President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed Andre C. Palacios as the new Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center of the Philippines, effective March 8, 2016.

Mr. Palacios will replace Ms. Cosette V. Canilao, who submitted her resignation last January. Ms. Canilao stated:

“Atty. Palacios is highly reliable with unquestionable integrity. He has a very strong working relationship with the PPP Center officials and staff.”

Mr. Palacios is an international lawyer and a corporate lawyer. He graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Law in 1998, and placed fifth in the bar examinations with a grade of 90.70%. He earned his Master of Laws in International Law from the University of London as a British Chevening Scholar.

Before joining the PPP Center, he worked at the World Bank in Washington, D.C. and at the Philippine mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva.

Atty. Palacios served as Assistant Secretary in the Office of the President and as general counsel of a government corporation overseeing international development projects under the Millennium Challenge Compact.

He practiced corporate law with SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan and litigation with the then Carpio Villaraza & Cruz.