Senate to probe condo project near Rizal Park

MANILA, Philippines - The Senate is set to conduct an inquiry on the construction of a condominium building near the Rizal Park in Manila this Wednesday in response to complaints that the structure is desecrating the historic site. 

Senator Pia Cayetano will lead the ocular inspection of the sightline of the Rizal Monument at “kilometer zero,” just across the statue where the building is said to be visible. 

After the ocular inspection, the Senate committees on education, arts and culture and urban planning, housing and resettlement will hold a joint on-site hearing at the conference room of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. 

The inquiry was prompted by a resolution filed by Cayetano herself, seeking to look into the construction of the Torre de Manila condominium project of DMCI Homes, one of the major real estate developers in the country.

In her resolution, Cayetano noted that the construction of the 46-story residential building, located between Rizal Park and Adamson University in Manila, has generated a significant amount of protests, particularly from conservationists. 

It was alleged that the construction of the building violates the height and floor area ratio under the zoning ordinance of Manila.

The critics of the development noted that the Torre de Manila, with a floor area ratio of 7.79 is way above the maximum of four under the zoning ordinance of the city for buildings located within Manila’s institutional university cluster. 

In November 2013, the city council of Manila suspended the building permit of Torre de Manila due to the opposition of thousands of people who claimed that the development would not only violate the zoning rules, but also ruin the view of the Rizal Monument.

However, last Jan. 24, the Manila zoning board of adjustments and appeals reconsidered the previous suspension and gave its go signal for the construction of the residential building. 

It was found that DMCI Homes was granted an exemption to the local zoning ordinance.

Various groups, led by heritage advocate Carlos Celdran and the Knights of Rizal Sucesos Chapter, continue to protest the development, saying that it would desecrate the sanctity of Rizal Park.

 “Rizal Park is not just a site where Jose Rizal was shot and where his remains are interred, it has been witness to momentous events in our history such as the proclamation of independence of the Philippines from the United States of America on July 4, 1946,” according to the resolution filed by Cayetano.

“The Rizal Park and Monument is regarded not only as an artistic and cultural icon and famous tourist site, but a sacred site, as well as an important symbol of our national hero and the freedom he fought for,” it added. 

The resolution also stated that the erection of the 46-story building, “not only destroys the vista of a heritage site, but also accords little respect to the memory of Jose Rizal and the history of the Filipino people.”

Cayetano noted that there is a need to review the policies governing the preservation of national treasures and historical sites.