Recto, Go sworn in; Diokno goes to MB

MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Finance Secretary Ralph Recto took his oath yesterday, amid an avalanche of praise from various quarters and peers, with President Marcos voicing confidence in his new official’s capability to ensure fiscal sustainability while keeping inflation down.

Marcos also swore in Frederick Go, former Robinsons Land president and chief executive officer, as special assistant to the president for investment and economic affairs.

Former finance chief Benjamin Diokno, meanwhile, took his oath as member of the Monetary Board before Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr.

The two new officials were accompanied during the oath taking by their families, including Recto’s wife, veteran actress and former lawmaker Vilma Santos.

At a press conference at Malacañang, Marcos said the appointment Recto and business leader Go would reinvigorate the economic team, which has to deal with the daunting task of slowing inflation, managing public debt and bringing in investments as the country moves toward recovery.

“My fellow Filipinos, these two gentlemen embody the values of competence, integrity and a deep sense of responsibility that we look for in our government leaders,” the President said.

Marcos believes Recto would be a major player in maintaining the country’s economic growth, meet and even surpass its medium-term fiscal targets and achieve developmental targets.

“He will promote not just ease in paying taxes, but also in efficiently and effectively spending those collections, because the citizen’s reward for tax compliance should be better and more responsive public services,” the President said.

“He will continue to help devise strategies that will tame inflation through a basket of responses, ranging from plugging supply gaps to injecting non-monetary measures so that prices will be stable,” he added.

As a former senator and congressman, Marcos is confident Recto would leverage his influence in both houses of Congress to pass bills that accelerate growth, draw in investments and create better jobs while raising funds that would be invested back for human development.

He said he has also tasked his new finance chief to be at