Santa Ana, Manila residents cry for help to protect the heritage district 

CDC Holdings, Inc., the developer of the planned Manila Green Residences located along Pedro Gil between Santa Villas and OB Montessori, started yet another condominium construction project in the historical Santa Ana town without undergoing the Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA).

This information was stated in a letter from National Museum director Jeremy Barns to Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada stated. 

 

The letter, dated November 27, 2013, said that the location of the 31-storey condominium was in proximity of a significant archaeological areas. It also noted that the area of the project covered the Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone. 

 

Hence, Barns said an AIA must be performed before the city government can issue a building permit by virtue of Republic Act 10066, or The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, Section 30. 

 

The AIA is an important step in determining if an area is an important archaeological site before excavation or land-moving is performed. 

 

However, the developer pushed through with the project since the permit was issued before the AIA, De Leon explained. The permit only had a note saying, "subject to AIA." Moreover, its zoning permit had a different street address, she added. 

 

Although the Santa Ana Heritage Tourism Association (SAHTA) tried to stop the excavation, with the blessing of the national agencies and the help of the police, CDC Holdings continued the work saying a building permit was already issued, De Leon said. 

 

A team of experts inspected the site on January 2014. The team found pieces of pottery and other artifacts, which were already damaged. 

 

CDC Holdings, Inc. was also invited to the Thursday public hearing led by senator Pia Cayetano at the Rizal Park Visitors' Center in Manila, but no representative showed up. 

Heritage zone