Diokno’s new focus: ‘Me time’ and family quality moments

In his new position as a member of the Monetary Board, former Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno is looking forward to a more balanced lifestyle that allows him the chance to pursue personal interests and strengthen his relationships with family and friends.

Diokno likened the last eight years of his career to a non-stop rollercoaster, starting as the budget chief for the Duterte administration in 2016, then steering the BSP as governor in 2019, and finally taking the helm as finance secretary in the Marcos administration in 2022.

“For the last eight years, I feel like I’ve run non-stop on a treadmill—from DBM [Department of Budget and Management] to BSP at the height of the pandemic, and then DOF [Department of Finance],” Diokno, 75, tells the finance beat reporters.

“Now, I’m on the cooling down phase of that long run, which I think I truly deserve,” the official adds.

President Marcos announced last Friday that Diokno declined his offer to be part of the team managing the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), citing that sovereign wealth fund was not his area of expertise.

Instead, President Marcos stated that Diokno would return as a member of the Monetary Board after being replaced by Ralph G. Recto at the DOF.

“The President has spoken. On my part, with my new assignment, I’ll have more time for myself, my family and friends,” Diokno shares.

“I’ll also have more time and space to pursue my own personal and professional goals that I’ve been postponing all these years,” he further states.

President Marcos earlier thanked the former finance chief for his outstanding performance at the DOF and conveyed warm wishes for his return to the BSP.

“We cannot finish this event here this afternoon without a very heartfelt and warm wishes and gratitude to Secretary Ben Diokno for the services that he has given to the Department of Finance in his time as Department of Finance [Secretary],” President Marcos said.

The chief executive made these remarks as he presented Recto as the incoming finance secretary and Frederick Go as the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs with the rank of Secretary at the Malacañang grounds on Friday afternoon.

President Marcos also reminisced about approaching Diokno in 2022, who was then the governor of the BSP, to lead the DOF and steer the economy in the right direction amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Being one of our country’s pillars of economic management, we shall continue to rely on your expertise and exuberance as a member now of the Monetary Board [of the BSP]. Maraming, maraming salamat from a grateful nation, Secretary Ben Diokno,” the chief executive said.

Diokno is joining the BSP Monetary Board, replacing Peter Favilla whose term concluded on July 2, 2023.

Before his post to the BSP, Diokno served as BSP Governor from March 5, 2019 to June 30, 2022 and a former secretary of the DBM, among other posts both in private and public sectors.