For the first time in nearly six decades, the second district of Albay is sending someone from its own neighborhoods to Congress.
Carlos “Caloy” Loria, 59, a businessman born and raised in Barangay Baño in Old Albay, Legazpi City is set to become the next representative of the district. He assumes office on July 1, succeeding Rep. Joey Salceda, whose term ends after nearly a decade in the post.
Loria’s entry into politics is new, but not sudden. “Ang unang talagang pakay ko is not to run. I’m in 33 years in politics helping politicians,” he says. “Strategist ako ng mga politicians before, but I don’t enter into politics na tumakbo.”
That changed this year, when he filed his candidacy for the House of Representatives. With the seat open, Loria saw an opportunity to put his years of corporate experience to public use.
“Ako po tumakbo bilang lehislador upang mapakita ko sa aking mga constituents na talagang yung hinahanap nila na magiging legislator nila ay tubong Old Albay,’ he added.
From LTO to Construction
Loria didn’t finish college. He started working as a casual employee at the Land Transportation Office in Legazpi, where he spent eight years before deciding to venture into business.
He launched a construction company in 1994, building his business from the ground up. Over time, his ventures expanded to include real estate development and later, energy—an area his children now help manage.
“I did it on my own, and nagtuloy-tuloy na,” Loria recalls.
His companies remain locally based and people-oriented, he says, employing many workers from Albay and nearby areas.
Legislative Priorities
Despite his lack of political experience, Loria says he plans to lean on his corporate management background to deliver results in Congress.
Among his top priorities: uplifting the quality of life in underserved communities, improving access to health care, and investing in long-term disaster mitigation. He says these issues came up repeatedly in his two-year listening campaign across the district’s 223 barangays.
“When I go around for the past two years, nakita ko talaga yung problema ng tao sa laylayan. Paghihirap ng mga tao, yun ang aking unang priority, mabibigyan ko sila ng magandang quality ng buhay, yung mga pinangako ko sa campaign,” Loria says.
On health care, he wants to ensure that every barangay health center is stocked with maintenance medicines for common illnesses like diabetes and hypertension. Though Congress has no direct mandate to provide these services, he believes in helping local governments tap national funding to meet urgent needs.
“Ang trabaho ng congressman ay gumawa ng batas. Pero mahalaga rin ang maging bridge ng mga tao sa resources ng gobyerno,” he adds.
Jobs and Climate Concerns
Loria is also pushing for a proposed 250-hectare “green economic zone” in the upland areas of Daraga or Legazpi. The plan, which is still being studied, envisions an export processing zone that could create thousands of jobs in the province.
Addressing climate risks is another key concern, especially after recent landslides and floods. He plans to push for the revival of siltation and flood control programs under a more transparent system, potentially through foreign-assisted projects like JICA.
“All our major rivers are heavily silted,” he says. “We need a long-term, strategic approach to protect lives and property.”
A Local Voice, Finally
For Loria, winning the congressional seat is about more than personal success. It marks the first time in decades that someone from Old Albay—not Ligao or Polangui—will represent the Second District in Congress.
Since 1965, he points out, the district has been represented by politicians from outside Legazpi. “Ako lang ang tunay na taga-rito,” he says.
As he prepares to begin his term, Loria says he understands the pressure to deliver.
“Alam ko marami ang nagsasabing wala akong karanasan sa politika,” he admits. “Pero may 35 years ako sa corporate management. Alam ko paano magpatakbo ng maayos.”
To those who voted for him, he offers a simple message: “Mag-assume po ako ng duty, July 1, rest assured po na talagang galing sa puso na talagang babaguhin ko and gagawin ko po ang aking pinaka the fullest of my ability.”