Prior to the appointment, Chua served as the agency’s Acting Secretary following the resignation of Ernesto Pernia.
“Secretary Chua has served the Duterte Administration with professionalism, competence and integrity as Undersecretary of the Department of Finance and Acting Secretary of the NEDA,” said Malacañang in a statement.
“With the aforesaid traits we are confident that Sec. Chua would continuously and consistently perform well in his present but crucial task of jumpstarting our economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic,” it added.
Chua served as the chief economist of the Department of Finance since mid-2016 after leaving his post as a World Bank economist. He was known for lobbying the government’s tax reform programs in Congress, particularly the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law. The TRAIN Law reduced the personal income tax rates for most people but raised duties on oil, cars, and sweetened drinks.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — Karl Kendrick Chua has been appointed as Secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed on Thursday.
