Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go clarified that he has not signed the controversial Bicameral Conference Committee report for the proposed 2025 national budget saying he is still examining its details.
“To clarify, hindi pa ako pumipirma sa Bicameral Conference Committee report on the disagreeing votes on the proposed 2025 budget. Hindi ko pa nababasa ang kabuuan ng report na ito na ipinakita lamang sa amin kaninang umaga,” Go said in a statement issued on Saturday.
In a podcast Basta Dabawenyo last week, former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab claimed that at least 13 pages of the Bicam report have items with blank appropriations.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, however, stressed that the executive branch has nothing to do with the alleged blank items in the bicameral conference committee report in the 2025 budget.
“I am currently still reviewing the Bicam report and so far, I found a few provisions that I have strong reservations about, particularly on the reported removal of the proposed budget for PhilHealth. I will manifest my findings later during its ratification in the Senate plenary,” the senator said.
Go said similar to the position of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, he would like to check its details first before signing.
Dela Rosa affirmed that conferees to the Bicam were given a copy of the report the same day that it was signed. He said he saw blank entries for the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Dela Rosa added that he was present during the signing of the Bicam report, but he did not sign the document.
Go said he wants to ensure that every penny will be used in the proper program such as health.
“Bilang Vice Chair ng Senate Committee on Finance at Chair ng Senate Committee on Health, nais ko munang siguraduhin na bawat piso ng bayan ay magagamit nang tama at ang mga programa para sa kalusugan ay sapat na mapopondohan. Marami po ang naghihirap at marami ang nagugutom. Hindi tayo papayag na maisantabi lamang ang ating mga adhikain na ipinaglalaban para maproteksyunan ang kalusugan at buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Go said.
Meanwhile, Ungab said he would challenge before the Supreme Court (SC) the supposed blank items in the Bicam report on the 2025 GAA.
