“Sana ilaan natin ang pondo sa mapapakinabangan ng taumbayan lalo na para sa health – sa pagtatayo at pag-upgrade ng mga ospital, medical assistance, at PhilHealth benefits,” Go, a health reform advocate said.
Go made the statement during the inquiry of the Senate Committee on Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations, chaired by Senator Rodante Marcoleta.
As Vice Chair of the Blue Ribbon committee and Chair of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Go has consistently made health services more responsive, efficient, and truly accessible to the Filipino people.
“Halos triple ang budget ng budget ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) kumpara sa health budget,” Go lamented.
Notwithstanding the billions of pesos poured into flood control projects in recent years, flooding has become worse.
“Iyung mga lugar na dating hindi naman kadalasan binabaha, ngayon po binabaha na rin. Taun-taon, pataas ng pataas ang budget para sa flood control, pero pataas rin ng pataas ang pagbabaha,” Go explained.
Senator Go cited the case of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) located on Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila, a well-known flood-prone area.
“Iyung baha diyan sa PGH, eh hindi po na-address. Sana bigyan po ito ng priority ninyo. Mas malapit naman ito sa atin, mas nakikita niyo,” Go told DPWH officials present during the Senate hearing.
As Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go urged the DPWH to efficiently utilize its budget and ensure the effectiveness of the government’s flood control initiatives amid recent flooding incidents across the nation.
“Dapat ilagay ang flood control sa lugar na may madalas binabaha at may maproteksyunan na tao. Ang tanong natin: bakit doon naglagay sa walang tao? May flood control pero walang pino-protektahang tao, walang kino-control na baha,” Go observed.
Consistent with his position, Senator Go has earlier asked DPWH to properly prioritize populated flood-prone areas in accordance with a well-studied flood control master plan. As early as 2023, Go has also urged DPWH to review past flood control projects and provide an updated accomplishment and status report.
“Ano ho ba ang masterplan ng ating DPWH? Hindi ba dapat unahin nila na mga dapat paglagyan yung mga flood prone areas. Kaya tinanong ko rin sa kanila ang prioritization plan nila. Saan nila dapat ilagay. ‘Wag n’yo naman ilagay doon sa mga lugar na walang tao,” he said earlier.
“Malaking abala ang pagbaha para sa ating mga kababayan at malaki rin ang pinsalang dulot nito sa mga ari-arian at kabuhayan nila. Higit sa lahat, inilalagay nito sa alanganin ang buhay ng mga tao, kaya naman nararapat lamang na masolusyunan ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” he also expressed.
Go's appeal to the DPWH to review strategies on flood control projects comes at a time when the country grapples with recurring floods. He stressed that the multibillion-peso budgets allocated annually for flood control demand the utmost transparency and efficient utilization.
“Proteksyunan natin ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino. At bilang mga lingkod bayan, dapat din na mas isaayos ang serbisyo na dapat makuha ng mga tao mula sa gobyerno,” he added.
Senator Go, during the same Senate hearing, also expressed concern about the reports of an increasing number of leptospirosis cases overwhelming our hospitals.
The DOH reported that from June 8, a week after the rainy season was declared, until August 14, the DOH had recorded 3,752 cases nationwide.
“Dapat alerto tayo sa ganitong sitwasyon. Huwag nating hayaan dumami pa ang kaso at may mamatay dahil lang sa kakulangan sa mabilis na aksyon,” Go said adding that the surge in cases tied to widespread flooding.
Senator Bong Go