InfraWatch cautions vs. ‘conditionalities’ in use of Nayong Pilipino land

The convenor of an independent public policy organization on Thursday backed the proposal to build a mega-vaccination facility at the Nayong Pilipino site, saying there should be no debate in the construction of more vaccination hubs.

However, said InfraWatch PH's Terry Ridon, there should be no “conditionalities in the use of land and facility by the private sector after the pandemic.”

“The only concern is whether conditionalities will be placed in the Memorandum of Agreement on the use of the land and facility after vaccination activities are over,” Ridon said in a tweet.

Ridon issued the statement amid concerns that 500 trees would have to be chopped down to make space for the vaccination facility.

ICTSI, which proposed the plan, said that the vaccination center would be built on a vacant lot and not in an urban forest.

According to the convenor, the memorandum of agreement between the concerned parties should relate only to the construction and operation of the facility.

“Government should not allow other post-pandemic uses of the land and facility without undertaking the usual permitting and regulatory processes,” he said.

“If this can be done, there should be no further delay in building the vaccination facility,” he added. — Joahna Lei Casilao/BM, GMA News