UP Econ dean replaces Paderanga at NEDA

By: InterAksyon.com
May 12, 2012 6:36 PM

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MANILA - President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed the dean of the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) as Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan takes over the post vacated by Secretary Cayetano W. Paderanga, Jr., who had resigned for "personal reasons".

Paderanga, who turns 64 this year, said in a statement that "I am grateful to the President not only for giving me the opportunity to serve the Cabinet for the second time, but also for understanding the reasons why I decided to leave."

"NEDA will be in good hands with Dean Balisacan," added Paderanga, who is from the UPSE.

Balisacan is a development economist with a track record as an expert on poverty. He said he intends to build on the achievements and reforms achieved by Paderanga.

"Sec. Paderanga has led in instituting changes in the planning, investment programming and (monitoring and evaluation) processes within NEDA and the government. We will build on these reforms as we focus on reducing poverty and attaining inclusive growth that leaves no one behind," the acting NEDA chief said.

As Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General, Balisacan will concurrently chair the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), and Philippine Center for Economic Development (PCED). Balisacan will also be the vice-chair of the NEDA Board, the country's highest development planning and policy coordinating body chaired by the President, as well as head of several interagency committees under the NEDA Board.

Prior to his UPSE deanship, Balisacan was Director-Chief Executive of the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) from 2003 to 2009, and Undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture in 2000, 2001 and 2003.

While serving as Agriculture Undersecretary, he was the country’s chief negotiator in the Agriculture Negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in various bilateral agriculture negotiations. Prior to joining the University of the Philippines, he was a research fellow at the East West Center in Honolulu, and an economist at the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

Balisacan holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Hawaii, a Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from UP Los Baños, and a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture (magna cum laude) from the Mariano Marcos State University.

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