congressman of the First District of Bohol and Assistant Majority Floor Leader of the House of Representatives was born on February 21, 1960 to the late former Assemblyman Eladio Chatto of Balilihan and Victoria Migriño Chatto of Dauis. She is the incumbent Vice Mayor of Balilihan. He served as Bohol 's Vice Governor from 1995 to 1996 where he was also elected National President of the National Movement of Young Legislature (NMYL) in 1995 and National President of the League of Vice Governor of the Philippines (LVGP) in 1998.

Edgar, as he is fondly called, finished his Bachelor of Arts major in Economics at the University of the Philippines in Dilliman, Quezon City (dean's list) while serving as Board Member of Bohol representing the youth at 20. He pursued his Bachelor of Laws at the Ateneo de Manila University and finished Cum Laude the degree at the Divine Word College ( Holy Name University ) while serving as Mayor of Balilihan at age 27. He was granted a scholarship at the University of the Philippines College of Public Administration where he graduated Valedictorian. He became Bohol 's vice governor at the age of 35 and while serving such position, he was granted again a scholarship in Master in Government Management at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila where he graduated with a grade point average of 1.04. He was awarded a full scholarship (Senior Managers in Government Program) at the prestigious John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University , Massachusetts for a course in Public Sector Management. Edgar has a wide and rich experience in public service having been a public servant for 19 years. As Mayor of Balilihan town, he was elected as national Deputy Secretary-General of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines and during his first term as Vice Governor he was elected National President of the 4, 000 strong National Movement of Young Legislators.

Congressman Chatto represented the Filipino youth and local officials in international conventions, conferences, and study visits to the USA , Canada , Germany , England , Italy , France , Spain , Norway , Netherlands , Belgium , Luxembourg , Malaysia , Singapore , Thailand , Indonesia , Hongkong , Japan and China . He was chosen to lead the Philippine Delegation to the United States Socio-Political Immersion Program in 1997, member of the six-man Philippine delegation to observe dispute settlement in the People's Republic of China and was co-chairman of the Asia-Pacific Conference of Young Leaders known as the Junior APEC in Manila in 1996. He represented the country in the International Students Congress in Rome in 1979 and the Asian Youth Forum in Tokyo in 1982. He took up Market Feasibility of Cottage Industry Products in Los Angeles , New York , Chicago , Vancouver and Toronto in 1986 and studied Decentralization and Local Self-Administration in Germany in 1991.

For his commitment, sacrifice, and service, Congressman Chatto was conferred the following awards: National Centennial Lingkod Bayan Awards of Outstanding Work Performance by the Civil Service Commission (2000); One of the Ten Exemplary Individuals of the Visayas and Mindanao by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Incorporated (RAFI), 2000; Most Outstanding Vice Governor (1997); Most Outstanding Mayor of the Philippines (1991) and Mayor of the Year of the Province of Bohol and Region VII (1990); Doña Aurora Aragon Quezon Award for Highly Distinguished Leadership in Promoting Humanitarian Objectives, Philippine National Red Cross Highest Award (1997); One of the Ten Outstanding Boholanos Around the World (TOBAW) 1998; Lessage Award for Most Outstanding Alumnus (1997); Most Outstanding Youth Leader of Bohol; National Presidential Leadership Award for Outstanding Youth Leaders (Parangal sa Pamumuno) 1985; Leadership Awards from Gerry Roxas Foundation, Science Foundation of the Philippines, Kabataang Barangay, Local Administration and Development Program Alumni Association of the Philippines, Boy Scouts of the Philippines, National Gold HAMIS Award (Health and Management Information System); Galing-Pook Award and Clean and Green Contest; Most Outstanding Alumnus for Local Government Services by the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Program (SSEAYP) 1996.

Congressman Chatto is the Pioneer in the country's modified Purok Network, which gained national recognition. He is organizer of the Regional Search for Ten Outstanding Barangay Officials of the Year (TOBOY) and initiator of the NMYL-DECS Awards for Excellence, which conferred awards to brilliant students nationwide. He co-authored the Katarungang Pambarangay Simplified Handbook.

As a legislator, Edgar has various significant contributions, among others; he authored provincial ordinances creating the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse council (PADAC) and its counterpart, the MADAC (municipal), the CADAC (city), and the BADAC (barangay); the Build-a-Library-Build-A-Future Project; the Center for Drug Education and Counseling (CEDEC); the bibliotherapy of Mobile Library and Clinic Project; the Pres. Carlos P. Garcia Scholarship Program; the Overseas Workers Welfare Assistance Desk; the Barangay Reading and Information Center; the Provincial Revenue and Administrative Codes the second of such kind in the country); the Environment Code (the first in the country); and the creation of the legislative research arm, the Special Projects Unit (SPU).

Edgar is also heavily involved in various socio-civic and professional organizations. He is a Trustee of Life Philippines Foundation; member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Bohol Chapter; Regional President of the Local Administration Development Program Alumni Association of the Philippines (LADPAAP); President of the UP Alumni Association-Bohol Chapter; Past President, Bohol “Sandugo” Jaycees; Past President of the UP Kadugong Bol-anon; member of the Philippine Economic Society (Affiliated with the International Economic Association and the ASEAN Social Sciences Council; Charter President, Leo Club of Tagbilaran; Past Diocesan Consultant, Campus Ministry-Student Catholic Action; Secretary of the Philippine National Red Cross Board; member, Hamis Winners' Foundation; member, Rotary Club of Metro Tagbilaran; member, Toastmaster's Club; and member, Ship for South East Asia Youth Program Alumni Association.

Congressman Edgar Migriño Chatto is now on his second term in Congress, in both he ran unopposed. A third term is forthcoming as no one could hold a candle to his string of achievements as a legislator of the first caliber. Beloved by all, he has no known political adversary of note in the First District, for everybody is aware of the commitment he has vowed for his constituents.

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