Ex-NEDA deputy heads think tank

A FORMER deputy director-general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has taken over the leadership of a government think tank. A statement released yesterday said Dr. Gilberto M. Llanto took his oath last Thursday as the new president of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). Mr. Llanto, a senior research fellow and a former vice-president, replaced Dr. Josef T. Yap who served for two consecutive terms from 2005 to 2013. Mr. Llanto took his oath before Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, who is also NEDA director-general. PIDS is under the supervision of NEDA. According to the statement, Mr. Llanto was also former executive director of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, chaired the Technical Board of the Investment Coordination Committee during his stint at the NEDA, and president of the Philippine Economic Society from 2003 to 2004.