Nayong Pilipino exec quits over vaccine site project

THE executive director of Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) has resigned amid the controversy over a mega vaccination site project, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday, May 13, 2021.

“I don’t know under what particular details it was accepted. There’s a resignation from the Nayong Pilipino director, and it was accepted by the President,” Nograles said in a television interview.

Nograles was referring to NPF executive director Lucille

Karen Malilong-Isberto, who earlier expressed opposition to the project.

Nograles said the project will push through.

“In every aspect of the project, nandiyan ang DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). Wala namang mga environmental concerns. It’s a reclaimed land. It is not being utilized. It seemed like an appropriate site in terms of accessibility. Wala namang tatamaan na mga puno diyan (No trees will be affected there),” he said.

“This mega facility is pushing through. A MOA (memorandum of agreement) is forthcoming. Minor technical details (are being ironed out), but it will be signed. (I’m) very very sure,” he added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the project is instrumental in achieving herd immunity in the country as it is envisioned to accommodate the vaccination of 10,000 to 12,000 individuals daily.

The government aims to inoculate by the end of 2021 around 70 million Filipinos, or 65 percent of the population.

In order to achieve herd immunity, at least 70 percent of the population should be fully vaccinated.

The facility will be built at no cost to the government by the ICTSI (International Container Terminals Services Inc.) Foundation.

As of May 11, a total of 514,655 individuals have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Including them, a total of 2,025,038 have received their first dose.

Out of the 7,764,050 vaccine doses that have arrived in the country since February 28, 2021, 2,539,693 have been administered.

The seven-day average of vaccinated individuals has improved to 67,780 as of May 11, nearly double that of the previous week.