Marcos orders streamlining, abolishes special office for investment, economy

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has abolished the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAPIEA) in a bid to streamline the Office of the President (OP)’s initiatives for a more cohesive approach to addressing economic challenges.

Dated January 26, Executive Order 108 abolished the OSAPIEA, the office formerly headed by now Finance Secretary Frederick Go.

“There is a need to further streamline the initiatives of the OP on investment and economic affairs to further establish a robust monitoring system and ensure a more holistic and cohesive approach to address the diverse economic challenges currently confronting the nation,” the directive said.

The OSAPIEA’s powers, duties, and functions – except those that are within the powers, duties, and functions of other concerned agencies in accordance with their mandates – shall now be integrated into the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES).

The OSAPIEA was created in 2023 by virtue of Marcos’ EO 49. It was an office under the OP and was meant to ensure the effective integration, coordination, and implementation of the government's investment and economic policies and programs.

Under EO 49, the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (SAPIEA) served as chair of the Economic Development Committee (EDCom) and as a member of key Economic Development Council (EDC) committees.

But under EO 108, the Finance Secretary shall now serve as EDCom chair while the secretary of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) shall serve as its vice chair.

Previously, the SAPIEA also served as chair of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory (SEIA) Council.

The SEIA Council is the President’s key advisory body on the semiconductor and electronics industry as provided for in Administrative Order 31 issued in 2025.

Under EO 108, the Executive Secretary shall now serve as the chairperson of the SEIA Council. — JMA, GMA Integrated News