Cristina Aldeguer-Roque | |
|---|---|
 Aldeguer-Roque in 2025 | |
| 42ndSecretary of Trade and Industry | |
| Assumed office August 3, 2024[a] | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Alfredo E. Pascual |
| Undersecretary of Trade and Industry | |
| In office February 2024 – July 2024 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maria Cristina Aldeguer |
| Spouse | Gun Roque |
| Relatives | Dino Aldeguer (brother) Binky Favis (brother-in-law) |
| Alma mater | De La Salle University(BS) |
| Occupation |
|
| Profession | Businesswoman |
Maria Cristina Aldeguer-Roque is a Filipino business executive and government official serving as the 42ndPhilippine secretary of trade and industry since 2024. Prior to her appointment as secretary by PresidentBongbong Marcos, she served as an undersecretary at theDepartment of Trade and Industry.[1]
Maria Cristina Aldeguer is the older sister of former basketball playerDino Aldeguer and the sister-in-law of former basketball coach andParañaque councilorBinky Favis. Her sister, Marivic, is married to architect John Pangilinan, brother of SenatorKiko Pangilinan.[2]
Aldeguer completed her primary education at theColegio de San Agustin inMakati andDe La Salle Santiago Zobel School inMuntinlupa, where she also attended her secondary education. She pursued higher education atDe La Salle University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree inIndustrial Management Engineering with a minor in Chemical Engineering.[3]
She is married to businessman Gun Roque.[2]
Maria 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.[4]
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.[5]
Aldeguer-Roque transitioned into government service, serving as an undersecretary at theDepartment 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.[6]
On August 3, 2024, PresidentBongbong Marcos appointed her as acting secretary of trade and industry, succeedingAlfredo Pascual.[6] In this role, she represented the Philippines at theAPEC Economic Leaders' Meeting inPeru in November 2024. She stepped in after President Marcos decided not to attend due to a series oftyphoons affecting the Philippines then.[7]
On November 28, 2024, Roque'sad interim appointment was confirmed by theCommission on Appointments (CA) as theSecretary of Trade and Industry.[8]
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.
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Roque highlighted the importance ofmicro, 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.[9]
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.[10]
Media related toCristina Aldeguer-Roque at Wikimedia Commons| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of Trade and Industry 2024–present Served as acting secretary of the DTI from August 3, 2024 until October 27, 2024. | Incumbent |
| Order of precedence | ||
| Preceded byasSecretary of Health | Order of Precedence of the Philippines asSecretary of Trade and Industry | Succeeded byasSecretary of Migrant Workers |
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