Bienvenido Laguesma
Bienvenido Estudillo Laguesma is a Filipino government official, lawyer, and businessman has served as the 31st secretary of labor and employment since 2022, and previously as the 25th from 1998 to 2001.
Education
Laguesma was born on October 3, 1950, in Santa Cruz, Manila. He attended the Lyceum of the Philippines University where he obtained a bachelor's degree in political science in 1971. He then attended the Ateneo de Manila University where he graduated with a law degree in 1975. He entered the Royal Institute of Public Administration as a Colombo Scholar and took up an administration course in 1985. He also finished a CES Development Program at the Development Academy of the Philippines in 1984.Career
Government
Laguesma started working at the Ministry of Labor and Employment in the 1970s during the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. Starting as a labor arbiter, he rose through the ranks within the ministry. He served as DOLE Undersecretary from 1990 to 1996 spanning the presidencies of Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos. From 1996 to 1998, Laguesma was Presidential Assistant for Ramos. He would then serve as Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment from 1998 to 2001 during the administration of President Joseph Estrada.He was also the commissioner of the Social Security System during President Benigno Aquino III's term.
He was offered to reprise his role as DOLE Secretary by president-elect Bongbong Marcos. He was initially reluctant, citing his age but later accepted Marcos' offer.