Time running out for Mehan critics?

Time appears to be running out for critics of the Mehan Gardens construction as the one week period to find an alternative site expired yesterday, achieving nothing more than a consensus that the old Ateneo site in Intramuros would be acceptable.

"Yes, the Ateneo site is a beautiful site but can they give it to us?" asked Manila City legal officer Melchor Monsod. Monsod is Manila Mayor Lito Atienza’s representative to dialogues with non-government organizations and the National Historical Institute on the Mehan Gardens controversy.

The P180 million construction of the City College of Manila (CCM) and the Park and Ride complex at the 26,000 sq.m. Mehan botanical gardens and parking lot of the Metropolitan Theater have been the object of conflict between the Manila City Hall and conservationists for the last month.

Deogracias Tablan, head of the technical planning committee tapped to coordinate with the critics regarding proposals for the alternative site, said he has found the old site of the Ateneo de Manila a feasible site.

He said, however, that they would have to change their building designs to meet the height limits of the Intramuros administration. The site though is owned by the Intramuros Administration.

"The mayor said the alternative site would have to be finalized as soon as possible otherwise we would have to proceed with the Mehan construction," said Tablan, who is also the city’s housing department chief.

Atienza in a statement said they are willing to modify their plan if a "suitable" alternative site is provided.

"Let it not be said that we are merely stonewalling on this matter. If there is an equally suitable site for the new City College of Manila campus, then we welcome it. If there is none, then we would have to use the Mehan Gardens," said Atienza.

Another alternative that has been rejected by the Manila City Hall is the Avanceña High School in Quiapo. Tablan said the place is already too crowded for the CCM.

The Mehan Gardens was constructed in the 1800s and were reportedly among Asia’s earliest botanical and zoological sites.

Meanwhile, moves to have a City Council resolution passed to support the construction was blocked last Tuesday by council opposition members as debates over the construction of the City College of Manila on the historic botanical garden rages on almost all fronts.

Vice-Mayor Danny Lacuna, of the People’s Power Coalition and head of the council, blocked efforts by the overwhelmingly majority councilors of Mayor Atienza’s Liberal party by conferring with the resolution’s advocates in a one-minute recess.

Lacuna called for the break during a stalemate on the passage of the resolution enabling him to prevail on the resolution’s advocates to reconsider their plan. Lacuna told administration councilors that at the moment critics to the construction have been asked to present documents to show that the garden is a protected area, which should be looked into before the council makes any action. The council instead tackled other matters in its agenda.