Manila: The House of Representatives will hold a necrological service on Monday for the late Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo 'Dax' Cua, honoring a quarter-century of public service that took him from the provincial capitol to Congress and eventually to the leadership of the United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC). Dy died on Sept. 15. He would've turned 49 on Nov. 4.
According to Philippines News Agency, the service will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the plenary hall. Cua represented the lone district of Quirino during the 15th, 16th, and 17th Congresses (2010 to 2019). Speaker Faustino Dy III, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan authored a resolution, which was subsequently adopted by the House, expressing its profound condolences to Cua's family.
A graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City with a degree in Business Administration, Cua spent virtually his entire adult life in public service. He began his political career at only 23 when he was elected vice governor of Quirino in 2001, becoming the country's youngest vice governor at the time. He served until 2007.
He was elected governor in 2007 before moving to the House in 2010. During his nine years in Congress, Cua chaired the Committees on Ecology and Ways and Means and was among the principal authors of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act. He also authored the House measure that became Republic Act No. 10230, which established Quirino State University by integrating higher education institutions in Diffun, Cabarroguis, and Maddela towns.
After completing his congressional tenure in 2019, Cua returned to Quirino as governor and remained the province's chief executive until his death. His work in local government eventually gave him a national platform as president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines and national chair of the League of Provinces of the Philippines.
Cua's advocacy for stronger local governments reached the regional stage when he became the first Filipino president of UCLG ASPAC in 2023 and was reelected for the term 2025 to 2027. 'Since assuming the presidency of UCLG ASPAC in 2023, Governor Cua has been a steadfast leader and a passionate advocate for local governments. He consistently championed and embodied our shared belief that 'The Future is Local',' the UCLG ASPAC posted on Sept. 16.
'We believe that his legacy will continue to guide and inspire our work, and that his contributions will live on through the efforts of local governments across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. May he rest in peace, and may his memory remain a lasting source of inspiration for us all.'
