Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said Monday there will be a smooth transition for the next head of the department as a part of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team for the next six years.
Purisima welcomed the designation of businessman Carlos Dominguez as the head of the DoF and ensured the new team would hit the ground running on day one.
“After speaking on the phone to congratulate Mr. Dominguez last Thursday, he and I met the next day to begin the transition process. Mr. Dominguez is an esteemed businessman and public servant with a lengthy record of excellence,” Purisima said.
“There are three important things for any finance secretary: having the ear of the president, having the stomach to stand firm in advising him soundly even in the face of opposing political tides, having an understanding of government and an appreciation for good governance, and lastly, having an understanding of how business works and the economic landscape you’ll be navigating. Mr. Dominguez has all three,” Purisima said.
Purisima said he was confident that when he passed on his seat in the department, the economic team would be ready to sustain and improve the gains from the past six years.
“We extend our best wishes of success and look forward to officially passing the baton on June 30,” Purisima said.
The Finance Department is preparing a transition document detailing the state of progress across its various clusters and results areas, including revenue, liability management, privatization, government-owned and controlled corporations and corporate affairs.
The transition document will serve to keep the new leadership abreast on where things are with the DOF’s priorities and projects.
Purisima said the DOF Manual of Institutional Knowledge was another document he was keen to pass on to Dominguez and his team.
The department said the manual would contain four volumes of documented learnings in the DOF over the past six years of the Aquino administration – best practices from the DOF Institute, learnings on what could have gone better and recommendations moving forward.
The manual also codifies 200 processes and approval protocols, with templates of completed staff work and style guides.
“We take transitioning seriously and view it as an integral part of organizational development. We want to ensure the new team has all the means and resources to succeed on day one. My team is coordinating with his in order to work with depth over the next month on a smooth transition,” Purisima said.
Dominguez, a businessman in Davao, served asa Cabinet member under the administrations of former presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos.