“Securing the Philippine Blue Economy: National Sovereignty, Maritime Defense, and Corporate Collaboration”

About the speaker

GILBERTO C. TEODORO, JR. Secretary of National Defense Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines Atty. Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. is the Secretary of the Department of National Defense (DND). He is the principal assistant and advisor of the President on defense matters and exercises overall authority, direction, and control over the DND Offices and its Bureaus. Atty. Teodoro first served as the Secretary of National Defense from 2007 to 2009 where he pushed for key initiatives in security sector reform. Noteworthy is the implementation of the Defence System of Management, which provided decision-makers with relevant and accurate information increasing efficiency and transparency. Sec. Teodoro also assisted in the resolution of several internal security threats while assisting on structural and procedural changes to ensure observance of human rights. The honorable Secretary also pursued the strengthening of bilateral and multilateral security and defense cooperation with both regional and extra-regional States to further peace and combat non-traditional security threats. Furthermore, he actively pursued the integration of various international protocols on disaster risk management, assisted in capacity building of sectors, and coordination of response and rehabilitation efforts. Prior to joining the DND, Sec Teodoro served as a Member of the Philippine House of Representatives from 1998 to 2007. As a congressman, he principally authored the Securities Code of 2000 shifting the Philippine securities regulation system from a merit regulation system to a full disclosure system. He was a member of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council and was the head of a sizable bloc of the Nationalist People’s Coalition Representatives and had stints as the Assistant Majority Leader and Deputy Minority Leader. Secretary Teodoro was a former youth representative to various regional, provincial, and municipal bodies. He served as a Member of the Provincial Board of Tarlac, Kabataang Barangay (KB) Chairman in Region III from 1980 to 1985. As chair of KB in the region, he motivated the youth in his constituency to improve their political and civic consciousness. Atty. Teodoro has an impressive educational background, graduating from prestigious local and foreign academic institutions. He attended De La Salle University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in commerce majoring in Management of Financial Institutions. He attended the University of the Philippines – College of Law, graduating third in his class with a bachelor’s degree in law and the Dean’s Medal for Academic Excellence award. He placed first in the 1989 Philippine Bar Examinations. He has a master’s degree in law from Harvard Law School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He was admitted to the State Bar of New York. He completed the Command and Staff Course of the Philippine Air Force and the AFP Joint and Combined Staff Officer Course and won the Leadership Award in both courses. Atty. Teodoro is also a recipient of numerous awards, honors, and decorations from civilian, military, and educational institutions. He was awarded the Philippine Legion of Honor with the rank of Grand Commander, the first to be awarded such a rank. He is married to Monica Lopez Prieto, the Philippine Special Envoy to UNICEF and a former Member of the 14th Congress of the Philippines and is a father to Jaime Gilberto.