Director Marichu A. Palafox’s current position as Director IV of the DPWH Financial Management Service (FMS) is not an easy task since she oversees the over-all supervision of two divisions managing services relating to financial systems and procedures, budget, cash, accounting, and all financial housekeeping matters of the Department.
She began her more than thirty years government service in March 1985 as an Audit Examiner at the Commission on Audit. She then transferred to the DPWH-Project Management Office-Rural Water Supply in June 1989 as contractual Finance Officer II. She got a permanent position of Accountant II at the Comptrollership and Financial Management Service in January 2001, then Accountant III in 2004 and designated as Officer-In-Charge, Chief Accountant and Accountant IV in April 2005. She served the Office of the Assistant Secretary for PMO Operations as Accountant IV from August 2010 to May 2013 afterwhich she moved to the DPWH National Capital Region as its Chief Administrative Officer (Fiscal Controller) from May 2013 to September 2014. She was designated Officer-in-Charge, FMS Office of the Director in September 2014 and sworn as the Director in February 2015.
To further develop her expertise in financial management, she has attended various trainings and seminars sponsored by various agencies and institutions like Orientation Seminar on GOP Procedures for ODA Projects, Disbursement Seminar East Asia and the Pacific Region, World Bank Disbursement Seminar, all conducted by the World Bank; 3rd PICPA Global Convention conducted by PICPA Los Angeles USA Chapter; Tax Exemption/Assumption Policies of the Government of the Philippines related to Japanese Official Development Assistance conducted by the DOF and Japan Bank for International Cooperation; Seminar on Complete Staff Work; 1st e-NGAS User’s Circle Conference; Updates on the New Government Accounting System Seminar on Complete Staff Work; Culture Building Program; and other related trainings.
Director Palafox passed the Career Executive Service Eligibility in 2011. She has also attended conferences and seminars conducted by the Career Executive Service Board that include the 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th Annual Career Executive Service Conferences; 2nd and 4th CES Thought Leaders’ Congress; Rediscover the Heart and Soul of a Leader; Integrated Gabay ng Paglilingkod and Salamin Diwa Course Sessions XI and XVI, Executive Leadership Program; among others.
She graduated with the degree of Master in Business Management at St. Francis of Assisi College System in 2001. She received her Bachelor of Laws degree from Far Eastern University in 1989. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the Philippine School of Business Administration in 1984. She also earned 21 units for her Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management education at Manuel L. Quezon University.
She was born on April 14, 1964 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. She is married to Constante Palafox, a Superintendent at the Manila Electric Company and they are blessed with three lovely daughters Nicole Anne, Jessica and Francesca.