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<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-20/kokoy-romualdez.webp" alt="Benjamin 'Kokoy' Romualdez" loading="lazy" />
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(Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez)
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Romualdez was married to Juliette Gomez, and they had four children: Daniel, a practicing architect in New York; Benjamin Philip, president and chief executive officer of Benguet Corp.; Ferdinand Martin, who is married to Yedda Marie; and Marean, an investment banker.
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Political Career
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Romualdez began his career in politics after serving as an assistant of Speaker Daniel Romualdez, his first cousin, from 1957 to 1961. He embarked on his own career in the diplomatic service and in politics spanning more than 20 years.
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He served several terms as the Governor of Leyte from 1967 to 1986. During his tenure as the Governor of Leyte, he initiated several major infrastructure projects that significantly contributed to the development of the province:
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<b>Leyte Estate Industrial Development</b>: This was the only economic zone in Eastern Visayas located in Isabel town.
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<a href="https://kahimyang.com/articles/3084/the-history-of-visayas-state-university" class="news_link">Visayas State College of Agriculture</a> (ViSCA)</b>: Romualdez played a crucial role in the establishment of this world-renowned agricultural institution, which is now known as the Visayas State University. He was the main lobbyist for the creation of a ViSCA charter, which was approved by President Ferdinand E. Marcos, Sr. on May 24, 1974, through Presidential Decree 470. He facilitated the approval of a World Bank loan that built 90% of the current infrastructure of the university. One of the iconic projects he worked on for ViSCA was the construction of 12 four-door apartment units that can house 48 families as a free housing incentive to the first set of faculty and staff who were recruited to teach and work in the college.
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<b>Geothermal Plant in Kananga Town</b>: This plant became the main source of power for Eastern Visayas.
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These projects have had a lasting impact on the province of Leyte and continue to benefit its residents today.
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September 24, 1930: Benjamin "Kokoy" Romualdez was Born in Manila