New NEDA chief told: Hasten nat’l ID system, study COVID-19 recovery plan

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered acting National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua to hasten the implementation of the National ID system and to study the COVID-19 recovery plan.

Chua was also tasked to ensure better implementation of the administration’s infrastructure program Build, Build, Build, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Tuesday.

“Ano po ang mandato ng Presidente kay Secretary Chua? Unang una, ipatupad sa lalong mabilis na panahon ang national ID system. Pangalawa, atupagin po itong COVID recovery plan,” Roque said in an online press conference.

(What is the President’s mandate to Secretary Chua? First, to fast-track the implementation of the national ID system. Second, to work on the COVID recovery plan.)

“At pangatlo, yung mas mabilis at mas mabuting pag implementa ng mga Build, Build, Build projects sa pamamagitan ng investment coordination committee. Welcome on board, Secretary Chua,” he added.

(Third, to ensure fast and better implementation of Build, Build, Build projects through an investment coordination committee.)

Roque said Chua will officially assume his post Tuesday afternoon.

Chua replaced former NEDA chief Ernesto Pernia who resigned from his post citing “personal reasons” and “differences in development philosophy” with some members of the Duterte Cabinet.

Prior to being appointed as NEDA chief, Chua was an Undersecretary of the Department of Finance (DOF).

Duterte earlier admitted that the implementation of the national ID system, which was passed into law in 2018, could have made easier the distribution of the government’s emergency subsidy distribution during the COVID-19 crisis.

This observation was shared by some senators, who have subsequently called for an inquiry on the status of the national ID system, “with the end view of ensuring its prompt and full-scale implementation to achieve its intended purpose.”

EDV