SSS chief Robert Joseph de Claro is new DICT secretary

ROBERT DE CLARO. SSS chief Robert De Claro is appointed as new DICT head, Tuesday, October 13, 2026

SSS website

De Claro, who has more than three decades of corporate experience, takes over the government's technology department following the resignation of Henry Aguda

MANILA, Philippines – Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Joseph de Claro has been named as the new secretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), replacing Henry Aguda.

Malacañang announced de Claro’s appointment days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. confirmed that he had accepted Aguda’s resignation.

De Claro has more than 30 years of professional experience across the technology, business services, and corporate sectors, including executive positions in several technology-related companies. His professional career began in Nestlé Philippines in 1993, eventually holding posts in Australia and at the company’s headquarters in Switzerland.

Before joining the government, he served as president and CEO of People4u Incorporated, operating partner at FutureNow Business Services Incorporated, and president and general manager of JMango Philippines Incorporated. He also served as general manager for the Asia-Pacific region at GlobalOne Solutions Incorporated and Cloud Sherpas, companies involved in technology and cloud-based business solutions.

De Claro holds a computer science degree, specializing in information technology, from De La Salle University.

De Claro joined the Social Security Commission (SSC), the policymaking body of the SSS, on January 11, 2023, as a representative of the employers’ sector. He also chaired the Information Technology and Collection and Contribution Committee, and participated in committees covering audit, risk, investment, and governance.

He became SSS officer-in-charge on October 11, 2024, and was formally appointed president and CEO on December 6 of the same year.

Leadership change at DICT

De Claro is the third DICT secretary under the Marcos administration, after Ivan John Uy and Henry Aguda. 

Aguda, who assumed office in March 2025, faced criticism over several decisions during his tenure, including the temporary blocking of online communication platform Discord. 

The DICT has also faced scrutiny over its Free Wi-Fi initiative, with the Office of the Ombudsman investigating allegations of a “ghost internet” scheme involving government-funded connectivity projects that were allegedly nonfunctional or never implemented despite payments being made.

De Claro takes over a department responsible for the country’s digital transformation agenda, including the expansion of broadband connectivity, development of e-government services, and implementation of policies concerning cybersecurity and information and communications technology.

His appointment marks a return to the technology sector for an executive whose most recent government role focused on social security administration. – Rappler.com