MANILA – Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual said his confirmation by the Commission on Appointments (CA) has cemented his commitment to serve and make significant reforms in the agency to help in sustaining the country’s economic growth.
In a media roundtable Thursday, Pascual said the confirmation of his appointment as DTI chief has opened another vista for him to pursue the vision he set for his entire stay in the agency as its head.
When he assumed office last year, Pascual cited that among his priority programs as DTI secretary are developing the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), promoting the manufacturing sector, facilitating the ease of doing business, attracting investments, expanding export markets and restructuring the organization.
“Sometimes, I’m concerned (about) talking to people and mak(ing) long-term commitments about working together, about cooperation, about going forward, when I wasn’t sure yet that I (would) get confirmed,” he said.
Pascual said that according to the CA Secretariat, the office received close to 60 endorsements from domestic and some international organizations that vouched for his appointment as DTI chief.
“It’s heart-warming (that) such endorsements were made… Because I have not solicited any endorsement from anyone,” he added.
The CA confirmed on Wednesday Pascual’s appointment after bypassing his appointment twice last year.
Pascual has served in the academe and the private sector in the past four decades.
Before joining the DTI, he was the president of the Management Association of the Philippines.
He is also the former president and co-chair of the University of the Philippines.
Pascual also held positions and board memberships at the Institute of Corporate Directors, Asian Development Bank, Asian Institute of Management, Philippine Institute of Development Studies, International Rice Research Institute, Institute for Solidarity in Asia and Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines.
