Duterte appoints DOF Usec Karl Chua as acting Neda chief

Karl Chua as acting Neda chief
41-year-old DOF Used Karl Chua replaced 76-year-old Ernesto Pernia as acting Neda chief. (Image from Inquirer Business – INQUIRER.net)

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Finance Undersecretary Karl Chua as acting Secretary of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) after Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia resigned, Friday.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea confirmed the news in a text message to reporters.

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“The President has appointed DOF Usec. Karl Chua as acting Secretary of NEDA,” Medialdea said.

Chua was 41, was the chief economist of the Strategy, Economics, and Results Group of the Department of Finance before his appointment. He is also known as the “poster boy” of the Duterte administration’s tax reform for acceleration and inclusion or the TRAIN law.

Pernia said he decided to step down from his post due to “personal reasons” and “differences in development philosophy” with some members of the Duterte Cabinet.

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“After reflection during Holy Week, and consultations with my family and close colleagues, I have decided to resign from my post as Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning. This is due partly to personal reasons and partly to differences in development philosophy with a few of my fellow Cabinet members,” the former NEDA chief said in a statement.

Rumors, however, began circulated Sunday that Pernia was supposedly “fired,” but Pernia denied the reports.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the 76-year-old Cabinet official in July 2016.

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“I would like to thank the President for appointing me to the position. It has been an honor and privilege to have served the country under his administration for the past nearly four years,” Pernia said.

“I must also thank my Neda family for their trust and confidence in my leadership of the agency in crafting and pursuing the goals of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 towards our country’s Ambisyon Natin 2040, as well as evaluating and reviewing flagship infrastructure projects for approval by the President-chaired Neda Board and their eventual implementation,” Pernia said.

“I leave Neda knowing that we have initiated and implemented meaningful changes that will help the country overcome these challenging times and on to a higher growth trajectory,” he added.

Pernia recently was in the headlines for his recommendation on modified lockdown and “calibrated opening” of shopping malls.

His resignation was a bit of surprise to the people as it was DOH Francisco Duque III, who was called to step down by the majority of senators.