Go to gov't agencies: Address COA findings, spend funds wisely
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged concerned government agencies to address the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) and ensure that public funds are spent properly
“Gusto nating malaman ‘yung totoo, ‘yun lamang, para mapangalagaan natin ang bawat piso ng gobyerno dahil naghihirap tayo ngayon (We want to know the truth, that is all, so that we can protect every peso of the government because right now we are financially hard-pressed). Ang trabaho namin dito is pangalagaan ‘yung pera ng gobyerno (Our work here is to supervise the expenditure of government funds),” Go said in an interview given after the inauguration of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Silang East Interchange on Tuesday, August 24.
'" urge all agencies na dapat i-comply nila kung ano man ‘yung findings ng COA (to comply whatever the COA findings are)," he added.
Go, who heads the Senate Committee on Health, said primary goal is "to ensure the continued provision of health services and unhampered public service delivery amid the ongoing public health crisis."
“Kung mayro’ng pagkukulang ang DOH o DBM ay dapat malaman ng tao (If there are shortcomings ats DOH or DBM, people are entitled to know). Ngayon, binigyan na ng COA ‘yung DOH ng pagkakataon to comply at rectify ‘yung mga audit findings and observations (Now, the COA has given the DOH the opportunity to comply and rectify the COA findings and observations),” he added.
“Kung makapag-comply naman, makakapagfocus na kaagad sila sa trabaho nila, ‘yun naman ang gusto natin dito (If they have complied, the focus would now be on their work) Ang hindi maapektuhan ang serbisyo ng DOH at ng iba pang mga departamento dahil — ulitin ko — iba ang sitwasyon ngayon (Services of DOH and other departments should not be affected because of the pandemic). Nasa public health emergency tayo, iba ang sitwasyon ngayon (The situation is different now because we are in a health emergency situation),” he stressed.
But Go urged the public to push for fairness and reserve their judgment until they have heard all sides and COA has completed its auditing process.
Echoing President Duterte, he said the report does not state that any fund was lost to corruption and that due process must be upheld.
On Wednesday, August 25, he expressed his support for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in looking at the DOH's use of COVID-19 funds. He joined Wednesday's Senate hearing to deliver a prepared speech.