Date of Birth: July 25, 1946
Place of Birth: San Juan, Metro Manila
Civil Status: Married Ma. Lourdes Fernando, the incumbent mayor of Marikina City
Children: Tala Fernando
SUMMARY:
Bayani Fernando was born in San Juan del Monte, Rizal and finished his secondary education at the Marikina School of Arts and Trades (renamed Marikina Institute of Science and Technology in 1979, now Marikina Science High School since 2001). He finished college with a degree on Mechanical Engineering at the Mapúa Institute of Technology.
He established BF Corporation, an umbrella company that includes BF Construction Company and BF Metal Works. His company became involved in the construction of structures for the Mall of Asia Arena, SM City Marikina, SM City Sucat, Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Ermita, Shangri-La Plaza, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila, and buildings in Makati's business district such as Rufino Tower and the Philippines' tallest, PBCom Tower.
Bayani Fernando first ran for public office in 1992, becoming mayor of Marikina City. His administration as mayor transformed the former municipality into one of the best-managed cities and a paradigm of responsive and effective governance. His term saw the transformation of Marikina from a 4th class municipality to a model Philippine city accorded with 55 citations and distinctions. He was re-elected mayor twice, serving until 2001. He was succeeded by his wife, Ma. Lourdes C. Fernando.
In 2002, he was appointed Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, directing him to duplicate his transformation work in Marikina City, but for the entire Metro Manila.
For his work as Chairman, he was conferred the Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, Ateneo de Cagayan, The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award for Government Service, the H.R Reyes Academic Medallion of Honor, Central Colleges of the Philippines and Doctor of the Public Administration, Honoris Causa by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
He is notable for introducing U-Turn slots, greatly increasing the amount of pedestrian overpasses at road intersections, pioneering broadcasting of the MMDA, sidewalk clearing operations, and revitalizing the assets and fleets of the government agency. Subsequent MMDA chairmen continued many of BF's contributions.
He also briefly served as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from January 15, 2003 until April 15, 2003.
Bayani Fernando announced ran for the Vice Presidency under Richard Gordon in the 2010 elections but lost to Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.
He marked his political comeback in the 2016 elections and is now on his second term as Representative of the 1st District of Marikina City.
On his first term as Congressman, he served as the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Highways.
He currently serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights and was also elected as Deputy Minority Leader.
He authored and passed Republic Act No. 11287 which increased the bed capacity of Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center from 300 to 500 beds. He also promoted Bating Filipino as part of his advocacy in public health. He filed Resolution No. 42 urging the Philippine government to promote a new customary Filipino gesture of goodwill, praise and respect –a gesture that the lawmaker believes is safe compared to the traditional handshake -- and House Bill 8149 or Bating Filipino Para Sa Kalusugan Act. Both legislative measures were passed and adopted by the House of Representatives.
