Senate passes resolution expressing condolences for former Senator Dominador Aytona

The Senate adopted a resolution Wednesday, September 27, 2017, expressing its profound sympathy and sincere condolences to the family of former Senator Dominador Aytona, who passed away Tuesday, September 26, at the age of 99.

Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, who introduced Senate Resolution 519, said Aytona's "passing was a great loss not only to his bereaved family but to the nation as well." The Senate will hold a necrological service for the late senator on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 10 a.m.

Aytona served as senator from 1965-1971 and placed 6th during the November 9, 1965 senatorial elections.

According to the resolution, Aytona served as Chairman of the Committees on Civil Service, Ways and Means, and Finance during the 6th Congress where he was instrumental in the enactment of landmark legislative measures like Republic Act No. 6063 or an Act Fixing the Salaries of Officers and Employees of the Court of Tax Appeals; Republic Act No. 5926 or an Act Standardizing the Salaries of All National Officials and Employees of the General Auditing Office; Republic Act No. 6101, or an Act Increasing the Salaries of the Officers and Employees of the Bureau of Posts; Republic Act No. 5531 or an Act Establishing the Bicol University; and Republic Act No. 6014 or an Act Creating the Students Loan Fund Authority.

"During the 7th Congress, Aytona actively participated in the enactment of Republic Act No. 6124, known as an Act Providing for the Fixing of the Maximum Selling Prices of Essential Articles or Commodities, Creating the Price Control Council; Republic Act No. 6126 also known as an Act Regulating Rentals of Dwelling Units and Republic Act No. 6390 or an Act Accelerating the Implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program," the resolution said.

After his term as Senator, Aytona devoted himself to the private sector where he served as a business executive of a textile and garment manufacturer. Aytona finished his primary and intermediate school education at the Albay Training Department with high honors and his teaching course at the Albay Normal School as a self-supporting student. After teaching in Vinsons, Camarines Norte, he and his wife decided to migrate to Manila where he worked as clerk in the General Auditing Office during the day and pursued his college degree at night at the University of Manila where he was a scholar and outstanding student. He finished his Business Administration degree at the University of Manila in 1947, graduating summa cum laude, Bachelor of Law degree in 1949 as magna cum laude and Master of Laws in 1951 as cum laude.

Aytona placed 2nd in the 1950 bar examinations with an average score of 94.55 percent. He then joined the Senate as a financial adviser and met with then Representative and former President Ramon Magsaysay.

In January 1, 1954, Magsaysay appointed Aytona as Commissioner of the Budget. He was also the former Secretary of Finance who held the concurrent position of chairman of the Monetary Board of the Central Bank. He was a Fulbright and Smith-Mundt Training Grant where he took special studies in public finance and budgeting. (Olive Caunan)