No more biz joints in Luneta

The National Park Development Committee (NPDC) announced yesterday a moratorium on the construction of new commercial establishments in historic Rizal Park and other national parks.

But the three existing commercial establishments, Jollibee, Cindy's and T-Rex Restaurant, will not be affected by the moratorium, officials said. NPDC is the government agency with jurisdiction over national parks.

Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta strongly opposed the construction of commercial establishments in the park because it affects the historic value of the place where national hero Jose Rizal died a martyr.

NPDC executive director Antonio Mercado clarified that NPDC is not commercializing Rizal Park. He explained that the spaces occupied by the now existing commercial establishments had always been reserved for commercial use.

"It has been the regulation since the 1960s under the late Teodoro "Doroy" Valencia, Mercado stressed.

"What has increased in real terms is the number of socio-cultural and educational activities hosted by the park and not the number of commercial establishments," he said. "No new portion of Rizal Park has really been converted for commercial use, contrary to its original plan."

NPDC maintained that the locations of the three establishments are concession areas which can be leased to raise funds for the disabled.