The Honorable
France Castro
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives for ACT Teachers
Assumed office
June 30, 2016
Serving with Antonio Tinio (2016–2019)
Personal details
Born
Francisca Lustina Castro

(1966-05-24) May 24, 1966
Philippines
Political partyACT Teachers
Alma materPhilippine Normal University (BSE)

Francisca Lustina Castro (born May 24, 1966) is a Filipino educator, trade union activist, and politician. She is a member of the Philippine House of Representatives for the 19th Congress and was part of the 18th Congress under the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) party-list group. In Congress, she is among the principal authors of Republic Act 11466, which increased the minimum monthly salary of nurses in the Philippines.[1] Castro is the former secretary general of ACT.[2] In 2019, she was awarded the Arthur Svensson International Prize for Trade Union Rights for her work organizing teachers[3] and the Febe Velasquez Trade Union Rights Award for her work in defense of trade unions and human rights.[2]

Early life and education

Castro’s father was a driver and her mother was a housewife. Castro and her four siblings all graduated from public schools.[4]

Castro took BSE Math at the Philippine Normal University where she graduated cum laude. She had intended to become an accountant but her family could not afford to send her to a private school. In college, she was a member of the League of Filipino Students.[4]

House of Representatives

She was first elected in 2016.

She is co-author of the anti-endo bill that sought to give workers security of tenure by the ending the practice of labor contractualization.[5]

She is among the Congress representatives that support the franchise renewal for broadcast company ABS-CBN.[6]

In 2020, Castro joined fellow lawmakers in protesting the passage of House Bill number 6875, which eventually became the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.[7]

In 2022, Castro was appointed as a deputy minority leader.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "House of Representatives House Members: Castro, France L." House of Representatives. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  2. 1 2 "France Castro of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers: "President Duterte is scared of the words 'human rights'"". Equal Times. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  3. ↑ "France Castro of the Philippines set to receive Arthur Svensson Prize 2019". ITUC CSI IGB. 2019-04-29. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  4. 1 2 Umil, Anne Marxze (2011-10-11). "France Castro: teacher, friend, activist". Bulatlat. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  5. ↑ Cepeda, Mara (2019-08-05). "Despite Duterte veto, Makabayan bloc refiles anti-endo bill in House". Rappler. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  6. ↑ Yap, D. J. (2020-01-28). "Makabayan bloc files bill seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal". Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  7. ↑ Cepeda, Mara (2020-06-03). "'Draconian' anti-terror bill, feared to be used vs gov't critics, hurdles Congress". Rappler. Retrieved 2022-04-26.
  8. ↑ "House minority bloc officers bared; here they are". Manila Bulletin.
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