Javi Benitez

Javier Miguel "Javi" Lopez Benitez (born October 8, 1994) is a Filipino politician and former actor who currently serves as the representative of Negros Occidental's 3rd district in the House of Representatives of the Philippines. He succeeded his uncle, Jose Francisco Benitez. Prior to his election to Congress in 2025, Benitez served as Mayor of Victorias from 2022 to 2025.

Early life Benitez is the son of Bacolod representative and former mayor Albee Benitez and Nikki Lopez-Benitez. He took his oath before his uncle Francisco "Kiko" Benitez.

On assuming office, he outlined a six-point agenda covering dignified human settlement, disaster-resilient communities, diversified economy, dynamic governance, education for all, universal healthcare.

During his term, Victorias opened its first business process outsourcing site, which initially employed 50 workers, as part of efforts to diversify the city’s economy. His administration also entered into an agreement supporting the national government’s housing program and secured ₱55 million for the construction of a command and evacuation center.

Other projects undertaken during his administration included the Sidlak Residential Complex, the Victorias City Command and Evacuation Center, Project VECTOR, Sidlak Learning Technologies, and partnerships involving digital payments and agricultural livelihood development. In 2024, the city also introduced a solar-powered water supply system intended to provide a clean and reliable water source for local communities.

Benitez delivered his final State of the City Address on May 5, 2025, in which he reviewed his administration’s programs and achievements.

Awards received by Victorias City during Benitez's term

Award Awarding body Year Awarded 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance Department of the Interior and Local Government 2024 Digital Democracy Award Champion Makati Business Club 2024 One of the Top Performing Agencies in Visayas and Mindanao Government Service Insurance System 2024 Philippine Model City - Second Runner-up The Manila Times 2024 Sustainability Champion The Manila Times 2024 Tourism and Culture Hub Champion The Manila Times 2024 Tech Territory Champion The Manila Times 2024 Food Security Enabler - First Runner-up The Manila Times 2024 Outstanding BSP Stakeholder in the Visayas Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas 2024 Top 10 Most Improved Component City in the Philippines Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, Department of Trade and Industry 2024 Top 5 Most Competitive Component City in Western Visayas Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, Department of Trade and Industry 2024 Outstanding Creative Proposal for the Lunsod Lunsad Victorias in Motion project Department of Trade and Industry 2024 Fourth Place, Tourism Champions Challenge Department of Tourism 2024 Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping for fiscal year 2023 Department of the Interior and Local Government 2024 Digital Breakthrough Growth Awardee GCash 2024 Special Award and Plaque of Recognition Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region VI 2024 Valuable Partner Award and Plaque of Appreciation Bureau of Fire Protection Region VI 2024 Top 3 Performing Mayor in Western Visayas RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. 2024 BAGANI Local Governance Awards -Potential Passer for the 2024 Seal of Good Local Governance Department of the Interior and Local Government–Negros Occidental 2024 BAGANI Local Governance Awards - Recognition for localizing the Local Governance Quizzard Department of the Interior and Local Government–Negros Occidental 2024 Champion, 28th Panaad sa Negros Festival Dance Competition Province of Negros Occidental 2024 Top 5 Passer of the 2022 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance Audit Provincial Council for the Protection of Children 2024 Top 4, Green Environment Award Province of Negros Occidental 2024 2023 Seal of Good Local Governance Department of the Interior and Local Government 2023 23rd Gawad KALASAG Seal and Special Awards for Excellence – Fully Compliant Office of Civil Defense and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 2023 A Birder's Paradise - Top 5 LGU Proposal in the Tourism Champions Challenge Department of Tourism 2023 Winner, Lunsod Lunsad: A Call for Creative Proposals National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Department of Trade and Industry 2023 Third Place, Local Legislative Awards - Best-Performing Legislative Council Philippine Councilors League and Department of the Interior and Local Government 2023 Electronic New Government Accounting System Grassroot Implementer Award Government Financial Management Innovators Circle Inc. 2023 Top 3 Performing Mayor in Western Visayas RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. 2023 2022 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Award Department of the Interior and Local Government 2023 Monthly Report Completers Recognition Public Libraries Division, National Library of the Philippines 2023 Best City Jail of the Year, Type B Category Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region VI 2023 Plaque of Merit Awardee Bureau of Jail Management and Penology Region VI 2023 One of the Top-Performing Local Social Welfare and Development Offices in Region VI Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VI 2023 Social Protection Local Government Champion Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VI 2023 Social Protection Executive Champion Department of Social Welfare and Development Region VI 2023 2022 Good Financial Housekeeping Passer Department of the Interior and Local Government 2023 Second Runner-up, Provincial Local Legislative Award Department of the Interior and Local Government–Negros Occidental 2023 Special Recognition for Exemplary Public Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic Civil Service Commission 2022 Special Citation for Support to the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Seed and Extension Programs Philippine Rice Research Institute 2022 National Passer of the 2021 Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays Department of the Interior and Local Government 2022 Top 1 Highest Increase in Assessed Real Property Units among Component Cities in Region VI Bureau of Local Government Finance and Regional Association of Treasurers and Assessors VI 2022 Exemplary Performance of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Peace and Order Council Department of the Interior and Local Government - Negros Occidental and Region VI 2022 Highest Collection Efficiency on Premiums and Loans Government Service Insurance System - Bacolod 2022 Abanse Negrense Good Environmental Governance Award - Adaptability Level Provincial Government of Negros Occidental 2022

House of Representatives (since 2025) Benitez during his oath-taking ceremony as Representative of Negros Occidental’s Third District in June 5, 2025. In the 20th Congress, Benitez became associated with a group of young lawmakers informally dubbed the “House Hotshots,” alongside Andrew Julian Romualdez, Brian Poe, and Ryan Recto. With an average age of just over 29, the group garnered media attention for their youth and perceived promise.

Benitez, however, clarified that the moniker was not an official designation, quipping that he initially thought it signaled a boy band comeback. “It’s just a few of us young lawmakers trying to serve with purpose,” he wrote in a social media post. Despite the informal nickname, Benitez emphasized the group’s commitment to meaningful legislative work, stating, “Let’s earn it with action, not hype.”

In the first month of Benitez's term, he has principally authored 44 house bills.

Benitez was appointed as one of the assistant majority floor leaders in the House of Representatives. He was also appointed as chairman of the Special Committee on Creative Industry and Performing Arts. He serves as head of the Technical Working Group on Artificial Intelligence under the Committee on Information and Communications Technology and as head of the Technical Working Group on the Circular Economy. +Committee Memberships CommitteePositionSpecial Committee on Creative Industries ChairpersonCommittee on Disaster ResilienceVice ChairpersonCommittee on Agriculture and FoodMemberCommittee on Basic Education and CultureMemberCommittee on Dangerous DrugsMemberCommittee on Higher and Technical EducationMemberCommittee on Information and Communications TechnologyMemberCommittee on Public AccountsMemberCommittee on Trade and IndustryMemberCommittee on Ways and MeansMemberCommittee on AppropriationsMemberCommittee on Legislative FranchisesMemberCommittee on Visayas DevelopmentMemberCommittee on Women and Gender Equality MemberCommittee on Globalization and WTOMember

Personal life

Benitez was previously in a long-term relationship with actress Sue Ramirez. In November 2024, he confirmed their breakup, stating in an Instagram post that although they had built a meaningful relationship over five years, they had parted ways several months earlier.

Electoral history