Aquino appoints former UP professor as acting Neda head

Dr. Emmanuel Esguerra. SCREENGRAB FROM www.econ.upd.edu.ph

President Benigno Aquino III has appointed an acting National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) head after former director general Arsenio Balisacan was assigned to another post, Malacañang said Monday.

“According to Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., President Aquino has appointed Dr. Emmanuel Esguerra as Acting Socio-Economic Secretary and Acting Director-General of the Neda, vice the Hon. Arsenio Balisacan, who was recently appointed as Chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement to media.

READ: Balisacan to head competition agency

Esguerra was deputy director general of Neda before being appointed acting secretary. He also headed the National Development Office (NDO) for Policy and Planning.

He was the head of the University of the Philippines’ Economics department before working in Neda in 2012.

Balisacan took his oath as head of PCC last week.

READ: Balisacan takes oath as competition commission head