Accolades poured on Wednesday for Karl Kendrick Chua from senators and congressmen before he was confirmed by the powerful Commission on Appointments as Socioeconomic Planning secretary and director general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
After several senators wanted answers and got answers on economic matters, particularly a hoped-for post COVID-19 economic recovery program, the CA tourism and economic development committee chaired by Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph G. Recto eventually submitted its committee report recommending Chua’s confirmation.
There were no objections but praises on Chua when the Recto committee sought his confirmation during the plenary session of the powerful Commission presided by Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, concurrent CA chairman.
Chua’s confirmation was done a day before the Senate and the House of Representatives adjourn sine die tomorrow night.
He spent years as consultant of World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Senator Ronald dela Rosa said the family of Chua considered his transfer from the World Bank to join the national government as the most patriotic move in his life.
He then thanked Chua for lending his brains to the Philippine government.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri described Chua as a ‘’kind of leader we need as he contracted TB while immersing himself in Tawi-Tawi and Marawi city, ‘’and endured the harassment of senators during budget hearings.’’
Chua, according to Zubiri, is ‘’amiable, became punching bag of senators, honest and a numbers expert’’. ‘’It is a well-deserved appointment,’’ he added.
Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go said Chua is highly competent to steer the Philippines and revive the economy ravaged by COVID-19. ‘’He is more than qualified,’’ he stressed.
’’We need an extraordinary persons for the country during his challenging times’’ chimed in Representative Luis Ferrer IV.
‘’Highly qualified,’’ Senator Joel Villanueva said.
To Recto, an economist, Chua is a NERD – but with K-Pop look.
‘’By NERD, I mean our National Economist for Recovery and Development," said Recto.
In his statement, Recto said that Chua is the youngest in years in the Duterte administration ‘’but one of the wisest in experience.’’
Portions of Recto’s statement follow:
‘’And it is not only his youthfulness which makes him stand out in a Cabinet of D-O-Ms – Davao connection, Oldies but goodies, and Military – but his intellect, too.
‘’His CV is a fine print of academic and professional achievements. Taken together, they are the social and economic reforms writ large.
‘’He has logged 18 years of experience in each of the following disciplines: economic policy, fiscal policy, tax administration, political economy, and tax policy.
‘’Speaking of tax, he is the architect of the biggest tax hike—or make that plural, tax hikes in history—without having to be punished by the voters at the ballot box, like the fate of another NEDA head."