Ernesto Pernia

Ernesto del Mar Pernia (born December 30, 1943) is a Filipino economist, writer and professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines School of Economics. He formerly served as Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority and Secretary of Socioeconomic Planning under the Duterte administration from 2016 to 2020.

Early life and education A native of Bohol, Pernia was born in the municipality of Tubigon on December 30, 1943.

Professional career Pernia worked in the U.S. after completing his doctorate degree at UC Berkeley. He was a lecturer at the University of California, Santa Cruz while also taking up a research grant at the Smithsonian Institution. He was also a fellow of the East-West Population Institute in Honolulu.