Gov't ready to sell Roppongi, other properties --Roque
The government can sell other properties apart from the real estate assets in Japan if the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) will need more funds for its vital programs, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the public should not worry since President Duterte will ensure the embattled state health insurer will have sufficient funds for the implementation of the universal health care program.
"Dahil nga po sa Universal Healthcare Law, kung kulang po iyan ay tutustusan po galing sa kaban ng taumbayan. Kaya nga po, kung kinakailangan, ibibenta iyong mga properties na iyan. At hindi lang naman po Roppongi, marami pa tayong mga ibang properties na pupuwedeng ibenta (Because of the universal healthcare law, if that is not enough, it will be augmented by the nation's coffers. If needed, we will sell the properties. It's not only those in Roponggi, we have many other properties that we can sell)," he said during a press briefing.
"So in other words, sinasabi lang ni Presidente, ‘Sagot ko ang inyong kalusugan,’ dahil iyan ang batas na sinertify niyang urgent noong iyan po ay tinatalakay sa Kongreso, paninindigan po niya iyong obligasyon ng estado na pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. If it means having to sell assets, why not (In other words, the President is saying, 'I will take care of your health' because that's under the law certified as urgent. He will stand by the obligation of the state to take care of the health of Filipinos. If it means having to sell assets, why not)," he said.
Roque admitted though that there was no way of telling how long the PhilHealth funds could last due to the massive corruption in that office. He claimed no one was telling the truth in PhilHealth.
In his televised address Monday night, the President revealed the government's planned sale of certain assets in Japan to raise funds for PhilHealth. Duterte made the statement after disclosing plans to ask Congress to abolish the corruption-stated state firm and create a new agency.
"That is why we are selling properties. That is the reason why we are selling properties, real estate properties in Japan because we have to raise money. Wala nang pambayad ‘yang sa PhilHealth na ‘yan (There is no more money in PhilHealth)," Dutehe said.
A day later, Roque clarified that the proposed sale of the government's assets in Japan was just a "suggestion" if needed to augment funds for the pandemic response.
He said any sale of these properties will require the consent of both the President and Congress. He noted that the Supreme Court earlier declared that such assets are "part of national patrimony" since these were acquired under the war reparations agreement with Japan.