IMEE R. MARCOS

Yes, thank you very much,  Mr. President, Majority Floor Leader.  

My Chairperson and esteemed colleagues in the Commission on Appointments, good afternoon.

I am proud to recommend this afternoon the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Dr. Benjamin E. Diokno as Secretary of Finance.

The global economic devastation following -- in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, today demands the most committed and tested of men, which certainly our Secretary of Finance, Dr. Benjamin Diokno, is.  With his qualifications, experience and character, we are certain he will be more than up to the task. 

Mr. Chair, Secretary Diokno has an excellent background  being a product of the great university of the Philippine system, where he has been conferred the title of “Professor Emeritus of the School of Economics”.

Secretary Diokno earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Administration in 1968, Master of Arts in Public Administration in 1970, and Master of Arts in Economics in 1974, all from U.P. Diliman.  Ever in pursuit of learning and improvement, Secretary Diokno earned his Master of Arts in Political Economy from Johns Hopkins University In 1976 and holds a PhD in Economics from Syracuse University, derived in 1981.

In the area of government budget and finance, Secretary Diokno's experience is second to none. His career was cutting across party-lines, having served under several administrations throughout the span of over four (4) decades.

From 1986 to 1991, he served as the Undersecretary for Operations of the Department of Budget and Management, concurrently serving as the Chairperson and CEO of PNOC from 1988-1991. From 1990 until 1991, he also served as the Chairperson of the Local Water Utilities Administration.

Secretary Diokno also has experience working for the Senate, here, Mr. Chair and esteemed colleagues, because in 1993, he served as the fiscal adviser of the then Senate President, Edgardo Angara. He served in that capacity until 1995.

In 1998, Secretary Diokno was appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management where he served until 2001. In 2012, he went to the private sector and served as the Independent Director of Asia United Bank.

However, the desire to serve the public pulled him back into government and in 2014, Secretary Diokno became the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. And in 2016, Secretary Diokno was again appointed as Secretary of the DBM.

In 2019, he was appointed as the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, where, by virtue of such post, he also served as the Chairperson of the Monetary Board, Anti-Money Laundering Council, Financial Stability Coordinating Council, and the Philippine International Convention Center, among many others.

These are indeed tough and uncertain times, Mr. Chair, esteemed colleagues that will challenge even the toughest and men most certain in their competence, experience and commitment.  As such, it is imperative that our Secretary of Finance and head of the department, tasked to formulate fiscal and tax policies, as well as to manage public debts, should not only be a seasoned public servant and an expert in public finance but also a person clearly committed to the pursuit of excellence.

Hence, dear colleagues, it is my distinct honor to endorse Sec. Benjamin Estoista Diokno for the position of Secretary of Finance.