Incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. (davaotoday.com file photo by Ace R. Morandante)
DAVAO CITY — Incumbent Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said that businessman, Carlos Dominguez, best fits the post as the incoming secretary of finance.
The Department of Finance welcomed Dominguez as the next Secretary of Finance in a statement, Monday, May 23.
Dominguez, businessmen and owner o in this city, was a classmate of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte. He was eyed by the next administration to head the finance agency.
Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said he will “ensure a smooth transition to hit the ground running on day one.”
On Wednesday, May 18, incoming presidential spokesperson Atty. Salvador Panelo, said the former agriculture secretary announced that he declined the offer of Duterte for “personal reasons.”
However, Panelo later said that Dominguez had a “change of heart” and confirmed that he has accepted the cabinet post.
Dominguez is a member of Duterte’s transition team and he presented the incoming administration’s economic agenda.
Purisima, who spoke to Dominguez on the phone on Thursday and met with him the next day as part of the transition process, described Dominguez as “an esteemed businessman and public servant with a lengthy record of excellence.”
“There are three important things for any Finance Secretary: having the ear of the President–having the stomach to stand firm in advising him soundly even in the face of opposing political tides, having an understanding of government and an appreciation for good governance, and lastly, having an understanding of how business works and the economic landscape you’ll be navigating. Mr. Dominguez has all three,” Purisima said.
“I am confident that when I pass the baton in this relay race of governance, the economic team will be ready to sustain and improve on our gains from the past six years with even-keeled leadership from a Secretary Dominguez,” he said.
The DOF is preparing a transition document detailing the state of progress across its various clusters and results areas, including revenue, liability management, privatization, GOCCs, and corporate affairs.
The document will also serve to keep the new leadership abreast on where things are with the DOF’s priorities and projects, the finance agency said.
Purisima will also endorse to Dominguez the agency’s Manual of Institutional Knowledge which contains four volumes of documented learnings iover the past six years of President Benigno Aquino III administration.
The Manual, which will be finished by the end of June, also codifies 200 processes and approval protocols, with templates of completed staff work and style guides. (davaotoday.com)
