MANILA – Senator Franklin Drilon supported the proposal to sell government assets to fund the country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic response.
“Walang pera ang pamahalaan ngayon at malaki ang budget deficit natin kaya siguro marami namang ari-arian ang pamahalaan na pwedeng ibenta,” the senator told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo on Thursday.
According to Drilon, President Rodrigo Duterte has the power to sell some of the government-owned properties under the GOCC (Government-owned and controlled corporations) Governance Act.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are among the assets that could be sold, he said.
“Doon sa estimate ng Department of Finance, mga P300 billion ang pwedeng kitain sa pagbenta ng PAGCOR,” the Senate Minority Leader explained.
He suggested that the government could sell the land where the National Bilibid Prison is located in Muntinlupa City and transfer the prisoners to Nueva Ecija.
“Imbes na umutang tayo, wala namang income ‘yung Bilibid penitentiary, kailangang ibenta natin para unang-una magkaroon tayo ng pera sa pamahalaan. Pangalawa, made-develop po ‘yan ng private sector and it will create economic activity,” he added.
Based on the Department of Finance’s data, the government got a total of USD15.49 billion or approximately P755.32 billion in loans and grants for its COVID-19 pandemic response as of April./PN
