REMNANTS OF A LANDMARK A drone shot taken on Monday afternoon shows smoke
billowing from the Manila Central Post Office as firefighters continue to put out the blaze
that started on Sunday night. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna assures heritage advocates that no
commercial development will be allowed on the Post Office site, an “institutional zone.”
—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) chief, Christina Frasco, revealed on Tuesday that the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) is interested in repurposing the fire-damaged Manila Central Post Office as a “cultural corridor.”
Frasco made the disclosure during the Senate Committee on Finance’s discussions on the proposed 2024 budget for the DOT and its attached agencies.
After the Manila Post Office was destroyed by fire in May, Frasco stated that the DOT reached out to PhilPost, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Museum.
“This resulted in a meeting,” Frasco explained, “where we all extended our assistance, along with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), to address the immediate measures needed to preserve the structure’s integrity.”
She added, “We also discussed the future use of the Manila Post Office. According to PhilPost, they are open to transforming the property into a mixed-use facility that would create a cultural corridor in Manila, particularly due to its proximity to other heritage sites such as Intramuros.”
Frasco stated that TIEZA is currently funding the “detailed engineering design” for the necessary interventions to prevent further damage caused by the fire.
In addition to intervention plans, the DOT chief emphasized that ongoing discussions are being held to determine the post office’s future.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection reported in June that the fire that demolished the century-old post office on May 21, 2023, was purely accidental and not the result of foul play.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
