Drilon eyes Senate probe of Binondo-Intramuros Bridge

MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is calling for an inquiry into the construction of the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reportedly warned that the bridge may encroach on the buffer zone prescribed for the San Agustin Church.

The P4.2-billion bridge, part of an infrastructure grant by China, broke ground in July and is supposed to be completed in 2020.

The proposed bridge, which will pass over the Pasig River and connect San Fernando street in Binondo to Solana street and Riverside Drive in Intramuros, could cause the delisting of San Agustin and three other Philippine churches – collectively called the “Baroque Churches of the Philippines” – from the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The others are the Church of La Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur; the Church of Saint Augustine in Paoay, Ilocos Norte; and the Church of Santo Tomas de Villanueva in Miag-ao, Iloilo.

In filing Senate Resolution 944, Drilon urged the Senate to look into the issue with the end in view of crafting remedial legislation for the proper conservation and preservation of the country’s historical sites.

“The government should learn to strike a balance between urban development and heritage conservation. We must balance our pursuit of economic success with our concern for our cultural heritage. The two can co-exist,“ said Drilon, citing his experiences in restoring many heritage sites in Iloilo.

In 2009, Germany’s Dresden Elbe Valley was delisted from UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2009 due to the building of a four-lane bridge in the heart of the cultural landscape, Drilon noted.

Drilon said that under Republic Act 10066, World Heritage Sites are subject to the highest standards of conservation and management.