Prospero Amatong

Background

Prospero Amatong was born in Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte, on October 18, 1931.

Career

Amatong served as the Governor of Davao del Norte from 1992 until 1998 and as a Congressman in the House of Representatives of the Philippines from 1998 until 2007. He also served as interim governor of Compostela Valley upon its creation. He earned his bachelor"s degree in civil engineering.

He moved to Nabunturan in 1960, where he taught at Assumption College from 1960 until 1971.

Prospero"s career in politics began in 1963 with his election as a Nabunturan city council member. He was elected the Mayor of Nabunturan in 1972, an office he held for 14 years.

He also served as the mayor of New Corella early in his career. Amatong was elected the Governor of Davao del Norte, which consisted of 21 towns, in 1992.

As governor, Amatong spearheaded the creation of a new province Compostela Valley, which consists eleven municipalities which were formerly part of Davao del Norte.

Amatong became the interim governor of the newly created Compostela Valley province for three months in 1998. He was later elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines, representing Compostela Valley"s second congressional district as a congressman. Amatong remained in Congress until his retirement in 2007.

Rommel Amatong, was elected as his successor in the district in 2007.

Throughout his long political career, no complaints were ever filed against him by the Ombudsman. Politicians from both Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley continued to consult was Amatong following his retirement, earning him the nickname as the “grand old man” of Davao politics.

Achievements

• He is the real Mr. Service." Laak Mayor Reynaldo Navarro referred to Amatong as, "a legend, a real champion who has never tasted defeat." Former Davao del Norte Vice Governor Victorio Suaybaguio Junior., a friend of Amatong during his governorship, spoke of him am saddened by the death of a great man whose life was dedicated to mankind.