Representative Joey Sarte Salceda is now serving his 3rd term as Congressman of the Second Congressional District of the Province of Albay. For the 19th Congress, he was again elected as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Ways and Means and Vice Chairperson of the House Committees on Agriculture & Food, Banks & Financial Intermediaries, Economic Affairs, and Trade & Industry. Representative Salceda is also a member of 7 other House committees. He was the Co-Chairperson of the Economic Stimulus Response Package (ESRP) Cluster of the Defeat COVID-19 Special Committee during the 18th Congress.

His work in the House of Representatives started when he was voted unopposed in his 1st term as Congressman of the Third District of Albay. This was followed by two more terms (1998-2007) holding key positions such as Chairman of the Committees on Appropriation, Economic Affairs, Oversight and Trade & Industry. He then served as the Chairperson of the House Special Committee on Climate Change for the 17th Congress, where he also became the Senior Vice Chairman of the House Committees on Ways and Means, Economic Affairs, and Local Government; and Vice Chairman of House Committee on Appropriations.

He also served as an economic adviser to various Philippine Presidents and was the Presidential Chief-of-Staff of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Prior to being elected to Congress, he worked as the Chief-of-Staff of then Congressman Raul S. Roco and was a Congressional Fellow under Speaker Ramon V. Mitra. He principally authored bills which were enacted into 60 other Republic Acts passed during the 17th and 18th Congress.

Salceda has worked with Swiss Bank Corporation Warburg and ING Barings, and was named the best analyst (and the best paid as well) in the 90’s. He is a graduate of Bachelor of Science major in Management Engineering, Cum Laude at the Ateneo De Manila University, and earned his Masters Degree in Business Management with a Distinction from the Asian Institute of Management and was conferred Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa by the Bicol University.

Cynthia’s area of expertise is in corporate finance, transaction advisory and financial modeling and valuation. Prior to assuming her position at the PPP Center, she was a Principal at the Deal Advisory practice of KPMG in the Philippines. She was also the sector lead for Energy and Infrastructure, where she assisted corporate and multilateral clients.

Her technical background as a licensed engineer is a significant factor in her chosen career. In addition to her degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University
of the Philippines, she also acquired a Masters in Development Economics from the same institution.

In a career spanning 23 years, Cynthia has been involved in significant deals and transactions as an advisor. As the head of the lead Philippine government agency for PPPs, she hopes to help drive economic growth through the development of inclusive and sustainable infrastructure projects.