NewsNationby Jovee Marie de la Cruz - June 23, 2015 0 153 The chairman of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development and two other lawmakers on Tuesday urged property developer D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) to voluntarily remove the so-called Rizal monument photobomber, the Torre de Manila. Liberal Party Rep. Winston Castelo of Quezon City, the panel chairman, at a news conference, said the DMCI should remove the building as it is affecting the beauty of the Rizal monument at the Luneta Park. “The nightmare of DMCI will continue if they would not totally remove it. I advise them to voluntarily dismantle it. After all, it would be a big contribution to preserve our cultural heritage and national patrimony,” Castelo said, adding, “they [DMCI] should accept that [the construction of the building was] a gross mistake.” According to Castelo, “It’s very important for DMCI to know that the preservation of national culture is more important than profit. This is not just about commercialism but the important issue here is about patrimony, preservation of our heritage and our culture.” Akbayan Party-list Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez, for his part, said the Supreme Court should order the demolition of Torre de Manila. He said that the DMCI Holdings Inc. still proceeded on building the condominium despite the National Commission on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) suspension early last year through a cease and desist order. “When the cease and desist order was issued, the Torre de Manila only had nine floors. Now, it has 46 floors. The scope of the TRO was the construction, but the Supreme Court could later issue an order for the demolition because it is in the prayer of the petitioners and the DMCI only had permit from the local government, not a clearance to build such from the NCCA as provided for by law,” Gutierrez said. Gutierrez was referring to the National Cultural Heritage law or the Act Providing for the Protection and Conservation of the National Cultural Heritage and strengthening the NCAA and its affiliated cultural agencies. Last week, the Supreme Court issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the construction of Torre de Manila. “We have to remember that the Supreme Court’s decision on this will be a test case on how strong the national government can protect our national heritage sites and its skyline, as well as other old buildings of historical significance, against the encroachment of commercialism,” Gutierrez said “If we can’t protect the monument of our national hero, how are we supposed to protect our other historical sites?” Gutierrez added. http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/dismantle-torre-de-manila/