Affirming his commitment to ensure checks and balances over taxpayers’ money, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday defended the P8.2- billion budget of the Office of the President.
“Rest assured, I will safeguard the interests of the public by ensuring proper checks and balances. Every centavo must be wisely spent to help and support the Filipino nation. It is the people’s money and it is just right that the government should give it back to them,” said Go who sponsored the budget.
Go also praised President Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership, calling it “honest, transparent and corrupt-free.”
He noted the President has been able to fulfill the desire of Filipinos for a just and honest leader “by laying a governance platform that centered on fighting against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality.”
Go said that the President “pursued programs that put the dignity and welfare of the Filipino people first, such as right to access better health services, to name a few.”
As former Special Assistant to the President, Go also said that he has “seen, first-hand, the commitment and dedication of the men and women of this institution.”
“Therefore, I have no doubt that President Duterte’s office is using its budget solely for the benefit of the Filipino people,” he ended.
With no senators wishing to interpellate, Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri moved to have the OP’s budget deemed submitted and approved.
Meanwhile, Go reminded the Bases Conversion and Development Authority to abide by the President’s call to ensure that infrastructure projects under the “Build Build Build” program will be ready for use to benefit the general public.
Go said the President himself does not want government projects to be hampered or delayed within his term.
“Dapat masigurado na maumpisahan, matapos or kahit papaano ay almost matapos bago matapos ang termino. Ayaw ni President Duterte maiwan na nakatiwangwang,” he said.
“The public is not just after ‘Build Build Build’. They want ‘Use Use Use’,” the senator explained, adding that he will be the first one to investigate should irregularities arise from the projects,” he added.
Meanwhile, during the plenary, Go said that he fully supports the development of the New Clark City sports hub, calling it “a good investment” which will benefit Filipino athletes, the country’s sports program, as well as the economy.
However, Go said the BCDA still needs to demonstrate how it will guarantee the return of investment for the sports facilities beyond their hosting of the SEA Games.
Go asked for other sources of income BCDA has aside from the subsidy it is currently receiving from the General Appropriations Act.
BCDA sponsor Senator Sonny Angara responded, saying that the government-owned and controlled corporation has its other assets and revenues from its operations.
Angara added that the facilities are being packaged along with adjoining properties to enhance real estate development within the area.
As for Go’s question regarding the possibility of the sporting facilities becoming “white elephants” after the Games, Angara said that an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study, which lays out the plan for transition of the facilities, has already been conducted. He added that the Filipino community and athletes will also be able to utilize said facilities.