GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
Filtered By: Lifestyle
Lifestyle
DMCI Homes says Torre de Manila, Rizal monument can co-exist
(Updated 5:55 p.m.) DMCI Homes Inc. sees no basis for the demolition of Torre de Manila, saying the controversial condominium project could co-exist with the Rizal Monument in Luneta.
"Our company firmly believes that cultural heritage and progress can co-exist, DMCI Homes project development manager Florence Loreto said Tuesday, citing national monuments built amid high-rise buildings in Indonesia, Cuba and China.
The Supreme Court on June 16 issued a temporary restraining order stopping the building's construction, which can be seen in the visual corridors of the iconic Rizal Monument.
"Wala po kaming sinira, malay po kami sa monumento at nasa labas kami ng boundaries ng Rizal Park," Loreto said.
No laws violated
The National Cultural Heritage Act only bars the destruction and demolition of cultural properties as well as the modification or undertaking of construction in national shrines, Loreto said.
She added that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines also cleared the project because it "was outside the boundaries of the Rizal Park and well to the rear of the Rizal National Monument."
Torre de Manila stands 870 meters away from the monument and 60 meters past the park's boundaries, while the buildings nearest to the monument are 280 meters away.
The company also said it secured a permit to build 49 levels—a basement level, 46 storeys and two penthouse levels—in July 2012, showing the media a copy of the document.
Gemma Cruz Araneta, who served as former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim's cultural advisor, earlier said that the permit Lim issued for the tower's construction only allowed seven storeys to be built.
"Torre de Manila, like all of DMCI projects, undergoes a thorough due diligence process. Iyan din po ang reason kung bakit lahat ng permits ay in place," Loreto said.
In presenting its case to the public, DMCI included in its presentation an artist's rendition showing several tall buildings behind the Rizal Monument.
Asked about this envisioning of the future, Loreto said that having all those buildings in the area—built by different developers—is achievable and "it helps solve the population density issue. We build upwards to maximize space."
Project cost
The suspension of the Torre de Manila construction has created consequences to the company, its customers and construction workers.
The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board suspended DMCI Homes' license to sell condominium units in the Torre de Manila after the high court ordered the indefinite suspension of construction works.
The company has already sold 91 percent of units, with the condominium earlier scheduled for completion in November 2016. Of the total 896 sales, only one was recorded to have been pulled out so far.
"[Unit owners] shouldn't be worried because lahat ng ginawa namin legal, wala po kaming dine-desecrate. Mismong NHCP cleared us to build this project," Loreto stressed.
A delay in construction could also impact the financial health of DMCI Homes, which has so far spent P1.2 billion of the total P2.7 billion project cost.
The suspension also left 300 of 400 affected workers jobless, said Loreto.
The company was supposedly unable to transfer the workers to other projects because their skills were incompatible with current work needed in other projects.
Alternatives
DMCI Homes also said it began considering alternatives as soon as the construction of the Torre de Manila became an issue.
In 2014, the company supposedly proposed planting trees behind the monument. But the national parks did not agree to the proposal and had other plans, Loreto said.
The company is also aware of suggestions circulating on social media, including the altering of the facade's design.
"We would like to thank these netizens dahil naniniwala sila na there is a win-win solution," said Loreto. — BM, GMA News
"Our company firmly believes that cultural heritage and progress can co-exist, DMCI Homes project development manager Florence Loreto said Tuesday, citing national monuments built amid high-rise buildings in Indonesia, Cuba and China.
The Supreme Court on June 16 issued a temporary restraining order stopping the building's construction, which can be seen in the visual corridors of the iconic Rizal Monument.
"Wala po kaming sinira, malay po kami sa monumento at nasa labas kami ng boundaries ng Rizal Park," Loreto said.
No laws violated
The National Cultural Heritage Act only bars the destruction and demolition of cultural properties as well as the modification or undertaking of construction in national shrines, Loreto said.
She added that the National Historical Commission of the Philippines also cleared the project because it "was outside the boundaries of the Rizal Park and well to the rear of the Rizal National Monument."
Torre de Manila stands 870 meters away from the monument and 60 meters past the park's boundaries, while the buildings nearest to the monument are 280 meters away.
The company also said it secured a permit to build 49 levels—a basement level, 46 storeys and two penthouse levels—in July 2012, showing the media a copy of the document.
Gemma Cruz Araneta, who served as former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim's cultural advisor, earlier said that the permit Lim issued for the tower's construction only allowed seven storeys to be built.
"Torre de Manila, like all of DMCI projects, undergoes a thorough due diligence process. Iyan din po ang reason kung bakit lahat ng permits ay in place," Loreto said.
DMCI Homes says that there is no reason to demolish Rizal Monument "photobomber" Torre de Manila, saying that the monument's visual corridor could one day look like the artist's rendition it provided (above).
Asked about this envisioning of the future, Loreto said that having all those buildings in the area—built by different developers—is achievable and "it helps solve the population density issue. We build upwards to maximize space."
Project cost
The suspension of the Torre de Manila construction has created consequences to the company, its customers and construction workers.
The Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board suspended DMCI Homes' license to sell condominium units in the Torre de Manila after the high court ordered the indefinite suspension of construction works.
The company has already sold 91 percent of units, with the condominium earlier scheduled for completion in November 2016. Of the total 896 sales, only one was recorded to have been pulled out so far.
"[Unit owners] shouldn't be worried because lahat ng ginawa namin legal, wala po kaming dine-desecrate. Mismong NHCP cleared us to build this project," Loreto stressed.
A delay in construction could also impact the financial health of DMCI Homes, which has so far spent P1.2 billion of the total P2.7 billion project cost.
The suspension also left 300 of 400 affected workers jobless, said Loreto.
The company was supposedly unable to transfer the workers to other projects because their skills were incompatible with current work needed in other projects.
Alternatives
DMCI Homes also said it began considering alternatives as soon as the construction of the Torre de Manila became an issue.
In 2014, the company supposedly proposed planting trees behind the monument. But the national parks did not agree to the proposal and had other plans, Loreto said.
The company is also aware of suggestions circulating on social media, including the altering of the facade's design.
"We would like to thank these netizens dahil naniniwala sila na there is a win-win solution," said Loreto. — BM, GMA News
