Mr. Ralph G. Recto was appointed Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF) and took his oath of office before President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on 12 January 2024. As Finance Secretary, Mr. Recto committed to pursue inclusive growth and fiscal sustainability.

Secretary Recto has been in public service for over three decades. Immediately prior to his appointment, Secretary Recto served as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 19th Congress, representing the 6th District of Batangas. His political career as the Representative of the 4th District of Batangas spanned about a decade from 1992 to 2001. He also previously served as the Socioeconomic Planning Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 2008.

He likewise served as Senator for three terms from 2001 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2022, where he held key positions such as Senate Pro Tempore, Senate Minority Leader, and Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means.

He has authored and sponsored numerous laws, including the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act; the Universal Healthcare Act; the Rice Tariffication Act; the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018; the General Tax Amnesty; the Rationalization of Excise Tax on Automobiles; and the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Recto co-authored the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act and the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act to help the Filipino people weather the effects of the health crisis. He also co-authored measures that effectively cushioned the impact of the pandemic-induced economic downturn, such as the Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer (FIST) Act and the landmark Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act.

Secretary Recto holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce majoring in Business Management from the De La Salle University in Manila. He also earned masteral units in Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific and in Public Administration from the University of the Philippines. Additionally, he completed a Leadership Course at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

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