Ngunit agad naman nilinaw ni Recto na ang kahulugan ng NERD niya ay National Economist for Recovery and Development.
“The nominee is a NERD – but with K-Pop looks. By NERD, I mean our National Economist for Recovery and Development. In the Cabinet, he is the youngest in years, but one of the wisest in experience,” sabi ni Recto, na nag-endorso sa nominasyon ni Chua sa CA.
Kasunod nito ay binitawan na ni Recto ang sunod-sunod na papuri kay Chua at aniya mayaman sa karanasan at kaalaman ang kalihim kung ekonomiya ang pag-uusapan.
“He has logged 18 years of experience in each of the following disciplines: economic policy, fiscal policy, tax administration, political economy, and tax policy,” ang patukoy ni Recto kay Chua.
Bago maitalaga para pamunuan ang National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) noong nakaraang taon, nagsilbi munang undersecretary sa Department of Finance si Chua.
Ayon naman kay Sen. Panfilo Lacson ‘fit for the position’ at ‘eminently qualified’ si Chua.