MANILA – A day after being proclaimed winner in the May presidential election, President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. revealed a partial list of “best people” for his economic team.
“I know the economic team is critical and that is what people are looking to. I think we have found the best people for it who are able to look forward and anticipate what the conditions will be for the Philippines and the rest of the world in the coming years,” he said in a sit-down interview with select media.
He disclosed that the following have accepted the offer to be part of his economic team:
* Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Benjamin Diokno as Secretary of the Department of Finance
* Former President of the University the Philippines Alfred Pascual as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry
Marcos Jr. also said he “intends to nominate” SMC Tollways President and Chief Executive Officer Manuel “Manny” Bonoan to take the post of Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Prior Thursday, the president-elect’s camp announced that Marcos Jr. has picked former Philippine Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to again lead the National Economic and Development Authority.
Balisacan was NEDA chief during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The incoming President said his first priority is to revive the economy, acknowledging that “it’s very important to choose carefully the economic managers.” (Daphne Galvez ©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022)
