Recto gets CA nod as Finance chief

THE Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the appointment of former Batangas representative Ralph Recto as Finance secretary.

Recto, regarded by his former colleagues in the Senate as their “resident economist,” replaced Benjamin Diokno.

Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri described Recto as the Senate’s “resident numbers guy,” not only because of his brilliance at crunching the numbers but because of his ability to immediately see the big picture.

Zubiri said that Recto’s extensive experience as a legislator and as National Economic Development Authority chief has prepared him well for the demanding position.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lorna Regina “Loren” Legarda co-sponsored Recto’s confirmation in the plenary.

“We are not just selecting a capable leader; we are entrusting the future of our nation’s economy to someone who has a keen understanding of economic policies and has a proven track record in crafting legislation that fosters sustainable and inclusive growth,” Legarda said.

Senate Majority Leader Emmanuel Joel Villanueva hailed Recto as a visionary economist, noting that during Recto’s time as senator, no appropriations or tax measure was passed without going through his thorough scrutiny.

Sen. Mary Grace Poe said she was confident Recto could handle the “herculean tasks” at the DoF.

Recto, in his statement before the Senate, said that his job description was not just written in law “but dictated by economic conditions, shaped by what the people want, and directed by the nation’s development plan.”

“All of these are distilled into this objective: to promote growth that all of our people can benefit from, that results in the improvement of their lives, and secures the future of generations to come,” he said.