Tan leaves BTr to prepare for WB post

MANILA, Philippines - National Treasurer Roberto Tan bade his colleagues at the Bureau of the Treasury farewell on Wednesday night, ahead of his scheduled departure for Washington next week in preparation for a World Bank post.

Tan is set to leave for the United States on Wednesday, October 31, he told colleagues at the Treasury in a farewell ceremony on Wednesday night.

He will be serving as executive director at the World Bank for two years effective Nov. 1. His assignment to his new post was announced during the World Bank Annual Meetings held in Japan recently.

Tan thanked his colleagues in public service especially Deputy Treasurer Eduardo Mendiola, whom he said, he regards with the highest respect.

Tan said he is off to a new challenge as executive director of the World Bank.

The surprise farewell event for Tan, organized by Treasury officials and employees, gathered current and former top brass from the private sector, the Department of Finance and the Treasury including First Metro Investment Corp. president Juanchito Dispo, former Finance Undersecretary Nieves Osorio and former National Treasurer Sergio Edeza.

The government has yet to announce who will be the next National Treasurer. In the meantime, Mendiola is expected to take charge of Tan’s duties.

As executive director at the World Bank, Tan will have a dual responsibility – as representatives of the Bank’s member country or countries that appointed or elected them and as Bank officials who represent the interests and concerns of those countries.

Tan, appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the National Treasurer in 2008, was re-appointed by President Aquino in 2010.

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 go back 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.

He worked for the Asian Development Bank from 1995 to 1998 as advisor to the executive board.

Before joining the finance department, he worked as consultant for Carlos J. Valdes and Co., Finance and Treasurer manager for PCI Bank’s credit card subsidiary Bankard and as senior Financial and Marketing Analyst for Nowark Redevelopment and Housing Authority in New Jersey.