Defacing Intramuros
Following story by Gerald Naval in Malaya. Picture borrowed from Ivan Henares without his permission.
FORMER Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) general managers Angelito Banayo and Nixon Kua yesterday asked Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano to bring charges against current PTA chief Robert Dean Barbers at the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission over the sports complex Barbers is building outside the walls of Intramuros.
Banayo and Kua said the construction is illegal and is putting the centuries-old walls of Intramuros in peril.
Historical and cultural conservationists are also raising hell over the sports complex for marring and endangering the historic walls.
“This is a clear violation of the law. It violates Presidential Decree No. 1616. It also endangers the centuries-old walls of Intramuros because it is being constructed so close to the walls,” said Banayo.
PD 1616 provides that “no structure, including stone walls, fences, light or other fixtures, steps and paving shall be erected, altered, restored, moved or demolished within Intramuros without the Intramuros Administration’s Certificate of Appropriateness as to external architectural features and its congruity with the historic district, including style, general design and arrangement, types of windows, doors, light and other fixtures and signs, material and location of advertisements and bill posters.”
The one-hectare lot where the construction is going on was a former part of the golf driving range of Club Intramuros located along Bonifacio Drive. The structure will be built a mere two meters distant from the historical walls. On the other side of the wall is the prison cell where Dr. Jose Rizal spent his last night before being executed in December 1896.
Banayo said Barbers pushed ahead with the construction without getting clearance from several offices. “He bypassed the Intramuros Administration, he bypassed the City of Manila, he even bypassed the Department of Tourism, which has control over PTA. He caught everyone by surprise, including us,” he said. Banayo, who headed the agency from 1998 to 2000.
Kua said the Intramuros Administration (IA) had already disapproved the proposed project thrice but Barbers still went ahead with the construction. The IA approval is a prerequisite before the city government of Manila approves the construction.
“Despite IA board’s disapproval of the project in its May 4, 2006 meeting, Barbers pursued the project, which was not also approved by the PTA board. Worse, he ignored three notices of stoppage from IA,” said Kua.
KuA said the project did not go through a proper bidding after it was transferred from its originally planned location in front of the Manila Bulletin building, also in Intramuros.
“,Burberry Handbags;The P24 million project was awarded to IA Bosque Construction in November 2005 without project approval from IA. From its original proposed site on Victoria St., Ravellin de Recolletos, Intramuros, Barbers moved the project site to the Intramuros driving range, still without the approval of the IA while the cost has already ballooned to P87 million on a “negotiated” price,”,Hermes Birkin; Kua said.
“Charges should be filed at the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission and to the Ombudsman. We are asking Secretary Durano to do this. If not, we will be the ones to do it as concerned citizens. It is obvious! Hindi na dapat pag-isipan kung ano ang motibo nito kundi ang kumita,” Banayo said.
The sports complex will reportedly include two floors, and courts for indoor basketball,Versace Handbags, badminton and tennis once completed.
No activity was monitored yesterday at the building site with workers and construction equipment just sitting around. – Gerard Anthony M. Naval
Click to related article in the site of Ivan Henares.
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