MARIO VITTORIO "MARVEY" MARIÑO

Thank you, Mr. Chair, my dear colleagues.

Kapag dlnagdagan ko pa po ang mga sasabihin ko tungkol kay Sec. Sonny Angara ay baka sobrang pressure na po ang mararamdaman n'ya at hindi na s'ya makatulog sa kanyang bagong trabaho bilang Secretary of Education. Kaya dadagdagan ko na lang po siguro ‘yung request ko kay Secretary Angara, na alam ko namang kayang-kaya n'yang tuparin. Ang request ko po, Mr. Chair, ay sana po maalaala n'ya ang lahat ng mahihirap na estudyante, hindi makapasok sa eskwelahan dahil walang pamasahe o hindi makapasok sa eskwelahan dahil wala po silang kinakain na almusal. Sana po ang programa ng Department of Education ay makasama ‘yung mga bagay na kinakailangan ng mga estudyante para sila ay makapasok, nang sila ay may inspirasyon, at hindi ‘yung sagabal sa kanila ang mga bagay-bagay na katulad ng kahirapan upang hindi makapasok sa eskwelahan. ’Yan po naman ay nire-request ko dahil alam ko naman na ‘yan ang kailangan nila upang sila ay magtagumpay sa buhay. Sana po ang mga guro ay maging equipped para maturuan ng maayos ang ating mga kababayan. At alam ko naman — I have spoken with him — about this issue before and I know in his heart, he has a passion, and he has the inspiration to change and innovate in the Department of Education.

For that, Mr. Chair, he has my support and please include me as a supporter of Secretary Angara.

Congratulations.

Mr. Chairperson, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, my esteemed colleagues. It is my honor and privilege to submit to this august Body for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Ms. Ma. Cristina Ramirez Aldeguer Roque.

As early as the 12th century, there were already trading activities between Luzon and Okinawa, Japan.  At that time “burnay” clay pot, known as "Ruson-tsukuri," was manufactured in Luzon and traded.  The “burnay” clay pot was a sought-after item during that period, known for its excellent quality as a storage for tea leaves and other perishables.

In nation building, trade and industries provided the momentum for growth and progress.  There can never be a real independence of a state without prosperity.  It was for this same reason that among the first departments created by the first President of the Philippines, Emilio S. Aguinaldo, in 1898, was the Department of Commerce, the predecessor of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Today, the country's economic activities are characterized by the significant contributions of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), the backbone of the economy, comprising 99.5% of all business enterprises that provided jobs and livelihood to 60% of the country's labor force.

This morning, the Committee on Trade and Industry conducted a public hearing on the ad interim appointment of the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.

It is fitting that at the helm of the Department of Trade and Industry is an entrepreneur in her own right. And coming from the MSME herself, equipped with entrepreneurial acumen and her experiences, Secretary Roque will lead the DTI from the perspective of an entrepreneur by heart to push President BBM'S development plan 2022-2028 for deep economic and social transformation to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by steering the economy back on a high-growth path.

DTI Secretary, Ma Cristina Ramirez Aldeguer Roque hails from the City of Smile, Bacolod City. She is the eldest among seven siblings. Her father, Fernando Aldequer, is a successful entrepreneur who was engaged in trading, while her mother, Araceli Ramirez, is a civil engineer and architect who founded the Aldequer Construction Company, one of the trusted contractor companies in various Ayala Lands projects.

It is with curious attention though that her father "Fer" used to be a player of the Ateneo Blue Eagles in 1959, but went on to become the senior coach for La Salle Bacolod. In fact, the love for basketball and sports, the Aldequer siblings are also known for: Sister Ella Favis used to be UAAP's courtside reporter; Brother Borris Jonas, coaches the De La Salle Zobel Junior Archers; another brother, Dino, was a former professional basketball player of Alaska Aces and who in 1999 as a De La Salle Green Archers, made an exciting game-tying three pointer in the UAAP Finals.

Secretary Roque is married to Gonzalo "Gunn" Almeda Roque Ill who is a successful business executive and the past president of the Manila Business Club. They have four children who are also into business and sports. The only boy of the Roque siblings, Gino, is also into entertainment and philanthropy who founded the Gino's Wish foundation.

Secretary Roque is a graduate of Industrial Management Engineering, Minor in Chemical Engineering from De La Salle University in Manila.  Before joining the government service, she was President and CEO of the well-known Kamiseta Clothing and the Kamiseta Beauty Clinic group of companies.  As an entrepreneur, Secretary Roque received recognition and accolades for excellence.

In August 2023, she was drawn to the nobility of government service as an Assistant Secretary of DTI, steering the operations of the regional offices across the country, a position that put her in a vantage position to identify opportunities to advance the development, sustainability and growth of MSMEs.  Secretary Roque went on to become DTI Undersecretary in January of 2024 where she headed the MSME Development Group.  She was passionate and lauded for her impactful management of the One-Town, One-Product Program, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, the Small Business Corporation and the Cooperative Development Authority.  These positions prepare her where to push the right button in the grassroots level in order to foster growth, innovations and sustainability.

On September 26, 2024, President Marcos Jr. appointed Secretary Roque, after holding the position in an acting capacity, to succeed the former DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual.

It is therefore not a surprise that among the priorities of Secretary Roque as DTI Secretary is the development of MSMEs through her five-point action plan: the digitalization; income diversification; funding; franchise opportunities and continuous mentoring.  Her other priorities are to attract more foreign trade and investments and consumer protection.

I therefore move, Mr. Chairperson, for the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Ma. Cristina Ramirez Aldeguer Roque as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.

I so move, Mr. Chairperson.