ARTICLE PROFILE
Title: "Lim urged: Stop wrecking Manila heritage buildings"
Article Link: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/201735/lim-urged-stop-wrecking-manila-heritage-buildings
Author: Jerome Aning
Date issued: May 28, 2012 (Monday)
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This Act kind of surprised me since it was only passed in 2009! Think about the number of well-kept heritage buildings they could have saved...
As someone who have been living in downtown or the "old town" for 19 years, I have to say that so many things have changed, especially this past 5 years. I welcome new businesses demolishing older structures to give rise for modern buildings for commercial or industrial use. I am sure you will agree that we the youth greatly enjoy what these new businesses have to offer (e.g. Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo), including me.So far, the La Solidaridad publishing house is the only historical monument that is worth preserving with a high budget. Although there are a lot of old houses around the Abad Santos area, most of them are largely forgotten.
Anyways, I truly agree what the Act is saying- "...modification or demolition of properties aged 50 years old and above needs the consent of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)", but this poses some issues.
First, it has been stated that a lot of demolition workers continue to ignore the law due to the lack of strict implementation. In my opinion, this is indeed true, and the cause? What else, but corruption. Reinforcing better deputy actions might be a good move, but I doubt that they can still save the majority of these heritage sites. This also comes into mind that time passes quickly. The world is quickly changing, leaving us to adapt to newer needs.
And second, I have to disagree with the regulation of 50 years or earlier because age is not always the case. Architects and construction workers also need to consider the significance and historic value of the structure, the re-usability, and the appropriate consent from the original owners or the community.
I conclude that Lim and the authorities need to put more effort in convincing to the shareholders the advantages in preserving heritage sites, so I'll give them a chance.
Mission: SUCCESS!
On a side-note, I would like to commend the efforts of conservationist NGOs. Just take a look what the National Parks Development Committee has done recently to their parks!
I plan to support them by discussing future topics on these inspiring NGOs!
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IMAGE REFERENCE:
- http://www.ivanhenares.com/2012/05/save-old-gsis-headquarters.html
- http://mayniladailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009/06/old-house-at-binondo.html
- http://forum.philboxing.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=138072&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=420
- http://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/tag/rizal-park-childrens-playground/
- http://mayniladailyphoto.blogspot.com/2011/01/rizal-parks-musical-dancing-fountain.html
- http://www.pusangkalye.net/2011/01/paco-park-manila.html
- http://marilil.wordpress.com/2011/05/05/mystical-makiling-a-dose-of-tranquility-serenity-and-friendship/
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