Purisima sees smooth transition at finance department

Outgoing Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima (left) assured incoming finance chief Carlos Dominguez of a smooth transition when the government of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte takes over on July 1. INQUIRER FILES

The current and incoming heads of the Department of Finance (DOF)—the agency in-charge of the country’s fiscal affairs—met last Friday and agreed on a smooth transition on June 30.

Sources said Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima and Carlos “Sonny” Dominguez III met at a golf club in Makati City to discuss the transition process.

Dominguez requested that some of Purisima’s staff as well as key officials of a number of DOF-attached agencies be retained for at least one month to assist him, sources said.

In a statement Monday, Purisima said the DOF had been preparing a transition document that detailed “the state of progress across its various clusters and results areas, including revenue, liability management, privatization, government-owned and/or -controlled corporations, and corporate affairs.”

“The transition document will serve to keep the new leadership abreast on where things are with the DOF’s priorities and projects,” Purisima said, adding that it would allow incoming President Rodrigo Duterte’s economic team to hit the ground running on day one.

Purisima will also turn over to Dominguez a “DOF Manual of Institutional Knowledge,” which the department is set to finish by end-June.

“It will contain four volumes of documented learnings in the DOF over the past six years of the Aquino administration—best practices from the DOF Institute, learnings on what could have gone better, and recommendations moving forward,” the finance chief said.

He added, “The manual also codifies 200 processes and approval protocols, with templates of completed staff work and style guides.”

“Following a rationalization process on the DOF’s issuances including 4,300 department orders since 1958, the DOF will also pass on a simplified body of issuances, for improved institutional coherence and ease of enforcement,” he added.

The incoming DOF leadership would also get to enjoy upgraded and renovated offices on the 5th and 6th floors as well as the building’s roof-deck.

“We take transitioning seriously and view it as an integral part of organizational development. We want to ensure the new team has all the means and resources to succeed on day one. My team is coordinating with his in order to work with depth over the next month on a smooth transition,” Purisima said.

“I am confident that when I pass the baton in this relay race of governance, the economic team will be ready to sustain and improve on our gains from the past six years with even-keeled leadership from a Secretary Dominguez after the noon of June 30. We extend our best wishes of success and look forward to officially passing the baton on June 30,” Purisima added.

The outgoing finance chief was all praises for Dominguez, who served in the Cabinet of former Presidents Corazon C. Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos.

“After speaking on the phone to congratulate Mr. Dominguez last Thursday, he and I met the next day to begin the transition process. Mr. Dominguez is an esteemed businessman and public servant with a lengthy record of excellence. There are three important things for any Finance secretary: having the ear of the President—having the stomach to stand firm in advising him soundly even in the face of opposing political tides, having an understanding of government and an appreciation for good governance, and lastly, having an understanding of how business works and the economic landscape you’ll be navigating. Mr. Dominguez has all three,” Purisima said./rga