MANILA — Malacañang has welcomed the appointment to the economic team of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The country is in good hands with the incoming secretaries of the Department of Finance, our Bangko Sentral (ng Pilipinas), as well as our DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and our NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority),” acting deputy presidential spokesman Kris Ablan said at a recent press briefing.
Ablan made the statement after the government has been asked about the plan to reduce the P13-trillion national debt before President Duterte steps down from office on June 30.
Marcos has chosen Arsenio Balisacan to be the next NEDA chief, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno as incoming finance secretary, and former University of the Philippines president Alfredo Pascual as incoming trade secretary. Felipe Medalla, a current monetary board member, will take over as BSP governor.
To complete the Marcos economic team, the Department of Budget and Management secretary portfolio is the only Cabinet position that needs to be filled. However, several business organizations have previously praised Marcos’ economic managers.
Earlier, political economist Calixto Chikiamco branded the incoming economic team as the “A-Team” in the business community because of its vast experience in government service.
From 2016 to 2019, Diokno served as budget secretary.
On the other hand, Balisacan served at least three presidents – Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III.
