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Roque: COVID-19 vaccination center at Nayong Pilipino will be temporary


The planned mega COVID-19 vaccination center to be constructed at the Nayong Pilipino Foundation property in Parañaque City will be temporary, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque made the response when asked about the practicality of constructing the center instead of using existing spacious stadiums in the country.

“Iyong itatayo po doon sa Nayong Pilipino, ano po iyan, makeshift. Hindi po iyan permanente. Parang mga tents lang din po iyan, parang iyong ginawa rin na mga tent facilities para magamit na COVID isolation facility diyan po sa Nayong Pilipino na lupain din sa reclamation area,” Roque said.

(What we will build in the property is a makeshift structure. It is not permanent. It will be just like the tent facilities built serving as isolation facilities in the same reclaimed area.)

“Ito po ay para lang maibsan nga po itong problema natin sa pandemya at kapag nabakunahan naman po ang karamihan ng ating mga kababayan, magtatapos na rin ang ating problema sa COVID-19. So pakiusap lang po sa Nayong Pilipino Board, sana naman po huwag kayong sumuway doon sa programa ng Presidente na makamit ang herd immunity at payagan nang magtayo ng mega vaccination facility diyan po sa Nayong Pilipino.

(This is just to ease the burden of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. When most of us are already vaccinated, then our COVID-19 problem will be solved. That is why we are calling on the Nayong Pilipino Board, don’t go against the President’s goal of achieving herd immunity and allow the construction of a mega vaccination facility there.)

Asked what specific sector of the population will benefit from such a mega vaccination facility, Roque said it will be for everybody.

“Lahat po. Kasi kailangan po natin itong mga mega vaccine facilities kapag dumating na po tayo sa panahon na lahat na po ng sektor ng ating lipunan ay bibigyan ng bakuna,” Roque said.

(This is for everybody. We need these mega vaccination facilities when we reach the point where everybody can already get the COVID-19 vaccine.)

The Palace earlier warned the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF)—a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC)—against opposing President Duterte’s plan to build a COVID-19 vaccination site on NPF land, saying the health of citizens was at stake.

Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto earlier quit her post as Nayong Pilipino executive director over her opposition to the construction of the vaccination center since it would mean cutting down 500 trees and damaging the Las Piñas–Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. earlier said that the NPF officials should give more importance to the lives of the populace instead of 500 trees, arguing that the area is not even a marine sanctuary but reclaimed land.

Galvez’s position echoed that of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr., whose charitable firm ICTSI Foundation will be bankrolling the vaccination site expected to accommodate at least 12,000 people in a day. — DVM, GMA News

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