OSAPIEA to disband after Go transfers to DoF

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. will dissolve the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) following the appointment of Secretary Frederick D. Go to the Department of Finance (DoF), Malacañang said on Wednesday.

“Since Secretary Go came from the OSAPIEA and will now move to DoF, the collaboration remains intact,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said at a briefing, noting that no timeline has been set for the dissolution of the office.

Asked if this move will affect trade negotiations, Ms. Castro quoted Mr. Go as saying there will be no operational disruptions to current negotiations, as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has long handled the technical and substantive work related to trade deals.

Mr. Marcos created the post for Mr. Go under Executive Order No. 49, which he issued on Dec. 15, 2023, placing the office directly under the Office of the President.

Asked why the President created OSAPIEA in the first place, Ms. Castro said the office was established to enhance inter-agency coordination.

However, with Mr. Go’s transition to the DoF — an agency that works closely with DTI and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) — Ms. Castro said maintaining a separate office is no longer practical.

Mr. Go replaced Ralph G. Recto as the head of the DoF. Mr. Recto, in turn, was appointed executive secretary, succeeding Lucas P. Bersamin.

“The President knows Secretary Go’s expertise in trade agreements. Given that DTI has been supporting this work and the head of OSAPIEA is now moving to DoF, it makes sense to streamline and avoid having two offices doing the same thing,” she said.

The DTI has been designated to lead all technical and substantive work on trade negotiations, while the economic agencies are expected to collaborate under Mr. Go’s leadership at the DoF.

The OSAPIEA was tasked with ensuring the effective integration, coordination and implementation of the government’s investment and economic policies and programs.

The head of OSAPIEA was granted the rank of secretary and also served as chairperson of the Economic Development Group (EDG), with the secretaries of DEPDev and the DoF as vice-chairmen.

The OSAPIEA’s mandate included advising the President on economic matters such as inflation, food security, and commodity prices; ensuring that investment pledges are realized; overseeing and coordinating priority programs under the Philippine Development Plan (2023-2028); and supervising agencies, including the DEPDev, DoF, and DTI to ensure efficient policy implementation. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana