Augusto Santos named NEDA officer-in-charge

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo has appointed National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Deputy Director General Augusto Santos as officer-in-charge of the agency following the resignation of Ralph Recto earlier this month.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said the Palace search committee is still looking for a replacement for Optical Media Board (OMB) chairman Edu Manzano, who also resigned this month.

Santos is NEDA Deputy Director General for Regional Development and has served as the agency’s OIC at least twice under the Arroyo administration.

Recto, who was appointed to the NEDA in July 2008, resigned last Aug. 11 reportedly to pursue a campaign to return to the Senate.

Remonde said the Palace is expected to name a new OMB head as soon as the search committee finds Manzano’s replacement since he began serving in a holdover capacity more than a year ago.

He said there would be no problem in finding replacements for Cabinet officials who are leaving in the coming weeks to pursue political plans, as there are many competent undersecretaries who can succeed them. – Paolo Romero