Ayala Land wants Greenbelt 1 delisted as ICP

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) has filed a petition before the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) seeking to have the Greenbelt 1 shopping mall delisted as an Important Cultural Property (ICP).

In its official Twitter account, NCCA posted a notice yesterday announcing that ALI is seeking to remove the presumption that Greenbelt 1, located at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Legazpi street in Makati, is an ICP under Republic Act 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act.

The NCCA is accepting support or opposition positions to the petition. Interested parties may submit their positions to the Declaration and Public Heritage Section of the Cultural Properties Protection and Regulation Division via email at [email protected] until Aug. 15.

Greenbelt 1, one of the works of 1990 National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, was constructed and opened in 1982.

In the 24-page petition filed by ALI, it cited three grounds in filing the petition.

ALI filed the petition because under Section 5 of RA 10066 works by a national artist shall be considered as ICPs unless declared otherwise by the NCCA.

ALI said Greenbelt 1 is not qualified as a “property with exceptional cultural, artistic and historical significance in the Philippines” under RA 10066 and its implementing rules and regulations.

The current state of Greenbelt 1, with the changes and renovations on the structure prior to the effectivity of RA 10066, is no longer consistent with Locsin’s original vision of the building and signature architectural style found in his most celebrated creations, according to ALI.

The petitioner also pointed out that Greenbelt 1 is primarily a commercial establishment and “better suited to house a brand-new comprehensive, well-thought-out mixed-used development that can be service to a much larger population and, at the same time, provide much needed employment – one that is entirely aesthetically consistent and coherent with Makati Central Business District’s urban architectural plan and design.”

Section 3 of RA 10066 defines an ICP as having exceptional, cultural, artistic and historical significance to the Philippines that shall be determined by the National Museum of the Philippines, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines or both.