Senators yesterday welcomed a directive of President Duterte calling for a thorough review of all government contracts to remove onerous provisions detrimental to public interest.
Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate economic affairs committee, said the Malacanang-directed thorough and systematic review of all contracts made by the government with companies and other countries is the first step towards ensuring that the sovereign and fiscal interests of the Filipino people are preserved and protected.
Gatchalian said the review is also a good exercise to know whether or not the country is benefiting from past contracts and loans entered into by previous administrations.
“We should never repeat onerous provisions moving forward,” he stressed.
“Buwis ng taumbayan ang pinambabayad natin sa mga utang ng bansa kaya dapat ding maging malinaw sa publiko ang anumang kontrata ng gobyerno na magiging pasanin nila,” Gatchalian said.
“I trust that the Office of the Solicitor General and the Department of Justice will make this review as transparent to the public as possible,’’ he stressed.
“However, the review should not be meant to rescind live contacts. Reneging on contracts will tarnish the reputation of the country in terms of attracting potential investors and the much-needed Foreign Direct Investments.”
“I agree,” Sen. Gregorio B. Honasan II, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said. “But beyond review, performance audit of all multilateral bilateral economic, security engagements, and arrangements to determine if they have served mutual interests in the short med and long term,’’ he added.
Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, chairman of the Senate public order and dangerous drugs committee, said he assumed that it includes an inventory of all government contracts simultaneous with the review.
“But it should not stop there,” he pointed out. “Those responsible for tying us up with onerous contracts which are obviously grossly disadvantageous to the government should be made accountable and made liable,’’ he added. (Mario B. Casayuran)
