By Hannah Torregoza Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday expressed doubts the Philippines will reach the point of selling its assets just to address the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 threat. Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III
(Ali Vicoy / MANILA BULLETIN) Sotto said this after President Duterte floated the idea of possibly selling some vital state assets as a last resort if the government runs out of funds to sustain the country’s fight against the novel coronavirus. “I believe the President is merely giving us the assurance that he will do whatever it takes to fund the health and recovery of the entire country,” Sotto said. “I do not think it will get to that point considering the serious ways we are undertaking to address the disease,” the Senate leader added. In a televised public address aired early Thursday, Duterte said running out of money to address the current crisis would be the “endgame.” “Pag wala na akong makuha (If I cannot find any source) and we’re about to sink and really sink, I will sell all the assets of the government then itulong ko sa mga tao (then use the funds to help people),” the President said. Duterte said he might sell the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) or the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to be able to generate more funds. The President previously said the government is still looking for more sources to fund the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as the P270-billion budget allotted under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is not enough. Under the law, the government will distribute P5,000 to P8,000 to some 18 million low-income families as cash aid while the country is under lockdown.