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Cristina Aldeguer-Roque
Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque is a Filipino business executive and government official who is serving as the Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry since 2024. Prior to her appointment as secretary by President Bongbong Marcos, she served as an undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry.[1] Early life and educationMaria Cristina Aldeguer Roque completed her primary education at Colegio de San Agustin in Makati and De La Salle Santiago Zobel School in Muntinlupa, where she also attended her secondary education. She pursued higher education at De La Salle University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering.[2] CareerEarly professional careerMaria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque established herself as a prominent business leader as the CEO and president of the Kamiseta Group of Companies. Under her leadership, she launched and developed the clothing brand Kamiseta, which has been in operation for over 30 years. The brand is known for its high-quality, affordable, and stylish clothing, catering to a wide range of customers in the Philippines.[3] During her tenure at Kamiseta, Aldeguer-Roque focused on innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction, which helped the brand maintain its competitive edge in the fashion industry. Her success in the private sector laid the foundation for her transition into public service, where she continues to apply her business acumen to drive economic growth and development.[4] Department of Trade and IndustryUndersecretaryAldeguer-Roque transitioned into government service, serving as an undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Her expertise in business and management positioned her as a key figure in the department's leadership, where she contributed to policies aimed at promoting trade, industry, and economic development.[5] Acting secretary On August 2, 2024, President Bongbong Marcos appointed her as acting secretary of Trade and Industry, succeeding Alfredo Pascual.[5] In this role, she represented the Philippines at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Peru in November 2024. She stepped in after President Marcos decided not to attend due to a series of typhoons affecting the Philippines then.[6] Secretary ad interimOn November 28, 2024, Roque was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA) as the ad interim Secretary of Trade and Industry.[7] During her confirmation hearing, Roque was questioned by lawmakers regarding the DTI's initiatives to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and safeguard consumers from substandard products. She emphasized the department's use of artificial intelligence through a chatbot to address consumer and entrepreneur inquiries about quality products and business start-ups. Roque highlighted the importance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), stating, “The MSME is a sector we cannot ignore, being 99.5 percent of the business establishments and 60 percent of the labor force. Therefore, we need to ensure their development, as they are the game changers of our economy.” She outlined the DTI's strategies to foster MSME growth, including promoting digitalization, diversification, franchising, and improved access to financing.[8] Roque also underscored DTI's focus on international trade and foreign investments to drive economic growth and job creation. “In the last three months since assuming the role, we have been active in promoting international trade and foreign investments. This is crucial for the growth of our economy and provides more jobs for our people. The more jobs we have for them, the more they can come home to be with their family,” she said. She added that her international engagements prioritize both attracting large-scale investments and opening global markets for MSMEs capable of competing internationally.[9] NotesReferences
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