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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pascual resigns as DTI secretary

Pascual resigns as DTI secretary

Published Jul 31, 2024 08:34 am

At A Glance

  • Pascual was one of the first people that Marcos announced to join his Cabinet following his electoral victory in 2022.
  • Marcos will immediately search for Pascual's successor at the DTI to ensure a seamless transition and continuity in the Department's initiatives.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual has stepped down from his Cabinet post, Malacañang announced on Wednesday, July 31.

Alfredo Pascual.jpg
Outgoing Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual (File photo)

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Pascual has decided to return to the private sector. His resignation will take effect on Aug. 2.

It added that Pascual personally met with President Marcos who accepted his resignation and acknowledged his invaluable contribution to revitalizing the Philippine economy.

"His focus on MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) was absolutely correct, and we are beginning to see the fruits of that policy," Marcos said.

"We are sorry to lose him, but we respect his decision that this is the time for him to return to the private sector," he added.

According to the PCO, President Marcos will immediately search for Pascual's successor at the DTI to ensure a seamless transition and continuity in the Department’s initiatives.

In a statement, Pascual thanked Marcos for giving him the opportunity to serve in the government, saying his role as the DTI secretary has been one of the most challenging yet fulfilling experiences of his career.

"After much reflection, I have decided it is time for me to return to the private sector. There, my roles will allow me to continue contributing my expertise and experience while being able to spend quality time with my family," he explained.

"Serving in the Marcos Jr. Cabinet has been an extraordinary privilege and honor. I take pride in our collective achievements at the Department of Trade and Industry," he added.

Recently, Pascual highlighted the urgency to amend the Intellectual Property Code (IPC) of the Philippines as the country demands stiffer provisions on creative assets to curb online piracies.

He said the DTI will immediately make its proposed amendments available for the lawmakers to consider.

“In support of the startups, we need a strong intellectual property law. We have an existing one and I’m going to present for legislative consideration our proposed amendments so that we can strengthen its enforcement to ensure the protection of creative assets against counterfeiting and piracy,” Pascual said in a post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) discussion.

The outgoing DTI chief said the 27-year-old IPC needed amendments to address its defects and weaknesses amid emerging legal and technological developments, specifically its effective enforcement against the prevalence of copyright infringement.

Pascual was one of the first people that Marcos announced to join his Cabinet following his electoral victory in 2022.

Pascual is a former president of the University of the Philippines (UP) and served as president of the Management Association of the Philippines.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos Alfredo Pascual President Marcos Department of Trade and Industry
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