BANGKOK, June 10 (TNA) – Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the parliament that the government had to borrow 500 billion baht to cope with the COVID-19 outbreak and stimulate the economy. He also promised to spend the borrowings carefully and acquire enough COVID-19 vaccines.
Gen Prayut who is also the defence minister responded to the opposition’s criticisms in the parliament on the executive decree authorizing the Finance Ministry to additionally borrow 500 billion baht.
The prime minister said the Finance Ministry would not borrow the whole 500-billion-baht sum at once but would gradually seek smaller lots of the whole amount. He assured that the borrowing plan complied with laws and did not exceed the state’s borrowing limitation. He also said that the Public Health Ministry received a budget of over 400 billion baht and that allayed concern on COVID-19 vaccine procurement.
Gen Prayut said that he did not know when the COVID-19 outbreak would end, so the government needed to borrow while its revenue collection fell short of a target. He promised that the government would spend money carefully and the spending would be considered by many committees, be measurable and be ready for examination. (TNA)
