Ralph Recto

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The Honorable Ralph Recto
Official portrait, 2022
33rd Secretary of Finance
Incumbent
Assumed office January 12, 2024
President	Bongbong Marcos
Preceded by	Benjamin Diokno
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
In office July 27, 2022 – January 12, 2024 Serving with several others
Speaker	Martin Romualdez
Succeeded by	David Suarez
Member of the House of Representatives from Batangas
In office June 30, 2022 – January 12, 2024
Preceded by	Vilma Santos
Succeeded by	Vacant
Constituency	6th district
In office June 30, 1992 – June 30, 2001
Preceded by	Jose E. Calingasan
Succeeded by	Oscar Gozos
Constituency	4th district
Senate Minority Leader
In office July 25, 2016 – February 27, 2017
Preceded by	Juan Ponce Enrile
Succeeded by	Franklin Drilon
President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines
In office February 27, 2017 – June 30, 2022
Preceded by	Franklin Drilon
Succeeded by	Migz Zubiri (acting)
In office July 22, 2013 – June 30, 2016
Preceded by	Jinggoy Estrada
Succeeded by	Franklin Drilon
Senator of the Philippines
In office June 30, 2010 – June 30, 2022
In office June 30, 2001 – June 30, 2007
12th Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority Concurrently Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning
In office July 23, 2008 – August 16, 2009
President	Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
Preceded by	Romulo Neri Augusto Santos (acting)
Succeeded by	Cayetano Paderanga Jr. Augusto Santos (acting)
First Gentleman of Batangas
In role June 30, 2007 – June 30, 2016
Governor	Vilma Santos
Preceded by	Edna Sanchez
Succeeded by	Regina Reyes Mandanas
Personal details
Born	Ralph Gonzalez Recto (1964-01-11) January 11, 1964 (age 60) Quezon City, Philippines
Political party	Nacionalista (2004–2007; 2018–present)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (2009–2018) Lakas–CMD (2001–2004; 2007–2009) LDP (1992–2001)
Spouse	Vilma Santos ​ (m. 1992)​
Residences	Muntinlupa, Metro Manila Lipa City, Batangas
Alma mater	De La Salle University (BS)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Economist
Signature
Website	Official website

Ralph Gonzalez Recto (Tagalog pronunciation: [gonˈsalɛs ˈrɛktɔ]; born January 11, 1964) is a Filipino politician currently serving as the 33rd Secretary of Finance under President Bongbong Marcos since January 12, 2024. He previously served as the representative for Batangas' 6th district and as the House Deputy Speaker from 2022 to 2024.

Recto also previously served three terms in the Senate: from 2001 to 2007 and from 2010 to 2022 and had served as president pro tempore of the Senate and Senate Minority Leader. He started his political career as the representative of Batangas' 4th district from 1992 to 2001.

In 2007, Recto lost his Senate reelection bid because, as many analysts believed, he had authored the unpopular EVAT (Expanded Value Added Tax) law. In July 2008 he was appointed to head the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the Arroyo administration, but resigned from his position in August 2009 in preparation for another run for the Senate in the 2010 elections.^[1]

He is a grandson of statesman Claro M. Recto. His wife is actress-politician Vilma Santos.