President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Karl Kendrick Chua as head of the National Economic and Development Authority, Malacanang said on Thursday.

“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 Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement.

Chua was initially appointed to NEDA as its acting director general. He replaced Ernesto Pernia who quit from the post in April last year during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

“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,” Roque said.

Chua, who is also the socioeconomic planning secretary, will undergo confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. Celerina Monte/DMS