Following the resignation of his predecessor Virgilio Pe'a late March, Sales officially took his oath as chairman of the commission in May 2.
A veteran in the local IT industry, Sales was senior vice-president and IT head at Ayala-owned Bank of the Philippine Islands Inc. (BPI) and held key positions at Citibank Philippines Inc.
The former IBM Philippines executive was also part of the second Computerworld Philippines CIO Roundtable briefing held in December 1994.
'He has vast experience in IT, I think he is a very good choice,' said Congressman Simeon Kintanar, chairman of the House of Representatives committee on ICT.
'I met him recently and, from our discussions, I can see that he understands the industry and its needs; he will be a very good replacement,' Kintanar added.
Leaders of industry associations interviewed by Computerworld Philippines likewise expressed support for Sales.
Mitchell Locsin, executive director of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPAP), is looking forward to working with Sales along with other industry associations.
'I haven't met him in person yet but I hope that he will work hand in hand with the different associations in the industry associations in the industry. We look forward to working with him,' said Locsin.
Sales is also scheduled to be the guest speaker during the next general membership meeting of the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA). 'We expressed our support for his future initiative and we look forward to working with him,' said PSIA president Fermin Taruc.
Bing Van Tooren, president of the Philippine Computer Society (CICT), is currently working with the recently named CICT chairman in organizing the forthcoming National ICT Summit.
'I sense his sincerity to do a good job, as did his predecessor. PCS will support their programs as best as we can,' Van Tooren said.
Sales, meanwhile, said he was surprised at the recent resignation of CICT commissioner Dondi Mapa, who heads the commission's Strategic Business Development group.
Mapa's group is tasked with collaborating with the private sector in developing an 'ICT-enabled landscape' for the country and help the CICT achieve its goal of generating one million more ICT-related jobs in the country.
A twenty-year veteran in the IT industry before moving to public service, Mapa resigned, citing personal reasons, shortly after former CICT chief Pena turned over the post to Sales.
'He informed me about his resignation during his briefing about his group's programs' Sales said in a statement issued by the CICT.
Sales added: 'I understand where he is coming from. He has a growing family and as a family man, Dondi has his family's welfare at heart. We, in CICT, thank him for the almost two years he spent in government. He served CICT and the industry well.'
Mapa said his resignation will take effect after the CICT names a replacement and takes over his position.