By Mario Casayuran
The Senate approved Tuesday the proposed P8.2 billion budget of the Office of the President (OP) for 2020 after no one rose to interpellate Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go, sponsor of the President’s budget, during its plenary session at the Senate session hall.
Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go (MALACAÑANG PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The approval followed Go’s assurance that he would safeguard the interest of the public by ensuring the proper check and balance between the Legislative and the Executive branches of government.
‘’Every centavo must be wisely spent to help and support the Filipino nation. It is the people’s money and it is just right that the government should give it back to them,” Go said in his sponsorship speech.
Rationalizing the proposed budget of the OP which amounts to P8.2 billion, Go praised President Duterte’s leadership, calling it “honest, transparent and corrupt-free.”
He explained that the President has been able to fulfill the desire of Filipinos for a just and honest leader “by laying a governance platform that centered on fighting against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality.”
Go also said that the President “pursued programs that put the dignity and welfare of the Filipino people first, such as right to access better health services, to name a few.”
As former aide of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte and later as Special Assistant to the President, Go also said that he has “seen, first-hand, the commitment and dedication of the men and women of this institution.”
“Therefore, I have no doubt that President Duterte’s office is using its budget solely for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he ended.
Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri moved to have the President’s budget deemed submitted and approved after no one stood up to question Go.
The Senate is expected to pass the proposed 2020 P4.1 trillion national budget tomorrow.
It had hoped that an enrolled budget bill would be submitted to President Duterte for approval or veto before the end of the year.