Chito Salazar

Chito Salazar is a Filipino education executive and business leader currently serving as President & CEO of PHINMA Education and former president of Philippine Business for Education.

Early life and education

Chito Salazar completed his Bachelor of Science in Management Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila University. He pursued graduate studies abroad, earning a master's degree in International Political Economy & Development from Fordham University and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations with specialization in International Development from the American University.

Career

In October 2022, Salazar was appointed president of the Phinma Corporation, the conglomerate of the Del Rosario Group, while concurrently serving as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Education.

Policy contributions

Salazar has made contributions to Philippine education policy through several initiatives. He was a representative of the business sector in the Second Congressional Commission on Education. In June 2024, he played a role in nominating qualified candidates for Department of Education Secretary, emphasizing the need to prioritize competence and experience over political considerations during the selection process. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Salazar was an advocate for urgent measures to mitigate learning loss, particularly pushing for the immediate certification of the EDCOM Bill as priority legislation to address educational disruptions.