DOT maintains Nayong Pilipino property use for vax center lawful

The Department of Tourism (DOT) maintains that using a portion of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) property in Parañaque City for a mega vaccination center is lawful and serves a public purpose.

The NPF Board of Trustees approved the request to use its property for the vaccination facility on April 8, with the former executive director clarifying the board is not opposed to the site itself, but seeks adherence to legalities.

The planned vaccination site aims to accommodate up to 12,000 individuals daily, significantly higher than the previously stated 10,000, to expedite the National Vaccination Program.

The ICTSI Foundation will finance the construction of the mega vaccination center, designed by Architect Felino Palafox who is waiving his service fees.

DOT clarified that the land use would be temporary and not for income-generating activities, aligning with the legal provision that government property should be used solely for public purposes.

Despite the plan's approval a month ago, the NPF has yet to sign the memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19.

The NPF Board has previously questioned the propriety of allowing a private institution, the ICTSI Foundation, to manage the government property.