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Sotto defends Razon, says port magnate brains behind COVID-19 cash aid

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Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday defended port magnate Enrique Razon from critics against the billionaire&#x27;s plan to build a mega vaccination facility in Parañaque.</p><p>Razon&#x27;s International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) Foundation has secured government approval to build an 8 to 10-hectare mega-vaccination facility in a reclaimed lot falsely tagged as one of the remaining forested area in the capital region.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/12/21/enrique-razon-ictsi-mega-vaccine-facility-nayong-pilipino-foundation">Mega-vaccination facility to rise in &#x27;empty reclaimed land&#x27;, not a forest: ICTSI&#x27;s Razon</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/21/razon-to-spend-p250m-for-construction-of-mega-vaccination-hub">Razon to spend P250M for construction of mega vaccination hub</a></li></ul><p>&quot;One thing is certain, Mr. Razon is concerned about the country,&quot; Sotto told reporters when asked for a comment on the mega vaccination facility.</p><p>&quot;Now it can be told, he (Razon) was the one who gave me the idea of giving subsidies to our people thru Social Amelioration Program last March 2020,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;It was after he (Razon) advised me that I called Sec. Dominguez and gave the idea. Then I authored and filed the Bayanihan Law!&quot; he said.</p><p>The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is the Philippines&#x27; first COVID-19 aid package that provide cash aid for poor families and workers who were displaced by health restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Congress passed a second Bayanihan Act - the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act - to further augment assistance for jobless Filipinos and provide aid for medical frontline workers.</p><p>&quot;Mr. Razon has helped the country in so many ways before. What have his detractors done for the country?&quot; Sotto said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/09/21/billionaire-enrique-razon-to-provide-covid-19-vaccines-for-olympians">Billionaire Enrique Razon to provide COVID-19 vaccines for Olympians</a></li></ul><p>Razon is one of the many billionaires in the Philippines who have been aiding the government in addressing the pandemic.</p><p>Ramon Ang&#x27;s San Miguel Corp deployed its own doctors and nurses to aid the government&#x27;s vaccination program, while SM, Ayala and Robinsons malls have partnered with the government to use their facilities as inoculation hubs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/29/21/san-miguel-doctors-nurses-vaccination-drive-ramon-ang">San Miguel deploys own doctors, nurses to aid gov&#x27;t vaccination drive, says Ramon Ang</a></li></ul><p>Several conglomerates also shelled out $93 million (P4.45 billion) to buy 7 million COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/13/21/1-percent-moderna-70000-enrique-razon-philippines-private-sector">1 percent of 7M: PH firms to get 70,000 Moderna vaccines by June - Razon</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1684100" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday defended port magnate Enrique Razon from critics against the billionaire's plan to build a mega vaccination facility in Parañaque.</p>

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday defended port magnate Enrique Razon from critics against the billionaire's plan to build a mega vaccination facility in Parañaque.

Sotto defends Razon, says port magnate brains behind COVID-19 cash aid

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Sotto defends Razon, says port magnate brains behind COVID-19 cash aid

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 13, 2021 01:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Tito Sotto

Enrique Razon

COVID-19

coronavirus

COVID-19 cash aid

Bayanihan to Heal as One Act

politics

business

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