By Mario Casayuran Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’Go on Wednesday reminded the executive branch to uphold transparency and accountability in the use of government funds following the enactment into law of the "Bayanihan Act of 2020" designed to combat COVID-19. Sen. Bong Go
(PRIB Photo by Joseph Vidal/ 14 November 2019) Go, chairman of the Senate health and demography committee, said a congressional oversight committee would be formed to ensure that auditing regulations regarding government agencies are enforced with the enactment of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.” The law grants President Duterte additional authority to address the COVID-19 threat in the country. "Pera po ito ng gobyerno, karapatan po ng Commission on Audit (COA) na tingnan po ito. I-o-audit po ito, pero sa panahong ito, alam naman natin na emergency po ito -- lalung-lalo po sa pagpili ng paggagamitan, ay mayroon pong mga exemption, na hindi pwedeng maantala ang lahat ng mga purchases, sa pagbibigay po ng tulong," he said. (This is government money. It is the right of the COA to look into its disbursement. These funds will be audited, but at this time, we know this is an emergency -- especially in choosing the right equipment, there are exemptions, and there can't be delays in all the purchases, in giving assistance.) As a member of the legislative branch of the government, Go urged government agencies to ensure that the grant of resources and additional authority to the executive branch is done in the most transparent manner. "Ako naman po’y nasa legislative branch of the government. Dapat siguraduhin natin na up to the last centavo ay mabibigay po sa tao. Kailangan nilang magreport sa Kongreso once a week ang executive," he said. (I am a member of the legislative branch of government. We must ensure that up to the last centavo is given to the people. The executive branch is required by law to report its expenditures to Congress once a week.) As stated in the law, "The President, during Monday of every week, shall submit a weekly report to Congress of all acts performed pursuant to this Act during the immediately preceding week." The report will include the amount and corresponding utilization of the funds used, augmented, reprogrammed, reallocated, and realigned in accordance with the law. A joint Congressional oversight committee will be formed to "determine whether such acts, orders, rules, and regulations are within the restrictions provided herein." The law also provides for additional penalties for offenses, such as local government unit (LGU) officials disobeying national government policies or directives in imposing quarantines, among others. Go then reminded his fellow government officials to ensure transparency and accountability in the provision of government aid to Filipinos. "Sinabi ko nga na konsensya po ninyo ang nakatutok po sa inyo sa panahong ito. Alam naman nating nangangailangan ng tulong ang ating mga kapatid na Pilipino, so dapat siguraduhin natin. (I have said that your conscience must guide you at this time. We know our fellow Filipinos need help, so we must ensure that.) "Sigurado ako si Pangulong Duterte narinig ko po kagabi sinabihan niya ang lahat ng nasa executive.... Ni piso dapat walang mawala, walang corruption na dapat mangyari, at mananagot po ang dapat managot kung saka-sakaling pumasok ka sa korapsyon sa panahong ito, sabi niya. Huwag kayong magkakamali, sabi niya," he added. (I am sure I heard President Duterte tell everyone in the Executive last night... Not a peso must be lost, there must be no corruption, and those accountable must answer for it if they enter into corruption at this time, he said. Don't make any mistakes, he said.)