PASAY CITY -- Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said he would participate in the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Wednesday, August 25, to help uncover the truth regarding the use of COVID-19 funds.
In an interview given after the inauguration of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Silang East Interchange on Tuesday, August 24, Go explained that Congress has the responsibility to scrutinize how public funds are being utilized.
“Gusto nating malaman ‘yung totoo, ‘yun lamang, para mapangalagaan natin ang bawat piso ng gobyerno dahil naghihirap tayo ngayon. Ang trabaho namin dito is pangalagaan ‘yung pera ng gobyerno,” said Go.
“At magsasalita ako. I will give my opening statement tomorrow to urge all agencies na dapat i-comply nila kung ano man ‘yung findings ng COA. I-explain nila bakit natagalan. Bakit hindi nabayaran? Ano pa bang kulang para mabilisan ‘yung proseso?” he continued.
The Senator, who heads the Senate Committee on Health, made it clear that his 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. Ngayon, binigyan na ng COA ‘yung DOH ng pagkakataon to comply at rectify ‘yung mga audit findings and observations,” continued Go.
“Kung makapag-comply naman, makakapagfocus na kaagad sila sa trabaho nila, ‘yun naman ang gusto natin dito. Ang hindi maapektuhan ang serbisyo ng DOH at ng iba pang mga departamento dahil — ulitin ko — iba ang sitwasyon ngayon. Nasa public health emergency tayo, iba ang sitwasyon ngayon,” he stressed.
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. He clarified that the initial report does not state that any fund was lost to corruption, and that due process must be upheld.
On a related note, the Senator also revealed that he had personally discussed the issues raised by hospital owners’ associations with concerned officials after the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation issued a circular on the temporary suspension of claim payments to hospitals and healthcare institutions that are under investigation.
“Noong linggo, nakiusap kami (ni Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea at Secretary Carlito Galvez) sa PhilHealth na kung maaari bigyan naman nila ng palugit. Naiintindihan ko naman si (PhilHealth) President Dante Gierran dahil takot siya sa nangyari sa previous management. Naiintindihan ko, nagiging prudent lang sila ngayon,” said Go.
He disclosed that the PhilHealth management had a “fruitful” discussion with the hospital associations last Monday, and expressed hope that the talks would lead to a more harmonious coordination among concerned parties.
“Iba ang sitwasyon ngayon dahil nasa gitna nga tayo ng pandemya. Bigyan natin ng palugit 'yung mga hospital owners. Kung totoo talagang may mga fraudulent claims, eh ‘di kasuhan kaagad. Pero itong mga may problema lang sa papeles na wala naman intensyon na manloko ay bigyan ng palugit,” appealed the Senator.
“Huwag niyong ibitin itong mga hospital owners para magkaroon sila ng puhunan at maisaayos ang kanilang cash flow at makadagdag sila ng mga hospital beds… Dito lang ako sa likod magtatrabaho. Kung anong makakabuti sa lahat yun ang uunahin natin.” (OSBG)
