Press Release
March 25, 2020

Bong Go reminds Executive branch to uphold transparency and accountability in the use of gov't funds amid enactment of "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act"

In a radio interview, Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go said that a congressional oversight committee will be formed to ensure that audit regulations on government agencies are enforced with the enactment of Republic Act No. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act".

The law grants President Rodrigo Duterte additional authority to address the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) 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.

Go added that as a member of the legislative branch of the government, he 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.

As stated in the measure, "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, saying "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."

"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 sakasakaling pumasok ka sa korapsyon sa panahong ito, sabi niya. Huwag kayong magkakamali, sabi niya," he added.

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