Janette Garin

Janette Loreto Garin (born Janette Petilla Loreto; December 11, 1972) is a Filipino politician who has served as the representative for Iloilo's first district since 2019, a position she previously held from 2004 to 2013. She previously served as the 30th secretary of Health from 2015 to 2016 in the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.^[5]

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Petilla, the birth surname or paternal family name is Loreto, and the marital name is Garin.

Janette Garin
Official portrait, 2025
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines
Incumbent
Assumed office July 28, 2025
Speaker	Martin Romualdez
Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from Iloilo's 1st district
Incumbent
Assumed office June 30, 2019
Preceded by	Richard Garin
In office June 30, 2004 – June 30, 2013
Preceded by	Oscar Garin Sr.
Succeeded by	Richard Garin
30th Secretary of Health
In office February 17, 2015[1] – June 30, 2016
President	Benigno Aquino III
Preceded by	Enrique Ona
Succeeded by	Paulyn Ubial
Personal details
Born	Janette Petilla Loreto (1972-12-11) December 11, 1972 (age 52) Baybay, Leyte, Philippines[2]
Political party	Lakas (2001–2010, 2024–present)[3]
Other political affiliations	Liberal (2010–2018) Nacionalista (2018–2021) NUP (2021–2024)[4]
Spouse	Richard Garin
Relations	Sharon Garin (sister-in-law)
Education	Divine Word University of Tacloban (BS) St. Luke's College of Medicine Iloilo Doctors' College (MD)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Physician

During her tenure in Congress, she focused on various health issues such as curbing fraud in PhilHealth and amending the Physician's Act ,among others. She has also advocated for women's issues, including pushing for the passage of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012. She played an active role in the enactment of the Cheaper Medicines Law and the Magna Carta of Women.

Biography

Garin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at the Divine Word University in Tacloban. She was a scholar at St. Luke's College of Medicine. She transferred and completed her Doctor of Medicine at the Iloilo Doctors' College. She had two years of residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Iloilo Doctor's Hospital. She later served as a member of the Iloilo Provincial Board for six years.

Garin was elected as the first Filipino board member to the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) during its Sixth Annual Conference held in Helsinki, Finland on October 21–22, 2005. She was re-elected to this post for the following conference in Paris.

Personal life

She is married to Richard S. Garin, son of former representative Oscar Gemarino Garin and Ninfa Serag Garin. On August 18, 2021, Garin tested positive for COVID-19.^[6]