Jose Cortes Altavas (September 11, 1877 – August 21, 1952) was a Filipino politician, legislator and man of letters.

Born on September 11, 1877, Jose Altavas was from the town of Balete, which was then part of the province of Capiz, Philippines.

[1] His parents, Jose Altavas Sr. and Andrea Cortes,[2] sent him to Ateneo de Manila for school and later at the University of Santo Tomas for his law degree.

His studies were disrupted by the Philippine Revolution of which he had an active involvement in his hometown under the command of Santiago Bellosillo.

[3] It was during his term that the construction of the provincial capitol building, bridges, and roads between Aklan and Capiz began.