A TOP government official lamented delays facing the construction of the much-touted mega vaccination center in view of opposition lodged by the Nayong Filipino Foundation (NPF), which claims ownership of the reclaimed land where the government is trying to put up its COVID-19 facility.
In a statement, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez cited the need to immediately commence the construction of the mega vaccination center, adding that time is of the essence.
“Work on the facility should have commenced weeks ago, but so far, not a single brick or panel has been laid,” said Galvez who hinted at the planned vaccination center on reclaimed land at Entertainment City in Parañaque City, “will help accelerate the implementation of our national vaccination program, as it will enable us to vaccinate around 10,000 individuals daily.”
Interestingly, the reclaimed area being referred to as the site where the government intends to put up a mega vaccination center, already hosts a COVID-19 quarantine facility, operated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The NPF raised legal and environmental concerns about the planned vaccination site, which would be built near the quarantine facility.
Moreover, the area identified by Galvez is “not a vacant lot but has a thriving urban forest that hosts a variety of urban wildlife and is the last remaining grassland in the reclaimed area of Parañaque.”
“The abrupt cutting of close to 500 trees and other site works on the NPF property will kill the existing ecosystem. Once lost, it could take decades to recover this ecosystem. A mega vaccination facility that will destroy this ecosystem would be a disaster and a disservice to the residents of Metro Manila who need more green and open spaces,” the NPF said.
Galvez, who is also the chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said that the government recognizes NPF’s position, “but it must surely know the urgency of the situation our nation is confronting.”
Addressing the environmental issues, Galvez said those have been “carefully considered.” The ICTSI Foundation of billionaire Enrique Razon Jr., in charge of the vaccination center’s construction, got the services of renowned architect Felino Palafox Jr., Galvez noted.
“Considering Mr. Palafox’s track record, we are confident that he has already factored in the environmental impact of the project in the design of the vaccination center. He said that he respects the environment and will make sure his firm’s design will reflect this belief,” said Galvez.
The vaccine czar further defended the project, saying that it is “inappropriate for the NPF to equate the fate of 500 ipil-ipil trees with the lives of hundreds of thousands if not millions of Filipinos.”
“Moreover, the proposed site of the facility is a reclaimed piece of land and not a protected forest or a marine sanctuary,” he continued.
“We would like to emphasize that the government deeply cares for the environment. But as the pandemic wreaks havoc on the lives of our people and our economy, we have to make the choice. ‘Green and open spaces’ will be useless if there will be no one to visit them,” added Galvez.
The vaccine czar also urged the NPF to heed their call and sign the memorandum of agreement as soon as possible. “We can no longer afford to waste time. The future of our people and nation depends on it.”