MANILA — The House of Representatives has honored the late Batanes Rep. Ciriaco “Jun” B. Gato Jr., recognizing his decades of service as a physician and lawmaker and his contributions to healthcare reforms.

The House adopted Tuesday evening House Resolution No. 1470, introduced by Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos and Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan, expressing condolences to Gato’s family following his death on Sept. 21 at age 66.

“The passing of Honorable Ciriaco ‘Jun’ B. Gato Jr. is not merely a loss of a public servant, but a loss of a beloved son of the Province of Batanes who devoted his life, his profession, and his public service to the welfare of his fellow Ivatans,” the resolution stated.

Gato represented Batanes’ lone legislative district for three consecutive Congresses and served as chairperson of the House Committee on Health and vice chairperson of the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle Committee.

He was also a member of the committees on Civil Service and Professional Regulation, Disaster Resilience, and Higher and Technical Education.

The resolution highlighted Gato’s work on national healthcare and public health measures, including healthcare regulation, hospital infrastructure, maternal and child health, emergency response, blood services modernization and patient safety.

Among the measures he authored or co-authored that became law were Republic Act No. 12290, or the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines Act, and RA 11472, which increased the bed capacity of the CARAGA Regional Hospital in Surigao City from 150 to 500 beds.

Before entering government, Gato practiced as an otolaryngologist in public and private hospitals and conducted medical missions in communities across Batanes.

A native of Sabtang, Batanes, Gato was a valedictorian in elementary and high school. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of the East and his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Jade Oliva Soledad Bañez Gato, and daughters Dr. Patricia Gato Suzaro and Atty. Georgina Mia B. Gato.

The House directed that a copy of the resolution expressing its “profound condolences” be furnished to Gato’s family.