THE Department of Tourism (DOT) on Friday assured the public that the steps taken to establish the mega-vaccination center at the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property in Parañaque City was above board.
In a news statement on Friday, DOT said the facility, which will offer drive-through and walk-in services, is designed to inoculate at least 12,000 individuals a day. “This capacity will be beneficial in the efficient administration of vaccines once more supplies arrive,” the agency said.
“As the facility is temporary, the DOT guarantees that decisions concerning its use took into account legal, environmental, health and public welfare considerations. Moreover, the DOT supports the NPF in its mission to celebrate cultural heritage, Filipino diversity, and creativity, and is one with the foundation in championing green and open spaces.”
On Thursday, the NPF management led by its Executive Director Lucille Karen E. Malilong-Isberto, issued a news statement questioning the use of their property for the mega-vaxx facility, which would be developed by the ICTSI Foundation with no cost to the government. (See, “Mega-vaxx site at Nayong Pilipino stalled,” in the BusinessMirror, May 7, 2021.) The NPF is a corporate agency under the DOT, which it does not chair.
As this developed, Malilong-Isberto tendered her resignation on May 5 as an NPF trustee, but failed to give a reason for her action. “I am tendering my resignation as trustee of Nayong Pilipino Foundation effective immediately. I wish to thank you for the opportunity to serve the country,” she said in her letter addressed to President Duterte through Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror.
NPF official resigns
Earlier that day, the board had received Medialdea’s memorandum directing them to “undertake any and all acts necessary to allow the DOH [Department of Health] or the NTF [National Task Force Against Covid-19] to use the NPF property in Parañaque City for Covid-19 intervention measures, particularly as a site for vaccination center and/or quarantine facility, including the issuance of a Resolution for such purpose and the execution of the corresponding agreement, in a manner that conforms with existing laws, rules, and regulations.”
To enable the DOH/NTF takeover of the property, however, the NPF Board has to sign a memorandum of agreement with the NTF. As of Thursday, when another board meeting was again held, the NPF Board failed anew to deliver a signed MOA.
Submitting to a higher goal
Sources disclosed that it was Malilong-Isberto herself who requested that the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases to endorse and approve the mega-vaxx center. The IATF did so, and included their approval of said project in Resolution 109 dated April 10.
“While the DOT’s mandate is the recovery of the tourism industry, it must submit to a higher goal—that of saving the lives of Filipinos. It will continue to find ways to aid the country in its overall fight against the Covid-19 crisis, ever aware that the recovery of the tourism industry depends on the successful solution to the pandemic,” the agency’s news statement said.
Aside from the NPF property, Rizal Park and a portion of the Quirino Grandstand are also being temporarily converted as a mobile hospital and vaccine center. Said Luneta properties are under another DOT-attached agency, the National Parks Development Committee, and are being developed by the Manila City government for free.
Another NPF Board meeting was to be held on Friday to decide on whether to accept the Malilong-Isberto’s resignation. A lawyer by profession, Malilong-Isberto is a “forest and cultural heritage advocate,” according to her LinkedIn page. She graduated from the University of the Philippines School of Economics and its College of Law.
P110B for vaccination drive
The Duterte administration’s Covid vaccine czars told senators on Thursday that Congress may need to allot a separate P110-billion budget to buy and inoculate Filipinos against the deadly virus in a massive anti-Covid vaccination drive to be carried out this year, which is expected to extend until 2022.
This was conveyed to Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson in a meeting with vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, testing chief Vince Dizon and contact tracing chief Mayor Benjamin Magalong.
Lacson said the three pandemic containment officials passed on the Executive’s request for Congress to allot fresh funding for Bayanihan 3 amounting to P20 billion to buy the vaccines, apart from an additional P90 billion to be set aside to buy the vaccine supply for next year.
The Executive officials were also reported to have conveyed a request for a separate P90-billion funding in advance to buy additional vaccine supply for next year.
Sources said it was suggested that the advance funding be inserted in the regular budget of the Department of Health (DOH) to ensure its availability, instead of parking the allocation under the so-called unprogrammed fund.
Lacson, in turn, adviced the Duterte administration’s pandemic czars to first verify with the Department of Budget and Management if there are available funds in the Executive departments that can be realigned to Bayanihan 3 to buy additional vaccine supplies.
Apart from the funding request, the hearing also tackled the urgent need for remedial legislation to do away with reported “red tape” at the Food and Drug Administration said to hinder quick government response to contain the deadly pandemic.
Read full article on BusinessMirror