The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has welcomed the continued designation of Department of Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go as the administration’s economic czar under Executive Order No. 108, calling it a decisive move to sharpen policy coordination, streamline investment promotion, and enhance the country’s overall competitiveness.
Under EO 108, Secretary Go will chair the Economic Development Committee (EDCom), placing him at the helm of strategic investment priorities and strengthening oversight across key economic agencies. Business leaders say the consolidation of leadership signals a stronger, more unified economic direction.
“We commend the administration for consolidating its economic team under Secretary Go’s leadership. His continuing role as economic czar sends a strong signal that government is serious about improving efficiency and reducing bureaucratic red tape,” said PCCI President Perry Ferrer.
Ferrer pointed to Secretary Go’s quick intervention on a pressing concern raised by the private sector as proof of decisive leadership in action. During a February 5 dialogue with PCCI, business leaders flagged the ₱500,000 cash transaction threshold under BSP Circular No. 1218, which had disrupted the legitimate cash flows of micro and small enterprises still heavily dependent on physical transactions.
Within 24 hours, Secretary Go committed to coordinate directly with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. By February 6, the BSP issued Memorandum No. M-2026-005, introducing risk-based flexibilities and streamlining due diligence requirements—an adjustment that provided immediate operational relief to affected enterprises.
“The speed with which Secretary Go acted provided immediate relief to businesses, especially micro and small enterprises that remain heavily reliant on cash transactions,” Ferrer said.
For PCCI, the episode illustrates how responsive governance and active government-private sector dialogue can produce timely, targeted reforms. The chamber emphasized that EO 108, combined with Secretary Go’s hands-on approach to business concerns, reinforces confidence in the administration’s commitment to a more efficient, transparent, and investment-friendly environment.
PCCI reaffirmed its readiness to continue working closely with the Department of Finance and other economic agencies to advance structural reforms, accelerate investment inflows, and strengthen the competitiveness of Philippine enterprises in both domestic and global markets.