ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Teshiba Tulfo, who hails from Tacloban, Leyte, has been dominating the voter preference surveys. While that doesn’t guarantee a win, it does make him a more convincing senatorial candidate for the midterm elections. Here’s everything you need to know about him and where he stands on key political issues.
Current positions: ACT-CIS Representative, Deputy House Majority Leader (since 2023)
Education: BS Business Administration from University of the East (2005)
Previous occupations: Secretary of Social Welfare and Development (June 2022 – December 2022), TV and radio broadcaster
Affiliated parties: ACT-CIS representative (since 2023), Lakas-CMD member (since 2024)
Political Stances
Governance
In October 2024, Tulfo expressed his support for anti-dynasty legislation. Tulfo also currently has three relatives in the legislature, including his brother Senator Raffy Tulfo, sister-in-law and fellow ACT-CIS Representative Jocelyn Tulfo, and nephew Quezon City Representative Ralph Tulfo. His other brother, media personality Ben Tulfo, is also gunning for a senate seat.
Under Tulfo’s leadership, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has worked with the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) to expedite the process for the issuance of Duty-Exempt Importation (DEI) Certifications for foreign donations to disaster-stricken areas.
Meanwhile, not much is known about his opinions on the country’s justice system and law enforcement.
Economy
A Manila Standard report says that Tulfo aims to expand the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Sufficient Livelihood Program (SLP), which provides “identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized” families with capital to mount their own businesses. According to Manila Standard, Tulfo said that he will file a bill “pushing for a more inclusive SLP where all Filipinos, not only those in poor households but also those qualified individuals who are jobless or those who lack income, will be given livelihood aid.”
After he filed his certificate of candidacy in October 2024, he said that he would focus on empowering the middle class. “It’s time that we also look at sa mga kababayan natin na hindi masyadong napapansin, ‘yong nasa middle [class],” he said in a speech. “Siguro ‘yong sinisigaw nila na higher wages, more benefits, and I would also like to introduce, if there is a chance, ‘yong retirement benefits, ‘yong mga nagtatrabaho sa private sector.”
Human Rights and Social Justice
In September 2024, Tulfo expressed his support for the SOGIE Equality Bill during his interpellation on the bill in Congress, saying that he was once a seminarian, according to Manila Bulletin. However, he also abstained from voting on the Absolute Divorce Bill in June 2024, stating that while he recognizes the struggle of victims of domestic abuse, he is also a Catholic.
In August 2024, he co-authored a bill strengthening the Commission on Human Rights’ (CHR) mandate, which would enhance its structural, operational, and functional independence.
The CHR also commended Tulfo during his term as DSWD secretary for its efforts to rescue indigenous peoples (IPs) from homelessness in urban centers, as well as for providing families of IPs with P10,000 cash aid. However, in its proposed monitoring of piers and other exit points, the CHR also cautioned the DSWD to look out for the trafficking of IPs, stating that the department must still uphold the IPs’ freedom of movement.
Though he represents ACT-CIS, or the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support Party-list, in Congress, Tulfo has not yet been involved in public discussions on the issues of terrorism and red-tagging.
Healthcare
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), Tulfo urged the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to give female members annual free medical tests, including mammograms and ultrasounds. He also filed the Universal Medical Access and Equipment in February 2025, proposing to equip all public hospitals with more medical equipment like x-ray, ECG, and ultrasound machines.
National Security and Foreign Policy
In June 2024, Tulfo filed a resolution calling on the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to intervene in response to China’s “aggressions” in the West Philippine Sea. Politiko reports that he also urged the government to accept the United States’ offer to assist in the Philippine Coast Guard’s resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal.
Environment and Disaster Preparedness
In his short term as DSWD secretary, he led disaster relief efforts after a fire incident in Quezon City in September 2022. He has made no public statements about where he stands on environmental issues.
In March 2024, Tulfo criticized the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for their alleged inaction following a landslide that claimed 98 lives in a Davao de Oro mining village.
Disinformation
Tulfo has received criticism for propagating disinformation in the past. The Philippine Star reports that in September 2017, then Senator Sonny Trillanes said that he would sue Tulfo, then a presenter for the state-run People’s Television Network (PTV) and media personality Mocha Uson for spreading “fake news” on his alleged foreign bank accounts. According to fact-checking news organization Vera Files, Tulfo falsely claimed in December 2021 that broadcast and online news media did not cover the Nueva Ecija caravan of then-presidential and vice presidential aspirants Marcos and Duterte.
Infrastructure Development
Tulfo was one of five lawmakers who introduced the “Accelerated Infrastructure Development Bill” in December 2023, proposing round-the-clock operations for priority government infrastructure projects like road and bridge repairs, according to PNA. In March 2024, he also proposed a bill seeking to penalize road rage. Not much is known about his opinions or proposed policies on housing, energy, and water issues.
Youth and Culture
Tulfo is not involved in policies and policymaking in relation to culture and creative industries. He has, however, been an advocate for the rehabilitation for minors, first proposing the creation of youth rehabilitation centers for street children as DSWD secretary in 2022, according to Rappler, and then co-authoring a bill in April 2024 seeking to build rehabilitation centers for delinquent minors in the provinces. In January 2025, he also took part in handing out P7000 to indigent families for education support as part of the SLP, according to the Municipality of Miagao, Iloilo.
Sara Duterte Impeachment
On February 6, Tulfo explained on social media that he did not vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte to maintain objectivity, given the chance to be a senator and senator-judge at Duterte’s impending trial. “Iniiwasan ko pong magkaroon ng bahid ang aking paghuhusga sa impeachment trial sakaling manalo ako bilang senador at maging senator-judge.”
Ahead of the midterm elections, Rolling Stone Philippines is taking a closer look at the Top 15 senatorial candidates based on the January 2025 surveys by polling firms Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
