To my new family—all the Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, and all the officials of the Department of Finance, attached agencies and all the people.
Magandang umaga sa inyong lahat.

I’m glad to join all of you today— the first Monday since my appointment.

Allow me first to thank everyone who has spent time with me since my appointment and to tell me all about what you do here at the very respected DOF. And I like to thank everyone here who helped ensure a smooth and seamless transition into the Department.

I won’t bore you with a long speech. Siguradong sawang-sawa na kayo. And I would also not make any earth shaking announcements today.

I would probably do that after I have briefed everybody. So far I only was briefed by the Department last Friday including the attached agencies.

I’m here just to greet all of you and to say how happy I am that I’ve inherited a team of such smart and dedicated individuals.

I always thought highly of the people of the Department of Finance. You are known as some of the best and brightest people in the government at hindi po biro ang reputasyon na ‘yan and I am very proud to join the DOF.

I want to assure you of my full support, as I also hope I can count on yours as well.

I look forward to working with all of you, learning with you, and celebrating wins with you. Your actionable ideas and suggestions are always welcome.

One thing about me is I always have an open mind. I’m always quick to jump into conclusions by the way but you can always convince me to change my conclusion immediately. You give me great ideas, great suggestions, especially actionable ideas.

Rest assured that I am here to listen and to deliver what is best for the Filipino people.

I’m here to serve—to get results and get things done of course through the offices and agencies of the Department of Finance.

And I commit to all of you doing my best, working tirelessly to bring our country to a future of greater stability and growth, and ultimately improve the lives of our country.

We will continue the reforms that former DOF Secretary—and now ES—Ralph Recto started.

Ralph did many many good things here at the DOF and I intend to carry those forward––and where possible, build on and improve them.

We’ll be seeing a lot of each other. So, let’s work together, support one another, and move forward as one DOF family.

It’s my privilege to be with all of you today and I’m really really looking forward to working with you. Maraming salamat DOF family.