Gov’t to upgrade two offices into bureaus

The Executive Council (ExCo) announced over the weekend that the Public Assets Supervision Office and the Personal Data Protection Office will be upgraded to bureaus.

While concluding discussions on the Executive Regulations for the upgrade, the ExCo disclosed specific details to a press conference.

The current Public Assets Supervision and Planning Office, will become the Public Assets Supervision Administration Bureau. The new bureau will be directly under the leadership of the Chief Executive, and will have a director, a deputy director, Public Assets Management Department and three divisions, being the Public Capital Enterprise Supervision Division, Grant Coordination and Supervision Division, and Administration, Finance and Information Division.

The future bureau will plan, coordinate, execute and evaluate policies and measures related to public assets supervision and management, and related work.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old Personal Data Protection Office will become the Personal Data Protection Bureau. Its leadership will include a director and deputy director. The bureau will have an Investigation, Administration and Finance Department, encompassing Investigation and Supervision divisions.

The Personal Data Protection Bureau will research, evaluate and suggest policies and measures concerning personal data protection. It will also conduct public education on personal data protection and privacy, and issue opinions and recommendations on the installation of surveillance cameras.

Both bureaus are slated for inauguration Feb. 1, 2024.

At the same press conference, the bill to restructure the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) was also discussed. If enacted, the CCAC will be authorized to investigate money laundering cases and expand its capabilities and authority in regional and international cooperation. AL