Manuel A. Roa

Manuel A. Roa was a Filipino Visayan politician from Cebu, Philippines. He was elected governor of Cebu and served from 1912 until 1922 and served twice as member of the Cebu Provincial Board.

Wikipedia

Historical Review of the Seminary College of San Carlos of Cebu 1867-1917 (p. 182-183)

During his tenure as Governor of Cebu, he improved efficiency in tax collection, health, education, public works, and law enforcement. It was also during his term when Compostela became a separate Municipality, which used to be part of Liloan, and the University of the Philippines opened a Junior Colllege of Liberal Arts in Cebu on May 3, 1918. Attendance in schools was high and the mortality rate dropped. Road, bridges and culverts were also constructed and rehabilitated.

He was part of the first city council and first presiding officer (equivalent to today’s Vice Mayor) when Cebu was declared a City in 1937. Cebu was the 3rd city of the Philippines after Manila and Baguio.

He was elected to the Provincial board on December 29 of the same year, and briefly took as Governor when Buenaventura P. Rodriguez died on December 9, 1940.

Roa started his political career when he served as councilor. He then became the Municipal President (Mayor) of Cebu and was appointed as a member of the provincial board in 1909.

He was one of the pioneer beneficiaries of the Pensionado Act, a scholarship program for Filipinos to attend school in the United States.