Juanita D. Amatong

Juanita D. Amatong — Significant Contributions

Philippine Public Finance

Amatong built much of her career in Philippine public finance. She joined the Department of Finance in 1971 as a Senior Financial Analyst and later rose through senior positions in the department before becoming Secretary of Finance.

She served as Secretary of Finance from December 1, 2003 to February 14, 2005. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation records identify her as the first woman appointed Secretary of Finance.

International Financial Institutions

Before and during her government career, Amatong gained extensive international experience in finance.

She worked as a tax economist at the International Monetary Fund and later with the World Bank Group. Silliman University identifies her as the first woman Executive Director of the World Bank Group from the Philippines, serving from 1996 to 1998.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

After serving as Finance Secretary, Amatong became a member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

BSP records show that she assumed office as a Monetary Board member on July 4, 2005. The Monetary Board is the policy-making body of the Philippine central bank.

Silliman University

Amatong has a long connection with Silliman University.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration there, graduating cum laude, and later earned a Ph.D. in Social Science from the university. Earlier in her career, she also taught at Silliman as an associate professor.

She later served as Chair of the Silliman University Board of Trustees and remained closely connected with the university through teaching, lectures, and institutional service.

Education and Professional Training

Amatong earned a master’s degree in Economics and Public Administration from Syracuse University in New York.

She also completed professional training in public enterprise management at the Harvard Institute for International Development and in financial and fiscal policies and programming at the International Monetary Fund.

Recognition in Government Finance

In 1987, Silliman University named Juanita Dy Amatong an Outstanding Sillimanian in Government Finance.

The recognition reflects her long career in fiscal administration, government finance, international institutions, and public service.

Connection to Negros Oriental

Amatong was born and raised in Bindoy, Negros Oriental. Her connection to the province continued through Silliman University in Dumaguete, where she studied, taught, later served as Board of Trustees Chair, and returned for academic and public-policy activities.