High in the command of the party’s hierarchy, he makes sure everyone stays focused and toes the line
The President’s issuance of Executive Order 49 ushers in the appointment of his new Economic Czar, Secretary Frederick “Deck” D. Go to serve as the administration’s Economic “Whip” heading the newly created Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA). A move that will hopefully result in more synchronicity and performance in achieving the government’s avowed development goals.
Before being elevated to his new post, Secretary Deck Go was handpicked by the President as his presidential adviser on investment and economic affairs wherein he championed investments in agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy, mining, digitalization, tourism, infrastructure, and the positioning of the electronics sector to capture the trending movement of manufactures to relocate operations away from China.
I use the term “Whip” in reference to the congressional parlance of the Majority or Party Whip whose job is to make sure everyone is singing the same legislative agenda song.
High in the command of the party’s hierarchy, he makes sure everyone stays focused and toes the line.
As the Economic Whip, Secretary Go assumes a critical position of trust as he will directly be advising the President on the complex issues and dynamics of the Philippine economy from both macro and micro perspectives.
He will be the driving force behind the administration’s economic policy agenda.
He will set the pace and direction, making sure the economy is on the right track.
He will be instrumental in shaping the economic future of the country.
The President’s confidence in Secretary Go has solid basis as his reputation is among the most esteemed with skills, experience, and achievements indisputably among the best in the land.
A big name in the Philippines in the real estate industry, he is the President and CEO of Robinsons Land, one of the leading real estate companies in the country.
He joined the company in 1992 when it only had five assets.
Now, thanks to his leadership, Robinsons Land has grown significantly and manages a portfolio that includes shopping malls, office buildings, hotels and resorts, industrial facilities, and mixed-use developments.
Concurrently, he is the President at Altus Property Ventures, Inc. and Robinsons Recreation Corp.
Also in his list of responsibilities are his duties as the Group General Manager at several real estate development companies in China, including Taicang Ding Feng, Shanghai Ding Feng, Xiamen Pacific Estate Investment, Chengdu Ding Feng, Taicang Ding Sheng, Chongqing Robinsons Land, and Chongqing Ding Hong.
His expertise goes beyond the real estate industry.
He is currently the Chairman of Luzon International Premier Airport Development Corporation and also serves as the Vice Chairman of both Robinsons Bank Corporation and the Philippine Retailers Association.
He also held director positions at Cebu Air, Inc., Manila Electric Company, JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation, JG Summit Olefins Corporation, and Cebu Light Industrial Park.
Before he made his mark in these roles, he was a business reporter for The Manila Times.
It is clear that Secretary Deck Go’s diverse experience and exemplary career as an industry leader ticks off all the qualifications needed in his new, and daunting responsibility that I would say will need heroic efforts to effectively navigate and transform the siloed nature of government into a more developmental and results-driven culture like the private sector.
We all had high hopes when very soon after assuming office, the President was able to quickly assemble his economic “dream team.”
But after two years, reality eventually bit off much of the optimism with the President’s trust rating surveys conducted by Publicus Asia showing a dropping trend from 80 percent in September to 48 percent in its November-December poll.
This reflects a waning of confidence which is foundational to a country’s economic environment and investment prospects.
As Filipino consumers, we are always at the receiving end of the government’s capacity to deliver on its committed programs and reforms hyped as forward looking and inspiring economic road maps.
We look forward to Secretary Go’s success in leading a whole-of-Philippine society surge towards finally breaking free from this frustrating economic traffic jam and steer the country on the high road to inclusive prosperity.
Merry Christmas!