Recto completes his team with newly appointed Chief Economist and Undersecretaries for fiscal policy formulation and revenue operations

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto has completed his team at the Department of Finance (DOF) with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s newly appointed Chief Economist and two Undersecretaries tasked to lead fiscal policy formulation and revenue operations.

“I thank the President for appointing such highly competent officials. They are all valuable additions to my team at the DOF. I am confident that they will lead their respective offices with great skill, dedication, and integrity,” he said.

Atty. Charlito Martin R. Mendoza takes on the role of Undersecretary for the Revenue Operations Group (ROG).

Mendoza will oversee the operations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which do the heavy lifting to ensure that the government meets its annual revenue collection targets.

Before he was appointed as Undersecretary, Mendoza served as District Collector for the BOC Port of Cebu from July 2019 to October 2022.

During his tenure in Cebu, Mendoza led the Port to achieve record-breaking revenue collection and significant border protection milestones.

Under his leadership, the Port of Cebu also became the first customs collection district to have its main port and all subports ISO 9001:2015 certified.

Before government service, Mendoza had a thriving law practice. He is a founding partner of the Palafox Patriarca Romero and Mendoza Law Firm and was an associate lawyer at the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) and the Suarez and Narvasa Law Firm.

He was also a law professor and a Pre-Bar and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education lecturer.

Mendoza placed third in the 2004 Philippine Bar Exam after he earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda University.

He is also a licensed Geodetic Engineer, having earned a degree in Geodetic Engineering from the University of the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Domini S. Velasquez was appointed as Undersecretary heading the Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), which is a specialized unit dedicated to analyzing data on emerging economic developments, providing early warnings, and recommending response measures aimed at anticipating and addressing key economic issues.

The new Chief