Manila councilor wants NHCP execs to resign over Torre de Manila controversy

A Manila City councilor on Monday called for the resignation of the two top officials of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) for allowing the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila condominium building in 2012.

 

City Councilor Don Juan “DJ” Bagatsing said NHCP chair Maria Sereno Diokno and Executive Director III Ludovico Badoy should step down for failing to uphold the agency's mandate to protect the country's cultural heritage through the conservation of historical sites.

 

“Everyone now is blaming the city council for green-lighting the Torre de Manila project, but what many don’t realize is that it’s the NHCP which approved its construction. I think chair Diokno and Executive Director Badoy should resign because of this,” he told reporters at a news forum.

 

In July 2012, Bagatsing sponsored a resolution seeking the suspension of the building permit issued by Manila City Planning and Development Office (MCPDO) head Resty Rebong a month earlier based on the guidelines and standards of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), as well as existing national heritage and cultural laws.

 

The measure was eventually approved by the Manila City Council.

 

But four months later, amid developer D.M. Consunji Inc.’s (DMCI) continued disregard of the resolution, the NHCP sent a letter to Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim virtually clearing DMCI of any liability from constructing the 46-storey residential building.

 

“The Torre de Manila project site is outside the boundaries of the Rizal Park and well to the rear (789 meters) of the Rizal National Monument, hence it cannot possibly obstruct the front view of the said National Monument,” the NHCP wrote in a letter dated November 9, 2012 and signed by Badoy.

 

A similar letter, signed by Diokno, was also sent to DMCI consultant Alfredo Andrade that month.

 

Estrada's term

 

Bagatsing believes the NHCP’s letter emboldened DMCI to proceed with Torre de Manila’s construction despite the opposition lodged by conservationists and civic groups.

 

“Had the NHCP expressed its opposition even before the construction of the building started, perhaps we wouldn’t have a problem at this time. Maybe DMCI wouldn’t have proceeded with the construction in the first place,” he said.

 

The Manila City Council in November 2014 unanimously voted to suspend the DMCI's building permit for Torre de Manila after it was found to have violated local zoning rules and following an uproar from the public and from heritage conservationists.

 

But on January 24, 2015, the Manila Zoning Board of Adjustments and Appeals reconsidered the suspension after DMCI appealed for an exemption to local zoning laws.

 

Under Ordinance 8119, otherwise known as the Manila Comprehensive Land Use Plan, buildings can go beyond the allowable height limit if the developer seeks an exemption from the zoning board.

 

The necessary permits were eventually granted to DMCI for the Torre de Manila project and it was cleared of any violation of the National Building Code.

 

Last month, the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order barring DMCI from proceeding with Torre de Manila's construction "until further notice from the court.” — JDS, GMA News