‘Intramuros churches won’t be delisted as World Heritage Sites’

MANILA, Philippines — The construction of the Intramuros-Binondo Bridge, funded by a loan from China, would not cause churches to be removed from the list of World Heritage Sites, an official said yesterday.

“There will be no effect on the infrastructure of the San Agustin Church,” Intramuros Administration chief Guiller Asido told The STAR. “There will be no delisting.”

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is finishing its impact assessment study to see how the ongoing construction of the bridge would affect San Agustin Church and three others as World Heritage Sites, Asido said.

The bridge, which will connect Solano Street in Intramuros and San Fernando Street in Binondo, is part of the $70-million bilateral cooperation agreement between the Philippines and China, along with the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge.

Realignments have been made on the bridge so it would not intrude into the buffer zone required for the San Agustin Church to remain a World Heritage Site, Asido noted.

“This is to ensure that (the church) would still be respected as a heritage site,” he said.

Malacañang, through presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo, previously assured the public that it would not allow the encroachment as the church is “part of our history.”

Meanwhile, the Department of Tourism (DOT) encouraged the public, pilgrims and tourists staying in Metro Manila for the Holy Week to visit various sites in Intramuros.

Aside from the San Agustin Church, pilgrims who would go on visita iglesia or Seven Churches Visitation can go to eight other churches in the Walled City: Manila Cathedral; Fr. Willmann Chapel in the Knights of Columbus building; Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila chapel; Colegio de San Juan de Letran chapel; St. Matthew chapel in the Bureau of Internal Revenue building; Mapua University chapel; Lyceum of the Philippines University chapel and Guadalupe Shrine in Fort Santiago.

The 14 Stations of the Cross, depicting the suffering of Jesus, would also be installed along General Luna Street, from Beaterio to Muralla streets.

DOT Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III yesterday extended his department’s invitation to local and foreign tourists to “relive and renew (your) Christian faith by going around and visiting heritage.

Alabado also reminded tourists visiting other summer destinations, including Bohol, Ilocos and Cebu, to “please do not forget that before going to the beach, our main purpose of visit to these provinces is to renew our faith.” – With Catherine Talavera