Created in 1972, Nayong Pilipino is a 46-hectare theme park featuring miniature versions of local landmarks. It is administered by the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF).
With the transfer, the Pre-sident has also authorized the NPF "to close the park and cease operations, except for the purpose of overseeing, maintaining and preserving the assets of the park and the NPF."
Mrs. Arroyo approved the memorandum of agreement on the land transfer earlier entered into by the Manila International Airport Authority and the NPF.
Park employees and concessionaires are opposing the transfer.
The orders of the President were contained in Executive Order 111 which she had signed June 26 and a copy of which was obtained by The STAR yesterday. The order took effect immediately.
Under Section 7, Paragraph A of Presidential Decree No. 37 which created the NPF, Mrs. Arroyo cited that the land occupied by Nayong Pilipino shall not be transferred to another person or entity without previous authorization by the president.
Under the Executive Order 111, Mrs. Arroyo said there is a need to "comply" with the flight safety standards by the International Aviation Organization and to "ensure the safe and efficient movement of passengers, baggage and cargo" at the NAIA.
"It is necessary to construct an additional parallel taxiway and surface road connection between the NAIA Terminal 2 to Terminal 3," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"The construction will require approximately 8.6 hectares of land presently occupied by the Nayong Pilipino Cultural Park and the park’s closure the safety of the general public and the security of the premises," the President said in Executive Order No. 111.
Her order to close Nayong Pilipino came even as the controversy surrounding the construction of NAIA-3, otherwise known as the International Passenger Terminal Terminal 3, rages. The contractor of the project, the Philippine International Air Terminals Corp. (PIATCO), was being questioned due to allegations of bribery.
Meanwhile, a lawyer supporting former First Lady Imelda Marcos filed yesterday graft charges against MIAA general manager Edgardo Manda for allegedly giving undue advantage to PIATCO "for allowing the construction of the NAIA 3 taxiway by wrecking Nayong Pilipino."
Lawyer Oliver Lozano said that a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop eviction of the park’s concessionaire is in effect until July 11.
Last week, Lozano filed graft charges against Nayong Pilipino executive director Charito Planas. In both complaints against Manda and Planas, Lozano said the MOA signed by the two was illegal because of the absence of prior authority from the President.
Lozano said that only a congressional act can allow the closure of the park.
"Assuming that the President already signed an executive order allowing the transfer of possession of the 8.6 hectares, it still doesn’t give the authority to close the park," Lozano said. — Marichu Villanueva, Nikko Dizon