MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno Aquino III mourned the passing of Cayetano Paderanga Jr, the first National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General of his administration.

Aquino also expressed sympathies to the family of Paderanga, who was also NEDA chief during the term of his mother, former President Corazon Aquino.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family of Cayetano Paderanga Jr. Whether it was to help rebuild our newly-restored democracy in 1990, or in 2010, to rebuild our country’s capacity and confidence after a lost decade, Dondon Paderanga unhesitatingly accepted the call to serve in NEDA,” Aquino said in a statement on Sunday, January 31.

Aquino says the late economist served the country with integrity – whether in NEDA, the Department of Agriculture, the Monetary Board or the Asian Development Bank.

“Few individuals have had an opportunity to serve their country as he did. In each instance he did so without any blemish to his integrity. As a member of the Cabinet he undertook all his tasks with a smile, and gentle good-humor; he was not just a hard-working public servant, but a kind man who will be missed,” Aquino said.

The President also lauded Paderanga for choosing to serve the country despite having health problems. He resigned less than two years into the job for health reasons and was replaced by Arsenio Balisacan.

“He could have remained in the academe where he had earned the respect and affection of his peers and students. Instead he went ahead and did his part, even if it risked his health,” he added.

Malacañang earlier cited Paderanga’s significant contributions to national development, saying he was responsible for the establishment of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center, one of the cornerstones of the Aquino administration.

Paderanga, 67, died on Friday, January 29, reportedly due to complications of a triple bypass surgery at St Luke’s Medical Center Global City in Taguig. – Rappler.com