Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health, delivered a strong manifestation during the Senate regular session on Wednesday, August 20, aligning himself with colleagues who raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the implementation of flood control projects.
He underscored that despite rising allocations for such projects, communities continue to suffer from worsening flooding, stressing that public funds must be channeled toward urgent needs such as healthcare and support for health workers.
“Mr. President, I join Senator Ping Lacson in condemning the irregularities in the allocation and implementation of flood control projects,” he declared.
He pointed to the contradiction between the increasing budgets for flood control and the worsening outcomes, emphasizing that this situation is unacceptable.
“Mr. President, as manifested yesterday in the Blue Ribbon hearing, hindi po katanggap-tanggap na habang tumataas ang budget para flood control, pataas din nang pataas ang pagbaha,” he stressed.
Go then suggested that instead of pouring more funds into projects that do not resolve flooding, the government should allocate resources to improve health facilities.
“Sabi ko nga kahapon, bakit hindi ninyo na lang ilaan ang budget para sa health katulad sa pag-upgrade ng mga ospital, tulad ng PGH (Philippine General Hospital) na madalas din pong binabaha?” he said.
He recalled that PGH had even been shown in video and pictures to suffer from flooding, further proving the urgency of prioritizing healthcare over questionable projects. “Nakita natin sa video kahapon o sa picture, na binabaha, doon na lang po paglaanan ng pondo,” he explained.
Go also drew attention to the stark imbalance between infrastructure and health budgets. “At sa DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), mayroon po silang PhP 880 bilyon kumpara po sa health budget. More than 1/3 lang po ang pondo ng health kumpara sa DPWH,” he emphasized.
Highlighting the plight of unpaid healthcare workers, Go pressed the government to reassess its spending priorities. “Bakit hindi ilaan ang pondo para sa ating mga healthcare workers na marami pa rin ang hindi nababayaran ng health emergency allowance? Ano ba ang mas importante sa inyo – serbisyo na pinaghirapan, services rendered, o mga proyektong ginagawang gatasan?” he asked pointedly.
He shared that he had already raised this matter during the Health Committee hearing, reiterating the need to allocate unprogrammed appropriations to fulfill obligations to health workers.
Citing recent revelations, Go noted that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already ordered a probe into irregularities in flood control projects, which reports suggest involve systematic anomalies. “In light of recent events, President Marcos Jr. has launched an investigation into the implementation of flood control projects in the past years. Sa mga ini-report ng Pangulo, malinaw na may anomalya dito. Malinaw na systematic na ang modus dito, mula sa pag-identify ng mga proyekto, hanggang sa pagpondo sa mga ito, at pag-implementa ng mga proyekto,” he said.
Go reminded the chamber that he had long been calling for comprehensive and sustainable flood control planning. He recalled an inquiry made in 2023, questioning DPWH about misplaced flood control projects.
The senator also took the opportunity to confront what he described as malicious accusations linking him to irregular projects.
“Mr. President, these are old, recycled, and malicious accusations. Noong 2018 pa po ito, nabalik na naman noong 2021 habang papunta po sa eleksyon. Uulitin ko po, for the record, wala pa ako sa mundong ito, mayroon na pong negosyo ang aking pamilya, pero ni minsan, ni piso hindi nakinabang ang aking pamilya sa pagiging taong-gobyerno ko. In fact, hindi po nakakalapit ang aking mga kamag-anak kahit nasa Malacañang kami noon, hindi po sila nakakalapit,” he clarified.
He revealed a condition he had once set with then-Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. “At isang naging kondisyon ko noon, mayor pa po si former president, former mayor Duterte, na kung lalapit po ang aking kamag-anak ay ako po ang magre-resign sa kanya,” he said, stressing that he had always observed delicadeza.
“I observe delicadeza at iyon lang po ang puhunan ko sa mundong ito, ang aking pangalan. Alam n’yo naman po uso ang name dropping, ‘yung ibang kamag-anak natin ‘yun pa ang nagpapa-VIP, ‘yun pa ang nagpapa-importante. At sa tinatagal-tagal ko na pong paninilbihan sa gobyerno, isa lang po ang maipagmamalaki ko, I observe delicadeza, ‘yan po ang ginagawa namin noon pa.”
Go reiterated that he is a legislator with no role in project implementation. “I am a senator, a legislator, wala po akong kinalaman sa implementasyon ng flood control projects, lalung lalo na po sa pag-identify at (hindi ako papayag na) makikinabang po ang aking pamilya,” he stated.
To reinforce transparency and accountability, Go referenced a measure he co-authored. “At ngayon, I also co-authored Senate Bill No. 783. Ang panukalang ito ay layong ipagbawal na pumasok sa anumang kontrata ng gobyerno, mula national level hanggang sa LGU (local government unit) level, ang mga kamag-anak ng government officials hanggang sa fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity at dapat pong bawal po,” he said.
In closing, Go demanded accountability for those responsible for substandard and anomalous flood control projects. “Mr. President, sa laki ng pondong pinag-uusapan dito, hindi sapat ang audit o reporting sa mga ginagawang flood control projects. Hindi sapat ang explanasyon lang mula sa mga contractor o DPWH.”
“Dapat po’y mayroong managot dito at dapat po’y maging accountable po sila. Dapat may managot sa paglustay sa pondo ng bayan para sa mga substandard na mga proyekto. Dapat may managot sa perwisyong patuloy na dulot ng pagbaha na dapat sana noon pa nasolusyonan,” he concluded.