Probe on NKTI property sale to SM sought

MANILA, Philippines - A lawmaker  on Tuesday called for a congressional probe into the alleged plan of the National Housing Authority (NHA) to sell 16,334 square meters of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) to SM Development Corporation.

Rep. Erico Aumentado (2nd District, Bohol) filed House Resolution 2930 calling on the House Committee on Government Enterprises and Privatization to conduct a probe on the alleged sale, which he said could jeopardize the operations of NKTI.

“NKTI has been the leading kidney and transplant institute in the country and its property holding will be diminished by the alleged sale,” Aumentado said.

According to NKTI Medical Director Jose Dante Dator, the NHA announced the sale of the 16, 334-square meter property in a newspaper ad in September this year.

Aumentado said one of the two areas is currently used as parking space while the other is the subject of a dispute involving alleged illegal settlers.

“There seems to be bad faith on the part of the NHA because as disclosed by Dator, that until the publication of the Notices of Disposition, the NKTI and the NHA had been negotiating for the transfer of the land from the housing agency to the hospital,” Aumentado said.

“In fact, Dator said, the two agencies had actually come to a tacit agreement on the mode of payment. He recalled that in a meeting held in mid-2012, they all agreed to negotiate and that the compensation will be in the form of medical services to NHA workers,” Aumentado added.

Aumentado said the NKTI has been granted usufructuary rights over the lots it occupies now, including parking areas and other appurtenances by Presidential Proclamation No. 2381 given the fact that NKTI is a government owned and controlled corporation attached to the Department of Health (DOH).

“We recognize the need for the establishment of a business hub as envisioned by the Quezon City government and NHA but, such development must be balanced with the requirements of NKTI, the usufractuary of the lot within the government center as promulgated by Presidential Proclamation No. 2381,” Aumentado said.