Sen. Bong Go supports budget of GCG

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go expressed his support for the proposed budget of the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GCG) even as he urged the commission to review the performances of GOCCs in support of the campaign against corruption.

Go made the manifestations during the budget hearing last October 7, 2020, on the proposed budget of the GCGG.

“Ang GCG po ang isa sa mga nagsisilbing watchdog para sa ating mga GOCCs. The commission is in charge of examining and evaluating the performance of our GOCCs. Pag mayroong ‘under-performing’ at hindi maayos ang trabaho, it is their mandate to recommend the abolition of such GOCC,” the solon explained.

Earlier, Go urged the GCG to conduct a review of the performance of PhilHealth and to assess the possible reorganization of the agency in order to address the discovered “systemic corruption” and “inefficiencies” in the agency.

According to Go, the corruption allegations within the agency may already constitute grounds for the GCG to review PhilHealth’s performance and may serve as a basis to reorganize the agency.

“Kaya nga po noong kamakailan lang, I urged the GCG to perform an evaluation of PhilHealth’s performance to help determine the steps to be taken to cleanse the agency from corruption and improve its services to our fellow Filipinos,” he reiterated.

“Naniniwala po ako na marami pong matitinong tao diyan sa PhilHealth, ‘wag po natin hayaan na mahawaan ng mga bulok na empleyado ang mga empleyado na gustong magserbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino,” he added.

To improve the management of the agency’s finances, Senate President Tito Sotto III filed a bill which will amend the Universal Health Care Act and replace the health secretary with the finance secretary as ex-officio chair of the PhilHealth’s governing board.

Go gave his support for this proposed measure. noting the “commitment” made to him by Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

“Finance Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez personally pledged to me that if he becomes the chair of PhilHealth through the passage of this measure, he will go after all the corrupt individuals within and outside the PhilHealth.

“Hahabulin niya po, lalong-lalo na ‘yung kakuntsaba na mga nasa pribado na nakakalusot and I’m sure seryoso po ang ating gobyerno sa paghahabol ngayon dun sa mga nakakalusot. Mga ospital, mga pribadong ospital nagpapalusot at tuloy-tuloy,” he added.

Go also challenged GCG Chair Sammy Dagpin to help the government cleanse GOCCs, such as PhilHealth, of corruption.

“Finally, it is for these reasons that I support the budget of the GCG. Competent itong si Chairman Sammy Dagpin, he has been there four years already, hindi niya po tayo bibiguin,” Go said.

“I challenge Secretary Dagpin, tulungan ninyo po ang ating gobyerno para linisin po ang ahensyang talagang korap,” the lawmaker said.