Margarito Teves


Margarito "Gary" Bustalino Teves was the secretary of the Department of Finance of the Philippines. He was appointed to the position in July 2005 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, following a mass resignation of her economic team.
In January 2009 he was named "Best Finance Minister" in Asia, a title given by London-based international finance magazine, The Banker.

Life and education

Teves was born in Barangay Sangkol, Municipality of Dipolog, Province of Zamboanga. Teves received his M.A. in Developmental Economics from Williams College in 1968.

Career

Congressman

He was elected congressman representing the 3rd district of Negros Oriental from 1987 to 1998.
Following his three terms in office—the maximum number allowed by the constitution—he was succeeded by his father, Herminio Teves.

Secretary of Finance

Teves was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Finance in July 2005 by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, following a mass resignation of her economic team.
As Finance Secretary, he oversaw the Arroyo administration's aggressive attempts to decrease the government's budget deficit.