MANILA, Philippines – Former socioeconomic planning secretary Cayetano “Dondon” Paderanga Jr died on Friday, January 29. He was 67.
NEDA Deputy Director General Emmanuel Esguerra confirmed in a text message on Saturday that Paderanga had passed away, but declined to give details.
Paderanga reportedly died of complications of a triple bypass surgery at St Luke’s Medical Center Global City in Taguig, according to a Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) project manager who asked not be named, as he is not authorized to give official statements on the matter.
Butch Garcia, a cousin of Paderanga’s wife, said in his Facebook page that Paderanga died on Friday at 11:55 pm.
“Dondon, my friend, left us at 11:55 Manila time, or 7:55 am pacific standard time, today the 29th of January 2016. He was 67. His suffering is done. For those of us who knew him, let us cry for ourselves, our loss, say a prayer, then celebrate his all too short life and all the good and happiness that he shared,” Garcia shared in his Facebook post.
“Most people knew him in an official capacity, he served two presidents in a Cabinet position, was a member of the Monetary Board of the central bank…However, at every opportunity, he went back to teach economics at the University of the Philippines. He was a teacher at heart, beloved by his students,” said Garcia.
Paderanga, served as the first National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director-General of the Aquino administration. He also served as the chairman of DAP’s Board of Trustees since 2012.
He resigned less than two years into the job, citing health reasons, and was replaced by Arsenio Balisacan.
Paderanga was also NEDA chief during the administration of Aquino’s mother, President Corazon Aquino.
He was a member of the Monetary Board from 1993 to 1999, and executive director for the Philippines in the Asian Development Bank from 2001 to 2003.
Paderanga was a professor of economics at the University of the Philippines.
