Wowo Fortes
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Philippine name|Laurio|Fortes}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Wowo Fortes
| image = Rep. Manuel Fortes, Jr. (19th Congress).jpg
| office = Member of the
Philippine House of Representatives
from Sorsogon's 2nd district
| term_start = June 30, 2022
| term_end =
| predecessor1 = none; office last held by Bernardita Ramos
| successor1 =
| office2 = Vice governor of Sorsogon
| governor2 = Francis Escudero
| term_start2 = June 30, 2019
| term_end2 = June 30, 2022
| predecessor2 = Ester Hamor
| successor2 = Krunimar Antonio Escudero II
| office3 = Mayor of Barcelona, Sorsogon
| term_start3 = June 30, 2010
| term_end3 = June 30, 2019
| predecessor3 = Salvador Nee Estuye
| successor3 = Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes
| birth_name = Manuel Laurio Fortes, Jr.
| birth_date = {{birth date|1965|02|24}}
| party = NPC (2018-present)
| otherparty = UNA (2012-2018)
Nacionalista (2009-2012)
| spouse = Cynthia Falcotelo-Fortes
| relations =
| children =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = Lawyer
| profession =
}}
Wowo Fortes (born Manuel Laurio Fortes Jr.; February 24, 1965) is a Filipino lawyer and politician serving as the Representative of the Province of Sorsogon’s 2nd district since July 2022.{{cite web |title=House of Representatives, 19th Congress |url=https://www.congress.gov.ph/house-members/view/?member=K033&name=Fortes%2C+Wowo&page=0 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=House of Representatives of the Philippines |publisher=}}
Career and affiliations
Prior to his political career, Fortes was a practicing lawyer. He served as the vice governor of Sorsogon from 2019 to 2022, and mayor of Barcelona, Sorsogon from 2010 to 2019.{{cite web |title=Wowo Fortes |url=https://www.rappler.com/people/p24161168-wowo-fortes/ |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Rappler |publisher=}}
In the 2019 elections, Fortes was Francis Escudero's running mate in the gubernatorial election under the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC).{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-10-12 |title=Chiz files COC for Sorsogon governor |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/670987/chiz-files-coc-for-sorsogon-governor/story/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}} In the 2022 elections, Fortes and the NPC won all provincial offices, including the 2nd district House representative seat Fortes ran at.{{Cite web |title=A sweep for NPC Sorsogon provincial slate – Bicol Express News |url=http://bicolexpress.news/a-sweep-for-npc-sorsogon-provincial-slate/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |language=en}}
Legislation
Fortes contributed to the drafting of Republic Act No. 11964, a bill relating to income classification of local government units (LGUs).{{cite news |last1=Reganit |first1=Jose Cielito |date=2022-11-17 |title=House body OKs bill on LGU's automatic income classification |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1188841 |access-date=2025-01-30 |work=Philippine News Agency |publisher=}} He was a coauthor of House Bill No. 3458: Community-Driven Development (CDD) Bill.{{cite news |last1=Calipay |first1=Connie |date=2023-07-13 |title=DSWD-Bicol pushes for empowerment of communities in poor areas |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205582 |access-date=2025-01-30 |work=Philippine News Agency |publisher=}}