Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat is a product of the University of the Philippines where she graduated cum laude with her bachelor’s degree in Economics. She also pursued her master’s degree in Economics at the same institution.

From 1994 to 2006, she was a lecturer at her alma mater. She served as an Economic Consultant to the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council from 2001 to 2002, and to the Presidential Management Staff from 2005 to 2006. Furthermore, she served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary at the Office of the President in 2006.