Newly-appointed Cabinet Secretary Sec. Karlo Alexei Nograles on Monday thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for the opportunity to serve in the President’s Cabinet, saying that he hoped to be able to aid efforts to push the Administration’s development agenda.
“I thank President Duterte for welcoming me to his Cabinet. As a fellow Mindanaoan and kapwa probinsyano, I hope to contribute to government efforts to bring development to the regions through different programs that place an emphasis on providing more economic opportunities outside Metro Manila,” said the former Davao Representative.
“I hope to contribute to government efforts to bring development to the regions through different programs that place an emphasis on providing more economic opportunities outside Metro Manila.”
The 42 year-old Nograles, who took his oath on Monday, said that though this was his first position in the Executive, he hoped that his experience as Chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee would provide him with the kind of “holistic perspective” needed in his new post.
“As Appropriations Chair, one has to be familiar with the financial resources of the government’s different agencies, as well as have a general idea of their main trusts and major programs,” said the Davao native.
“This is knowledge and experience I believe I can put to good use in my new position. And with the guidance and input of the senior officials in the Cabinet, like Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez, I hope to hit the ground running and do whatever I can to help the President.”
As Cabinet Secretary, Nograles will head the Cabinet Secretariat, which under Executive Order (EO) No. 67 is tasked to assist the President “in the establishment of agenda topics for Cabinet deliberation” and “facilitate the discussion of cabinet meetings.”
As Cabinet Secretary, Nograles will head the Cabinet Secretariat, which under Executive Order (EO) No. 67 is tasked to assist the President “in the establishment of agenda topics for Cabinet deliberation” and “facilitate the discussion of cabinet meetings.”
EO 67 also states that the Cabinet Secretariat “shall serve as the head secretariat of the different Cabinet Cluster secretariats” and shall “participate in the National Economic and Development Authority Board and committee meetings.”
Nograles, who was serving his third term as the Representative of the First District of Davao when he was tapped by the President to take over the position previously held by former CabSec Leoncio “Jun” Evasco Jr., thanked his constituents in Davao for their support, and pledged to continue finding ways to improve their lives.
“Daghang salamat sa inyong tanan. (Thank you to you all.) I hope to serve the whole country the way I served the people of Davao.”
The new Cabinet Secretary is a lawyer who obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo School of Law. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Engineering from Ateneo De Manila after attending high school in the main campus of the Philippine Science High School in Quezon City.
Nograles won his first election as congressman in 2010, and was re-elected in 2013 and 2016. Aside from serving as Chair of the House Appropriations Committee––and ensuring the timely passage of the National Budget in 2016 and 2017––he also served as Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment.
He is the author of three landmark labor laws, namely, Republic Act 10771 or The Green Jobs Act, hailed by the International Labor Organization as a first of its kind in the world; Republic Act 10869 or the JobStart Philippines Act, which gives the Filipino better access and opportunities for employment; and Republic Act 10741, strengthening the operations of the National Labor Relations Commission. He is also the author of the Free Higher Education Law and the Free Irrigation Law.
