Bloomberry Resorts Chairman and CEO Enrique Razon Jr has denied suggestions that he intends to use a proposed site for a mega vaccination facility near his company’s Solaire Resort & Casino in Parañaque City to expand Solaire’s footprint.
The Philippines business mogul has been forced to defend himself in recent days amid confusion over the site of land chosen, which is government-owned and controlled by Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc. (NPFI) – an arm of the Department of Tourism.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Razon denied any suggestion the vaccination center was related to Solaire, insisting instead that his ambition is to help more Filipinos get vaccinated.
“We already have a Solaire,” Razon said. “We are building another one in Quezon City, not here.
“This site is perfect for what we plan. It’s connected to the SkyWay so it’s very easy for the people to come.”
Razon’s comments followed release of a strongly worded statement by the charitable foundation linked to his shipping company, International Container Terminal Services Inc, questioning why the facility has yet to receive approval by NPFI even after being directed to by the Philippine Inter-agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
According to the ICTSI Foundation statement, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea also issued a memorandum to the NPFI board stating it was “directed to undertake any and all acts necessary to allow the DOH [Department of Health] or the NTF to use the NPF property in Parañaque City for Covid-19 intervention measures, particularly as a site for vaccination center and/or quarantine facility, including the issuance of a Resolution for such purpose and the execution of the corresponding agreement, in a manner that conforms with existing laws, rules, and regulations.”
ICTSI Foundation said NPFI continued to hold off on signing the MOA.
“In the meantime, the country’s mass inoculation program that will save lives faces delays with the absence of a mass and efficient inoculation program along with the hope of achieving herd immunity by the end of the year,” it said.
The vaccination facility is planned to vaccinate as many as 10,000 to 12,000 people a day, or around 300,000 a month.
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