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Solomon Chungalao

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Solomon Chungalao
Portrait of Ifugao lone district representative Solomon Chungalao
Official portrait, 2026
Member of Philippine House of Representatives for Ifugao's at-large district
Assumed office
June 30, 2019
Preceded byTeddy Baguilat
In office
June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2010
Preceded byBenjamin Cappleman
Succeeded byTeddy Baguilat
House positions
Member of the House Electoral Tribunal
Assumed office
August 11, 2025
Chair of the House Agrarian Reform Committee
In office
September 30, 2019 – June 30, 2025
Preceded byRene Relampagos
Succeeded byEleanor Begtang
Chair of the House National Cultural Communities Committee
In office
August 3, 2004 – June 30, 2007
Preceded byLaurence Wacnang
Succeeded bySamuel Dangwa
Personal details
BornSolomon Ramirez Chungalao
(1955-12-04) December 4, 1955 (age 70)
PartyNPC (2019–present)
Other political
affiliations
Lakas (2007–2010)
Liberal (2001–2007)
SpouseGrace Hora
ProfessionLawyer

Solomon "Sol" Ramirez Chungalao (Filipino: [soloˈmon ˈtʃʊŋɡalaʊ]; born December 4, 1955) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who has served as the representative for the Ifugao's at-large congressional district in the Philippine House of Representatives since 2019, and previously from 2001 to 2010. He is currently a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition.

Early life and education

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Solomon Ramirez Chungalao was born on December 4, 1955, in Banaue, Ifugao, to Rufino Chungalao Sr. and Cesaria Ramirez. He attended the Baguio Colleges Foundation (now the University of the Cordilleras) where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree.

House of Representatives (2001–2010)

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Chungalao in the 13th Congress

Chungalao was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2001, under the Liberal Party, representing Ifugao's lone district, succeeding former governor Benjamin Cappleman. By the end of his first term, he authored 52 bills and resolutions and co-authored 89 bills and resolutions.[1]

He was re-elected in 2004 and served as the chairperson of the House National Cultural Communities Committee in the 13th Congress.[2]

In 2007, Chungalao joined the ruling party Lakas–CMD and was re-elected to a third term. It was during his final term as congressman that House Bill No. 4409, which he principally authored and which became Republic Act No. 9720, was signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, converting Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry into the Ifugao State University.[3][4] Chungalao also supported charter change measures during the Arroyo administration that sought to convene the House as a constituent assembly to amend the 1987 Constitution.[5]

Gubernatorial and congressional bids (2010–2016)

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After the end of his congressional tenure, having been term-limited, Chungalao ran for governor of Ifugao in the 2010 elections, but lost to the Liberal Party candidate Eugene Balitang.[6]

He made a bid to return to the House in 2013 as an independent candidate, but lost to incumbent representative Teddy Baguilat. Chungalao ran against Baguilat for a second time in 2016, but again lost.

Return to House of Representatives (2019–present)

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Chungalao successfully ran in 2019 for Ifugao's lone district in the House of Representatives under the Nationalist People's Coalition. In the 18th Congress, he was elected chairman of the House Agrarian Reform Committee. He principally authored 106 bills and co-authored 46 bills in his fourth legislative term, at least 16 of which were enacted into law.[7]

Chungalao was re-elected in 2022, serving in the 19th Congress as the Agrarian Reform Committee chairman for a second time. He supported a third proposal to create a Cordillera Autonomous Region in 2020, but stated that “time was running out” as interest in the region's establishment had been declining.[8] He also denounced the erroneous portrayals of Igorots in learning modules distributed by the Department of Education in February 2021, prompting Chungalao and fellow Cordillera lawmakers to file House Resolution No. 1552.[9] He was one of the 215 House members who signed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte that led to her first impeachment in February 2025.[10]

In 2025, Chungalao ran for a third and final term, winning against civil engineer and Partido Federal ng Pilipinas candidate Francis Cuyop. On August 11, 2025, he was elected member of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal.[11] He voted in favor of Duterte's second impeachment in May 2026.[12]

Committee membership (20th Congress)

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Personal life

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Chungalao is a member of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines. He is married to Grace Hora.

Electoral history

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Electoral history of Solomon Chungalao
Year Office Party Votes received Result
Total % P. Swing
2001 Representative (Ifugao) Liberal N/a N/a 1st N/a Won
2004 N/a N/a 1st N/a Won
2007 Lakas N/a N/a 1st N/a Won
2013 Independent 41,664 49.73% 2nd N/a Lost
2016 39,847 44.53% 2nd −5.20 Lost
2019 NPC 27,398 N/a 1st N/a Won
2022 48,231 43.94% 1st N/a Won
2025 63,771 54.70% 1st +10.76 Won
2010 Governor of Ifugao Lakas 35,389 46.56% 2nd N/a Lost

References

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  1. ↑ "Summary Report on Authored Bills and Resolutions, 12th Congress" (PDF). House of Representatives of the Philippines. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 29, 2011. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Chungalao, Solomon R." House of Representatives of the Philippines. Archived from the original on February 3, 2007. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  3. ↑ Taguinod, Floro (January 6, 2010). "Arroyo inaugurates Ifugao's first university". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  4. ↑ Republic Act No. 9720 (October 14, 2009), An Act Converting the Ifugao State College of Agriculture and Forestry in the Municipality of Lamut and All Its Existing Extension Campuses Located in the Province of Ifugao Into a State University to Be Known as the Ifugao State University and Appropriating Funds Therefor, retrieved September 29, 2026
  5. ↑ Sisante, Jam (June 11, 2009). "Disbarment of con-ass signatories sought". GMA News Online. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  6. ↑ Lagasca, Charlie (May 23, 2010). "3 CAR provinces have new governors". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Hon. Chungalao, Solomon R." House of Representatives of the Philippines. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Hope dims for the creation of an Igorot region". Philippine Daily Inquirer. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ Dumlao, Artemio (February 8, 2021). "Cordillera reps call for DepEd review of modules with wrong info on IPs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  10. ↑ Cruz, James Patrick; de Leon, Dwight (February 6, 2025). "Who are lawmakers who supported, didn't back Sara Duterte's impeachment?". Rappler. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  11. ↑ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (August 11, 2025). "Emano elected deputy speaker; Acop, others picked for CA". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2026.
  12. ↑ Lo-oy, Leonora (May 15, 2025). "Solid CAR: All 7 Cordillera solons vote to impeach VP Sara Duterte". Guru Press Cordillera. Retrieved September 29, 2026.