DTI awaits new head

Trade Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. is keenly awaiting for his successor to be named.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) remains among the few government agencies to which presidentelect Rodrigo Duterte has yet to name his prospective secretaries.

Nonetheless, Cristobal said DTI is done with the draft transition report and finalization can happen anytime soon.

“The report will say where we were when we started in 2010, what we aimed to do, what we have accomplished as of today, and what still has to be completed and finished,” Cristobal said.

Cristobal said the report would also include certain legislations that his team hopes the next DTI chief would pursue.

“I don’t want to give unsolicited advice but as soon as we know the new DTI secretary’s name, we will start a smooth transition the way the Department of Finance and other agencies have started,” Cristobal said.

“But for now, our work continues. I believe the statement already issued by incoming secretary of finance Sonny Dominguez sends a clear signal that there will be continuity on economic policies and programs that have contributed to the remarkable growth of the Philippine economy. Part of the (incoming administration’s) eight-point economic agenda is continuing the ease of doing business reforms and enhance competitiveness. That’s a welcome policy,” Cristobal said.

Cristobal was appointed DTI secretary in December last year following the resignation of then Trade chief Gregory Domingo.

Prior to his appointment as DTI secretary, he served as the agency’s undersecretary for Industry Development and Trade Policy and vice chairman and managing head of the Board of Investments.