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Go appeals to DOH to clarify COA findings on P67.3-B COVID-19 funds
Go appeals to DOH to clarify COA findings on P67.3-B COVID-19 funds
Senator Christopher ‘’Bong’’ Go on Thursday, August 12 appealed to the Department of Health (DOH) to clarify the issues found in the Commission on Audit (COA) report regarding the questionable use of public funds for the country’s pandemic response.
‘’Given that we are in a state of public health emergency, we should ensure that these issues are resolved immediately,’’ Go said.
A COA report found "various deficiencies involving P67.3 billion worth of public funds" intended 4 national pandemic response of the DOH.
‘’Bilang Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, lagi kong ipinapaalala sa mga ahensya na siguraduhing nagagamit nang maayos at tama ang pondo ng taumbayan, lalo na ngayon na tumataas na naman ang kaso ng COVID-19 (As chairman of the Senate Health committee, I constantly remind all agencies to use wisely and correctly government funds now that COVID-19 cases are increasing). Walang dapat masayang, lalo na’t patuloy ang ating pagbabakuna at pagsugpo sa pandemya (There should not be wastages as vaccination is going on in containing the pandemic). Bawat araw, bawat oras, bawat minuto at bawat piso ay mahalaga dahil habulan itong laban na ito (Every day, every hour, every minute and every peso is precious because we are involved in a deadly fight). Huwag dapat mawala ang focus natin sa tunay na kalaban — ang COVID-19. Kasama na d’yan ang hirap at gutom na dala nito (Our focus should always be on our foe – COVID-19. That includes difficulties and hunger),’’ he said.
‘’Kaya kung may ganyang mga isyu na kailangang sagutin, ipaliwanag na dapat ito kaagad sa taumbayan sa klaro, kumpleto at madaling maintindihan na paraan (If there are issues, the people expect answers fast and in a manner that is clearly understood). Kapag naresolba ang mga iyan, mas matutukan natin ang pagsiguro ng sapat na gamot, bakuna, at serbisyo para makasalba ng buhay ng mga may sakit (When that Is resolved, we can concentrate on adequate drugs, vaccination and services to save the lives of the sick),’’ he explained.
‘’Trabaho naman talaga ng COA na siyasatin kung ginagamit nang wasto ng lahat ng mga ahensya ng gobyerno ang pondo ng bayan (It is the job of COA to investigate whether government funds are used wisely). Kaya para sa DOH, bukod sa pagsiguro na sapat ang ating mekanismo upang mapangalagaan ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan, parte rin ng mandato ninyo ang pagsiguro na wala ni isang iregularidad sa mga hakbang na ating ginagawa (Ensure that the appropriate mechanisms are in place so that no irregularities occur.) Naniniwala naman ako na buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino ang inuuna ninyo sa inyong trabaho (I know that your focus is on the lives of every Filipino),’’ he added.
‘’Malayo na ang narating natin mula nang nagsimula ang pandemya (We have come a long way since the pandemic started). Huwag nating sayangin ang hirap at sakripisyo ng bawat Pilipino para maiahon ang bansa mula sa krisis na ito (Let us not allow the sacrifices of every Filipino go to waste during the current crisis),’’ he stressed.
‘’Kung may kakulangan man, dapat iwasto ito agad, klaruhin ang dapat klaruhin (Shortages must be corrected at once, clear up what are vague) ...at pagbutihin lalo ang trabaho dahil sa bawat piso at bawat oras na nakalaan sa laban kontra COVID-19, buhay po ang katapat nito (Do your job correctly because every peso and every hour is precious in containing COVID-19 as the life of every Filipino is at stake),’’ he added.