4th Ruperto P. Alonzo Memorial Lecture February 6, 2026 {gallery}/speeches/2026/RPA{/gallery} To Dr. Ma. Joy Abrenica, Dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) and Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED); Mr. Ramon Bacani, Convenor of the UPSE Program in Development Alumni Association (PDEAA); ​​Civil Society Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Steering Committee and UPSE...

OGPinas! Nationwide Advocacy Campaign February 2, 2026 | Sultan Kudarat   {gallery}/speeches/2026/OGP-SK/{/gallery} To Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Ali Mangudadatu, Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Province of Cotabato, Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) Steering Committee members from the government and civil society;    Our colleagues from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Region XII, led by Director Akmad Usman and Assistant...

OPENING REMARKS  FY 2027 Budget Forum for National Government Agencies   January 29, 2026 | Pasay City   {gallery}/speeches/2026/BF-NGA{/gallery} To my dearest colleagues and fellow public servants from our national government agencies, good morning! Welcome to the FY 2027 Budget Forum!  As you know, in the first week of January, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Budget. Amidst all the controversies, I am proud to share...

KEYNOTE SPEECH Regional Economic Briefing - Iloilo December 10, 2025   Distinguished guests and esteemed business leaders; Maayong adlaw sa tanan! Thank you for welcoming us to Iloilo City—the City of Love!  It is truly an honor to be joining some of the most dynamic business leaders, innovators, and changemakers in Western Visayas for this Regional Economic Briefing. Iloilo as a Regional Economic Hub Iloilo continues to stand out as a model of progress...