Oppositors in Mehan row agree on respite

In what could be the calm before the storm, advocates and oppositors to the P180-million Mehan Gardens’ development project agreed to a one-week respite to reach a possible compromise by looking for an alternative site and leaving the historical botanical gardens alone.

In a three-hour conference yesterday at the office of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Heherson Alvarez, the Manila City government, represented by legal officer Mechor Monsod, and historical and environment conservationists agreed to form a committee that would look for another place on which to construct the City College of Manila (CCM).

The construction of the new CCM buildings and parking center in the 26,000 square meters botanical and zoological gardens built in the 1880s would be part of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s development plan for the area, which he said has become an idle dead end street frequented only by criminal elements.

"It was friendly and cordial. All of us were excited about our respective stands but it was a civil discussion, nobody hurled anything at anybody," said Monsod. For weeks oppositors and Manila City Hall representatives have been bitterly arguing over the project.

Monsod said the committee comprised of the DENR, National Historical Institute, Heritage foundation, various non-government organizations, and Manila City Hall urban planning chief Jun Tablan, has one week to find an alternative site. Tablan was with Monsod in the meeting that started at 11 a.m. and ended at 2 p.m.

"There was no resolution but a manifestation to understand each other," Monsod said

Among the alternatives being mulled was the site of the old Ateneo de Manila in Intramuros. But according to Monsod, the land is owned by the Intramuros Administration and the oppositors would have to secure it for the Manila City government before the latter would agree to halt the Mehan construction.

The city legal officer said the alternative site is subject to approval by Mayor Atienza himself.

Earlier Atienza revealed that the controversial Mehan development project would ultimately relieve the city government of its huge P350 million debt with proceeds of the planned sale of the old CCM in Escolta, Sta. Cruz, offsetting the liability.

Atienza said if ever the Mehan construction plan is halted, the alternative site should be "good" and "of no lesser standard" than that offered by the Mehan Gardens.

Atienza has made clear his administration’s stand on the matter. "We will establish once and for all what laws were violated. . . I am not the one to violate laws, if there were laws violated there is no discussion. But if what they don’t approve of is my vision for Mehan, then as the duly elected officials of the city we have to do what we think is best," said Atienza during a press forum Tuesday.