Gov’t’s main economic policy body reorganized
President Marcos has given the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (Sapiea) more powers as he restructures the government’s main economic policy body.
Mr. Marcos issued Administrative Order No. 37 which reorganizes the Economy and Development Council (ED Council)—formerly known as the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Board—and its committees.
President’s representative
AO 37 was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Aug. 13 and will take effect immediately upon its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of general circulation.
The new order adds the Sapiea office to the membership of the ED Council.
It will represent the Office of the President, including the executive secretary, in the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), the Investment Coordination Committee, the Infrastructure Committee and the Social Development Committee (SDC)—four of the eight committees comprising the ED Council.
The current Sapiea head is Secretary Frederick Go, who previously served as CEO of Robinsons Land Corp. of the Gokongwei family.
Go was also among the retained Cabinet secretaries following the President’s call for the courtesy resignations of government agency heads as part of a government “reset” amid the outcome of the midterm elections. Mr. Marcos’ allies won less than the anticipated six of the 12 Senate seats.
Movements
The ED Council was established following the enactment of Republic Act No. 12145 in April, which reorganized Neda into the full-fledged Department of Economic Planning and Development (DepDev).
Headed by the President, the ED Council serves as the executive collegial body responsible for directing and providing overall policy direction on economic matters to achieve inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development.
The DepDev secretary serves as vice chair, while different Cabinet secretaries, including the executive secretary, are members.
Under the law, the President may revise the membership of the ED Council whenever necessary for the effective performance of its functions.
Under the AO, Sapiea has also been designated chair of the Economic Development Committee (EDCom), with the secretaries of DepDev and the Department of Finance as vice chairs.
Prior to this, the DepDev secretary chaired the EDCom.
Other designations
The President also designates the finance secretary as cochair of the DBCC, along with the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.
The DepDev head remains vice chair of the DBCC, whose main responsibility is to recommend to the President the level of annual government expenditures and the ceiling of government spending.
The President also added as new members of SDC the secretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and lead convener of the National Anti-Poverty Commission.
Mr. Marcos included as members of the Tariff and Related Matters Committee the secretaries of the DAR and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
