Alex Lopez (politician)
Alex Lopez | |
|---|---|
 Lopez in 2024 | |
| Chair of the Philippine Reclamation Authority | |
| Assumed office November 2023 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Henry A. Robinson Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alexander Tantoco Lopez November 15, 1958 Tondo, Manila, Philippines |
| Political party | PFP (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Nacionalista (2018–2021) |
| Parent |
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| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | Ateneo de Manila University |
| Occupation | Lawyer, businessman, government official |
Alexander Tantoco Lopez (born November 15, 1958)[1] is a Filipino lawyer, businessman, and government official currently serving as the chairperson of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) under the administration of President Bongbong Marcos.[2] He is the son of former Manila mayor Mel Lopez, and brother of former Manila 1st district congressman Manny Lopez.[3] He is also the chairperson and CEO of Pacific Concrete Products Inc.
Legal career
[edit]A graduate of Ateneo Law in 1985, Lopez worked for his father as his chief of staff and personal assistant.[2]
Business career
[edit]Lopez is the chairperson and chief executive officer of Pacific Concrete Products Inc.,[2] a contractor classified as Quadruple-A (AAAA), the highest level granted to construction firms in the Philippines.[4]
As Pacific Concrete's chair and CEO, Lopez subleased property in Pasay to 3D Analyzer Information Technologies Inc., a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO). The sublease, finalized in January 2024 while Lopez already held his government-appointed PRA position, involved property originally leased from the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), a government-owned entity. Lopez's company acknowledged renting to 3D Analyzer, noting it had verified 3D Analyzer's permits and licenses but emphasized that it bore no responsibility for the tenant's operations. Following a raid in October 2024, authorities uncovered illicit online scams conducted by 3D Analyzer, which had falsely reported ceasing operations despite President Marcos's earlier directive banning POGOs. Pacific Concrete has stated its willingness to cooperate with investigations.[5]
Political career
[edit]Lopez ran for Mayor of Manila in the 2022 elections under the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas,[6] with Raymond Bagatsing of Kilusang Bagong Lipunan as his running mate.[7]
During the 2022 general election, almost two years after the sale was settled in Divisoria, the subject matter resurfaced after he said its sale lacked transparency and threatened to press charges against then-mayor Isko Moreno and the city council. Moreno refuted Lopez's allegations as misleading and politically motivated, and said no violations were made as everything was done with due process and was well-documented. Moreno also said some of the vendors and representatives of Divisoria Public Market Credit Cooperative may have been manipulated by Lopez to spread black propaganda and sensationalize the issue for personal interests.[8][9][10][11] He and Bagatsing were defeated by incumbent vice mayor Honey Lacuna and congressman Yul Servo, respectively.[12][13]
He filed an electoral protest against Lacuna's mayoral victory, alleging "electoral frauds, irregularities, and anomalies" within the election. On October 6, 2022, the Commission on Elections dismissed the protest, citing the lack of evidence as well as the usage of baseless claims.[14][15]
Government career
[edit]In 2023, he was appointed by President Bongbong Marcos as the chairperson of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).[2] As PRA chair, Lopez is tasked with leading the agency in regulating and overseeing all reclamation projects in the Philippines under President Marcos's Build Better More program.[16]
Under Lopez's leadership, the PRA reported a net income of ₱89.86 billion (about US$1.6 billion) in 2023, an increase from previous years. The authority ranked among the most profitable government-owned and controlled corporations in the Philippines that year.[17]
Electoral performance
[edit]2022
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asenso | Honey Lacuna | 538,595 | 63.68 | ||
| PFP | Alexander Lopez | 166,908 | 19.74 | ||
| KABAKA | Amado Bagatsing | 118,694 | 14.03 | ||
| Reporma | Cristina Lim-Raymundo | 14,857 | 1.76 | ||
| PRP | Elmer Jamias | 4,057 | 0.48 | ||
| Independent | Onofre Abad | 2,618 | 0.31 | ||
| Total votes | 845,729 | 100.00 | |||
| Asenso hold | |||||
2019
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asenso | Rolan Valeriano | 34,861 | 36.52 | |||
| Nacionalista | Alexander Lopez | 32,215 | 33.75 | |||
| NUP | Rodolfo "Ninong" Lacsamana | 28,379 | 29.73 | |||
| Total votes | 95,455 | 100.00 | ||||
| Asenso gain from PDP–Laban | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ "ATTY. ALEXANDER T. LOPEZ, OUTSTANDING LEADER OF MANILA". SAKSI NGAYON. 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ a b c d Lopez, Tony (May 30, 2024). "Reclamation". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Bautista, Lakambini. "ATTY. ALEX LOPEZ". League. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Pacific Concrete Products, Inc. Overview". SignalHire. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
- ^ Buan, Lian (October 10, 2024). "Pasay scam hub's sublessor is firm of reclamation chair Alex Lopez". Rappler. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
- ^ Ramos, Jaleen (March 20, 2022). "Alex Lopez vows to bring fresh perspective to Manila". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Moaje, Marita (May 12, 2022). "Honey Lacuna takes helm as first female mayor of Manila". Philippine News Agency.
- ^ Casilao, Joahna Lei (March 24, 2022). "Isko Moreno on alleged Divisoria sale: 'Baka may nasaktan sa P203B tax'". GMA News. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Chavez, Cyril (March 30, 2022). "Moreno, naniniwalang ginagamit lang ang isyu ng ilang kalaban sa pulitika". 24 Oras – GMA News. MSN. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Depasupil, William (April 1, 2022). "Domagoso, mayoral candidate trade barbs over Divisoria market sale". The Manila Times. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Yap, DJ (April 2, 2022). "Isko Moreno camp defends Divisoria market sale". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ LOCUS, SUNDY MAE (2022-05-11). "Honey Lacuna proclaimed as Manila's first female mayor". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Sarao, Zacarian (2022-05-11). "Manila proclaims Honey Lacuna as capital city's first female mayor". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Mendoza, John Eric (2022-10-08). "Comelec junks poll protest against Manila Mayor Lacuna". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ UNTALAN, SHERYLIN (October 8, 2022). "Comelec junks electoral protest against Manila Mayor Lacuna". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ Antonio, Raymund (November 12, 2023). "Marcos approves nomination of Alexander Lopez as PRA chair". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Montalvo, Pierce Oel (January 20, 2025). "The Philippines' 20 Most and Least Profitable Companies in 2023". BusinessWorld. Retrieved March 19, 2025.