Presidential yacht can be floating hospital, says Duterte.
Presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte announced his alternate plan to turn the presidential yacht “BRP Ang Pangulo” into a floating hospital if there are no buyers.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the selling of historic yacht would undergo a lot of process since it is owned by the government.
Padilla also said that the yacht would be assessed by an evaluation committee if it is necessary to sell.
In an interview with the press and Inquirer, the outgoing City Mayor said that the vessel is not easy to sell.
“Sabi ni Padilla, hindi raw maipagbili iyung ‘Pangulo’ kasi may proseso pa raw daanan. Natural, ano ‘yan, maruya na sabihin mong ‘pabili nga,'” he said.
Duterte said that he would just turn it into a floating hospital, adding that it can be used if there are calamities or conflicts.
“Gagawin ko na lang ‘yang hospital so kung saan ‘yung conflict areas, whether it is a war or whatever, i-parking ko ‘yan doon,” he said.
He also said that the there are about 21 cabins and it could be turned into rooms for the wounded soldiers.
Duterte earlier said that he plans to sell the yacht and use the money to rebuild the Veterans Memorial Medical Center to make to have the same level of service with private hospitals.
The incoming president aid that the administration has failed to maximize the use of presidential yacht.
Duterte also said that he will just take the commercial flights if he needs to visit provinces.
The presidential yacht was launched in 1960 and was first used by Carlos Garcia, the 8th President of the Philippines.