Ex-Aquino Cabinet Arsenio Balisacan is Marcos Jr.’s NEDA chief

Arsenio M. Balisacan /University of the Philippines School of Economics

MANILA, Philippines — Presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is considering economist Arsenio Balisacan to return to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Balisacan was NEDA chief during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Marcos Jr. announced this Monday and his chief-of-staff Atty. Vic Rodriguez confirmed that Balisacan has accepted the offer.

“I have also tapped an old friend who’s also formerly in this position, Arse Balisacan, who is our former NEDA and I’ve asked him to return to NEDA,” he said in a press briefing.

“I’ve worked with him extensively at the time when I was governor. We have very similar thinking in that regard kaya’t malakas ang loob ko, I know he’s very competent, I know his policies are policies that will be for the betterment of our country,” he added.

Balisacan had served as the country’s socioeconomic planning Secretary under the Aquino administration. He also served as chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission.

So far, Marcos has named presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio as education secretary and former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Benhur Abalos as interior secretary.

He has also named Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla as justice secretary and Rodriguez as executive secretary.

As of this posting, Balisacan has yet to personally confirm his acceptance to the offer for him to head the NEDA under the administration of Marcos.

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