Duterte orders new NEDA chief to fully implement national ID system

April 21, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered new Acting National Economic and Development Authority Director General and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua to immediately implement the national identification system.

Chua, who was the Finance undersecretary, formally assumed his new post on Tuesday.

"What is the mandate of the President to Chua? First, to implement immediately the national ID system; second, focus on the COVID-19 recovery plan; third, faster and better implementation of the Build, Build, Build projects through the Investment Coordination Committee," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a virtual press briefing.

Earlier, Duterte said if only the national ID system is fully implemented, the government would not have a hard time in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program and other cash aid to the people in this time of COVID-19 crisis.

Chua replaced Ernesto Pernia who resigned from the post.

According to Pernia, his reasons for quitting from NEDA are partly "personal" and partly "to differences in development philosophy with a few of my fellow Cabinet members." Celerina Monte/DMS