I will sell gov't assets if funds run out --Duterte
Published Apr 9, 2020 01:40 am
By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Duterte said he will not hesitate to sell government assets to help those affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic if the government's funds get drained.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 8, 2020. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a meeting with members of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases aired Thursday past midnight, Duterte said the government will definitely run out of funds if no vaccine against COVID-19 will be developed.
"What is the endgame? 'Pag maubos talaga ang pera, ipagbili ko lahat ng propiedad ng gobyerno (If we run our of money, I will sell all government properties)," he said.
Duterte said the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine International Convention Center, among others, would be sold off.
"That's the last . 'Pag wala na akong makuha (If I can't find anything more) and we are about to sink and really sink, I will sell all the assets of government tapos itulong ko sa tao (to help the people)," he said.
"Ngayon, ibibigay ko sa inyo ‘yan (Now, I will give everything to you). And do not worry about the money," he added.
President Duterte said he would appoint his critics to form the committee that would do the transactions to erase doubts of corruption.
"Pagdating 'yang panahon lahat ng committee na miyembro para mag-aral kung magkano ang presyo, saan, ibibigay ko sa mga oposisyon (When the time comes, the committee that will study the value of these assets will be composed of members of the opposition)," he said.
"Kayo ang mag-negotiate para wala kayong duda sa amin (You negotiate so you won't doubt my administration)," he added.
Last week, President Duterte said that while the budget will not go to the pockets of politicians, the amount would not last beyond six months. He said the Philippines is doomed if no vaccine will be developed soon.
"Sabi ko may pera tayo. Hindi ba? O ngayon dumating, kailangan natin ng bilyon. Pero hindi ito tatagal. Dadating ito ng six months, patay na tayo (I said we have the money, right? Now it's here, and we really need billions. But this will not last. It may last for six months but beyond that, we're doomed)," he said.
"If they cannot come up with a vaccine, patay tayong lahat. Hindi tayo makalabas, hindi na tayo makatrabaho. Maglabas ka, patay ka (We'll all be dead. We cannot go out, we cannot work. If you go out, you die)," he added.
To date, the country has recorded 3,870 cases of COVID-19, 182 of whom have died while 96 recovered.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds a meeting with some members of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang on April 8, 2020. (TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
In a meeting with members of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases aired Thursday past midnight, Duterte said the government will definitely run out of funds if no vaccine against COVID-19 will be developed.
"What is the endgame? 'Pag maubos talaga ang pera, ipagbili ko lahat ng propiedad ng gobyerno (If we run our of money, I will sell all government properties)," he said.
Duterte said the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Philippine International Convention Center, among others, would be sold off.
"That's the last . 'Pag wala na akong makuha (If I can't find anything more) and we are about to sink and really sink, I will sell all the assets of government tapos itulong ko sa tao (to help the people)," he said.
"Ngayon, ibibigay ko sa inyo ‘yan (Now, I will give everything to you). And do not worry about the money," he added.
President Duterte said he would appoint his critics to form the committee that would do the transactions to erase doubts of corruption.
"Pagdating 'yang panahon lahat ng committee na miyembro para mag-aral kung magkano ang presyo, saan, ibibigay ko sa mga oposisyon (When the time comes, the committee that will study the value of these assets will be composed of members of the opposition)," he said.
"Kayo ang mag-negotiate para wala kayong duda sa amin (You negotiate so you won't doubt my administration)," he added.
Last week, President Duterte said that while the budget will not go to the pockets of politicians, the amount would not last beyond six months. He said the Philippines is doomed if no vaccine will be developed soon.
"Sabi ko may pera tayo. Hindi ba? O ngayon dumating, kailangan natin ng bilyon. Pero hindi ito tatagal. Dadating ito ng six months, patay na tayo (I said we have the money, right? Now it's here, and we really need billions. But this will not last. It may last for six months but beyond that, we're doomed)," he said.
"If they cannot come up with a vaccine, patay tayong lahat. Hindi tayo makalabas, hindi na tayo makatrabaho. Maglabas ka, patay ka (We'll all be dead. We cannot go out, we cannot work. If you go out, you die)," he added.
To date, the country has recorded 3,870 cases of COVID-19, 182 of whom have died while 96 recovered.