Rafaelita M. Aldaba

Undersecretary Department of Trade and Industry-Competitiveness and Innovation Group (DTI-CIG)

Since 2019, Rafaelita has served as Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry-Competitiveness and Innovation Group (DTI-CIG). She was Assistant Secretary of the DTI-Industry Development and Trade Policy Group from 2014 till early 2019. Prior to her DTI appointment, she worked as Senior Research Fellow and Vice-President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). She has extensive research experience on development issues with focus on industrial policy, regional economic integration, international trade, foreign direct investment, competition policy, and small and medium enterprises. A researcher turned policymaker, she was highly instrumental in crafting the analytical framework for the Industry Roadmap Project and the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy (CARS) Program of DTI-Board of Investments. She also led the formulation and implementation of the Comprehensive National Industrial Strategy, Inclusive Innovation Industrial strategy or i3S, and the new industrial policy known as the Science-,Technology-, and Innovation- based Industrial Strategy. She also initiated DTI’s innovation and Industry 4.0 activities such as Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap, Startup Development Program, Smart Industry Readiness Index Assessment, Technology Utilization Survey in Manufacturing and Agribusiness, Industry 4.0 Pilot Factory, Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers, Artificial Intelligence Roadmap, Philippine Skills Framework, Creative Industry Development Program along with the crafting of the Strategic Investment Priority Plan.