Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday that he supports the proposed temporary vaccination site in Nayong Pilipino.
“I have already agreed in principle that this facility will be used temporarily as a huge vaccination center to speed up our vaccination coverage,” he said in an ANC interview.
Duque noted the need to boost the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program with a target of 500,000 jabs per day nationwide and 120,000 vaccinations per day in the National Capital Region.
“We really need big areas to ramp up our coverage, ‘di puwedeng maliliit na lugar…. I said I will support the conversion of that area into huge vaccination site,” he added.
Government Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. urged the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) to allow the construction of a mega vaccination site in the area, a plan the foundation is unsure of.
Galvez said the NPF Board of Trustees (NPFBT) has yet to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 for the construction of a mega vaccination site at the Nayong Pilipino.
Duque supports proposed Nayong Pilipino vaccination site
According to the NPFBT, they are apprehensive about the vaccination site construction since 500 trees needed to be cut down for the project.
The ICTSI Foundation would fund the construction of the vaccination and Felino “Jun” Palafox is the architect.
Galvez said the planned vaccination center would be able to facilitate around 10,000 individuals daily.
The Philippines seeks to vaccinate 500,000 individuals daily in the National Capital Region, and 200,000 individuals nationwide.
Meanwhile, the Palace clarified that the “mega vaccination center” to be built on the land of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) in Parañaque City will not be permanent.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday that only tents will be set up on the land.
“Parang mga tents lang din po ‘yan, parang ‘yung ginawa rin na mga tent facility na ginagamit na COVID isolation,” said Roque.
At the same time, the Palace also reminded the board that the President’s power includes the construction of a vaccination facility there.
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