CA nods Pascual’s appointment as DTI chief

The powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) on Wednesday confirmed the ad interim appointment of Alfredo Pascual as secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

This came after the CA Committee on Trade and Industry endorsed  Pascual's appointment to the plenary.

In sponsoring Pascual's appointment, CA Committee on Trade and Industry chairperson and Iloilo 4th District Representative Ferjenel Biron vouched for the Cabinet official's integrity and competence.

"After thorough investigation and inquiry, Mr. Pascual has demonstrated that his integrity is in check. He is amiable, cultured, dependable, and highly-principled," Biron said.

The lawmaker said Pascual's competence is best measured through his academic background, work experience and achievements.

Prior to his appointment, Pascual held ranking positions in the private sector and shared his knowledge in different academic institutions.

Among the institutions that he had worked for are Asian Development Bank, Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines.

Biron also mentioned that several groups in the country expressed support for Pascual's appointment such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Exporters Confederation, the  DTI Employees Union, among others.

"I am confident as to his holistic fitness to take on this challenging and noble task of leading the Department of Trade and Industry to a vigorous and progressive future in line with this administration's socio-economic goals," Biron said.

Representatives Ramon Guico Jr., Johnny Pimentel and Oscar Malapitan, along with Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Senator Bong Go delivered speeches to support the confirmation of Pascual's appointment as DTI chief.

Before approving the motion to confirm Pascual's appointment, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri reminded the DTI chief that he will play a big role in bringing down the inflation in the country.

"Mr. Secretary, your department is key to the growth of our nation. I think, it is key to nation building, to the six to eight percent GDP growth rate that the president would want us to achieve in the next five years to be able to be a middle income country. Your department is key and very important," Zubiri said. 

"Most important of all, for me, I think and I believe, ikaw po 'yung ating magiging pambansang taga-bantay ng mga presyo at bilhin sa merkado yan ay napakahalaga. Marami po ngayon ang sumasamantala sa ating mga kababayan-- sa predatory pricing at smuggled goods. Talagang makakatulong po kayo... in your position, you can help  bring down these prices and you can help bring down inflation in totality dahil [ang] food prices are 36 percent of our total inflation cost," he added. 

Further, Zubiri said Pascual will become the "number one marketing man" of the Philippines and the "big brother" of the MSMEs, cooperatives as well as the local and foreign investors. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News