Al Francis Del Castillo Bichara is a legislator representing the 2nd District of the Province of Albay, and holds the position as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives in the Philippines. Before his election as Representative, he was the Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon, with concurrent jurisdiction as non-resident Ambassador to Syria.

He started as a politician when he was elected Mayor of Ligao, and later as Provincial Governor of the Province of Albay. Currently, he is on his third term as Representative of the 2nd District of the Province of Albay.

As a legislator, his advocacies are the promotion and protection of the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers abroad; education of children, youth and adults; provision of health services and medical facilities; and good governance. For the promotion and protections of OFWs, Mr. Bichara is a strong supporter of agreements between the Philippines and governments of other countries to guarantee in the work contracts reasonable salaries, wages, benefits and privileges. On education, Mr. Bichara believes in providing scholarships to deserving students to help them achieve their dreams and aspirations of a better future. This also includes training of skilled workers. He strongly believes that education is the master key to unlock poverty. On the provision of health services to his constituents, Mr. Bichara recommended budget for the renovation and improvement of hospital buildings in his districts, including the provision of hospital equipment and beds for his constituents in need of medical assistance. On good governance, he supports the decentralization of power to the local government units. Mr. Bichara likewise, co-authored bills in Congress to promote energy conservation and development; the protection of the environment; and the strengthening of the banking sector.

Under his tenure as Governor, the Province of Albay was a recipient of multiple national awards which is testament to his achievements and good performance. The Province of Albay received the following awards: Most Outstanding Local Government Unit in Local Budget Administration; Most Outstanding Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council – National Level, the first province to have a disaster preparedness management program in the country; Kabalikat Sa Laang-Bisig Awardee by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Dr. Jose D. Lacson; Recipient of National Award by the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and Gawad Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS) Award.

As an Ambassador and a statesman, he deepened and broadened relations between the Philippines and Lebanon and Syria. At the height of the war in Lebanon, Ambassador Bichara was instrumental to the massive repatriation of thousands of Filipinos from Beirut to Damascus to Manila. He personally accompanied busloads of OFWs from Beirut to Damascus. This he handily achieved because of his excellent relations with high ranking government officials of Lebanon and Syria who helped him facilitate the documentation and exit of OFWs trapped by the war.