Ignacio Bunye

Ignacio "Toting" Rivera Bunye is a politician in the Philippines. He is currently the presidential spokesman of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Bunye was appointed member of the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas effective June 22, 2008 by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to replace Vicente B. Valdepeñas, Jr. In a concurrent capacity, Bunye will also serve, as interim Presidential Adviser on Political Affairs, a post now held by DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=117837 Abs-Cbn Interactive, Bunye moves to Monetary Board] ]

Bunye was appointed officer-in-charge by President Corazon Aquino in 1986 by virtue of an executive order reorganizing all local government units in the Philippines. He ran and was elected mayor of the municipality of Muntinlupa in 1988. He was reelected to the same position in 1992 and 1995.

As Muntinlupa Mayor, Bunye served as Chairman of the then Metropolitan Manila Authority in a concurrent capacity, from 1991-1992. During his 12-year stewardship, Muntinlupa metamorphosed from a fifth-class municipality into a highly-urbanized city.

Adopting proven corporate practices that he gained from working in the private sector, Bunye streamlined operations and cut red tape, thus making Muntinlupa City a business-friendly community which is what it is today. Toward the end of his term as Mayor, Bunye laid the foundation for the establishment of the Ospital ng Muntinlupa through the acquisition of a five-hectare lot within the Filinvest Corporate City, which is also the site of the future Civic Center Complex.

Since all local officials are limited to serve only for three consecutive terms, he ran and won the lone congressional seat of Muntinlupa in 1998. He was instrumental in converting Muntinlupa from a municipality to a chartered city.

In Congress, Bunye continued to champion the cause of local governments, especially in providing them with greater fiscal autonomy. Originally a member of the minority, Bunye became one of the fiscalizers of the 11th Congress. But with the change of leadership toward the end of the 11th Congress, he became the Senior Deputy Majority Floor Leader.

Mrs. Arroyo appointed Bunye in 2001 as Presidential Spokesman replacing Rigoberto Tiglao who was assigned as Presidential Management Chief-of-Staff. When Hernani Braganza ran for the 2004 elections as mayor of Alaminos City, Pangasinan, he was elevated to the position of Press secretary.

Bunye is a lawyer by profession and has served in various administrative positions at the Ayala Corporation including as Assistant Vice President of the Ayala Investment and Development Corporation and the Bank of the Philippine Islands.

A valedictorian during his elementary and secondary education, he attained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the Ateneo de Manila. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Management from the Asian Institute of Management. While studying, he worked as a reporter of DZMT, the radio station of the old Manila Times, and later as reporter of the Daily Star.

He is a lifetime member of the National Press Club, has written a number of articles published in the Daily Star, including a four-part series entitled "War Vignettes," a first-person account of events immediately after the Tet Offensive in South Vietnam in 1968.

He authored a book called "The Other War", a first person account of the activities of the Philippine Civic Action Group in Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. The documentary was broadcast in 1967 by radio station DZMT.

Ignacio Bunye is married to Dr. Miraflor Oca-Bunye and has three children.

External links

* [http://www.ops.gov.ph/ Office of the Press Secretary]
* [http://www.viewfromthepalace.net/ View From the Palace]

References