'Depleted funds?’: Presidential bets pitch plans for 'Odette' relief, curbing Omicron

In this photo taken early Dec. 16, 2021, residents sleep inside a sports complex turned into an evacuation center in Dapa town, Siargao island, Surigao del Norte province in southern island of Mindanao, ahead of Typhoon Rai's landfall in the province.

AFP / Roel Catoto

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday responded to President Rodrigo Duterte’s concerns about "depleted" government funds to address the fallout of Typhoon Odette and the presence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant in the country by pitching a strategy of his own. 

During a recorded meeting aired on Tuesday night, Duterte said he was concerned that funds for COVID-19 may now be insufficient because the government also had to provide aid to victims of Super Typhoon Odette.

"I'm a little scared because — let me be frank to the public — the money of the Philippines is really depleted, even coping up with the growing expenses for the typhoon victims," Duterte said partially in Filipino. 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/12/22/2149508/depleted-funds-presidential-bets-pitch-plans-odette-relief-curbing-omicron