Chua affirmed as socioeconomic planning chief

Malacañang said on Thursday that President Duterte had appointed Karl Kendrick Chua as the secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda). Prior to his appointment, Chua served as the acting secretary of the agency. “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,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement. Roque also said Chua was expected to “continuously and consistently perform well in his present but crucial task of jump-starting our economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”

—LEILA B. SALAVERRIA