Senate honors ex-Senator Heherson Alvarez

Senators on Monday honored the life and contribution of the late lawmaker Heherson "Sonny" Alvarez who recently died due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The advocacies and exemplary work ethics of Alvarez were remembered by his former colleagues during their sponsorship speeches as the session resumed.

"'Even if he no longer was a member of the Senate, no longer a member of Congress, he was still very active in issues on human rights, anti-hazing, and environmental issues," Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.

P.S. Resolution No. 363 was adopted, taking into consideration P.S. Resolution Nos. 366, 371 and 382, to formalize such recognition and expression of condolences to the loved ones of Alvarez. All senators were made authors.

Alvarez, 80, died last month after battling COVID-19. His wife Cecile, on the other hand, survived the same disease.

Prior to entering Congress, Alvarez had a short stint as Secretary of Agrarian Reform in 1986.

He was a senator for 12 years and also became part of the House of Representatives.

Aside from authoring the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act during the Cory Aquino administration, Alvarez was also known for advocating solutions to environmental issues during his tenure as a lawmaker.

The former statesman from Isabela has also been at the helm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. — RSJ, GMA News