Tan retained as national treasurer

MANILA, Philippines - National Treasurer Roberto Tan, who was appointed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to the position in 2008, will continue to be the main manager of the government’s debt and borrowing activities under President Aquino.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said yesterday that Tan would be retained as national treasurer, who is in charge of the Bureau of the Treasury. The Treasury, under the Department of Finance (DOF), implements the government’s local and foreign borrowing programs.

In 2008, former president Arroyo formally appointed Tan as the country’s 26th national treasurer after serving in an acting capacity since April 2007.

His appointment as head of the Treasury forced Tan to leave his post as undersecretary for the international finance group at the Department of Finance, which he previously held in a concurrent capacity.

Tan’s assignment to the Treasury in April 2007 followed the resignation of Omar Cruz, who decided to return to the private sector in the same year.

Tan was appointed undersecretary for the international finance group in 2005. Before this, he served as assistant secretary in 1999 also for the same group and as director from 1988 to 1995.

He served as acting administrator and executive director of the Municipal Development Fund from 1999 to 2000.

Tan completed his course units for doctoral studies in Economics at the Fordham University in the United States. He also has a Master of Arts degree in Economics from the same university and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Ateneo de Manila University.