Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda welcomed Frederick Go’s recent designation as the inaugural secretary of the newly-created Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA).
Salceda, chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, said Go’s promotion as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s main man on economic matters bodes well for the country.
Go is the erstwhile Presidential Adviser on Investment and Economic Affairs, a position that he has held since January 2023.
“Secretary Deck Go is one of the most preeminent names in Philippine business, and is a strong partner of the House Committee on Ways and Means,” Salceda said in statement Wednesday.
Go is also currently the president and CEO of Robinsons Land Corp. He is the nephew of the late taipan John Gokongwei.
“Deck and I have been working together on various reforms ever since he was appointed. I enthusiastically welcome his appointment as Special Assistant to the President,” said Salceda.
“His designation as basically the President’s man on all things related to the economy will also entail stronger coordination of our priorities and programs,” the economist-congressman said of Go.
“I look forward to continuing our partnership as he takes on a strengthened role in President Marcos’s Cabinet,” added Salceda.
Salceda said that before entering the business world, Go was an honor graduate of Management Engineering from Ateneo de Manila University. He was also editor-in-chief of Ateneo’s student publication, The Guidon.
“With that background, we have seen eye-to-eye on the overwhelming majority of issues. As of date, on top of our work together is the CREATE MORE Act, for which we received a stronger mandate to finish the job from President Marcos himself,” Salceda said.
Go’s promotion to full-fledged secretary came on the heels of the administration’s renewed push to gain foreign direct investments (FDIs).
The SAPIEA office was created on December 15, following Marcos’ issuance of Executive Order (EO) 49.