Palace to Nayong Pilipino Foundation: Don’t hinder gov’t aim to protect lives

(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — The Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) should not hinder the government’s mission to protect people’s lives, Malacañang said Monday after the NPF opposed the construction of a mega vaccination site in the area.

The NPF opposed the project as it would require cutting of nearly 500 trees, killing the existing ecosystem in the area.

READ: Green concerns raised vs planned ‘mega’ jab center  

“Ang panawagan po natin sa board ng Nayong Pilipino, lahat po ng GOCC [government-owned and controlled corporation] nasa ilalim pa rin ng supervision ng Presidente,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

The NPF is a GOCC attached to the Department of Tourism.

(Our call to the board of Nayong Pilipino, all GOCCs are still under the supervision of the President.)

“At sana naman ang mga desisyon nila ay wag kokontra doon sa napakahalagang misyon na pangalagaan ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(We hope their decisions don’t hinder the important mission to care for the lives of our countrymen.)

Roque said the construction of a mega vaccination facility at Nayong Pilipino is pursuant to the President’s police power and is meant to safeguard people’s right to healthcare.

Due to conflicts over the project, NPF executive director Lucille Karen Malilong-Isberto resigned from her post.

Roque said he has yet to receive information if President Rodrigo Duterte already accepted Malilong-Isberto’s resignation.

JPV