DMCI Must Create and Fund a New Jose Rizal Island in Manila Bay

Lawmakers on Tuesday urged property developer D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) to demolish voluntarily the controversial condominium building rather than wait for the Supreme Court to issue a final ruling on the matter.

While there are clamors and petitions to demolish the “Pambansang Photobomber”. An official of ManilaLivewire.com suggest to come up with a possible win-win solution to the eyesore created by DMCI’s Torre De Manila but it should be a public and private effort to make this solution possible.

According to Manila Livewire officer the solution is to relocate or create a new island near Luneta for the Jose Rizal Monument. The best place is at the foremost western part of Rizal Park, adjacent to the Roxas Boulevard and back of  Manila Ocean Park. The Manila bay water itself, wherein DMCI will make an effort to reclaim a portion, develop and make an island that will hold and support for the pedestal and foundation of a 90 meter Dr. Jose Rizal statue similar to the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island in New York City. This will become another new tourist attraction and can generate more jobs and income to the local government of Manila as well.

The Rizal Monument is the main attraction inside Rizal Park (which is still popularly known today as Luneta Park) in Manila, Philippines. It is usually looked upon as the main monument in the Philippines because it was built to commemorate the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal.

The Supreme Court on Friday was urged to prevent the construction of residential building Torre de Manila blocking the view of the Rizal Monument in Manila.

Torre de Manila is a 46-storey high-rise building by property developer DM Consunji Inc. (DMCI) 30 meters away from the edge of the Rizal Park, also known as Luneta Park. The two landmarks are separated only by Taft Avenue.

The petitioners argued that the construction project would “forever ruin the sightline of the Rizal Monument in Luneta Park” and “stick out like a sore thumb” by dwarfing surrounding buildings within a radius of 2 kilometers.

“The Torre De Manila building would loom at the back and overshadow the entire monument, whether up close or viewed from a distance. Moreover, the importance of the landmark that is the monument will be devalued,” the petition stated.

In social media, the building has been called names such as “Pambansang Photobomb” and “Terror de Manila.”

For the previous location of Rizal monument in the Luneta Park, the government will put a marker, something like a tablet marker or a memorabilia of  Dr. Jose Rizal and the park will remain as it is.

What do you think about this?

By: Jason E.