PhilPost open to make the most of Manila Central Put up Workplace as ‘cultural hall’

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

REMNANTS OF A LANDMARK A drone shot taken on Monday afternoon reveals smoke
billowing from the Manila Central Put up Workplace as firefighters proceed to place out the blaze
that began on Sunday night time. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna assures heritage advocates that no
business improvement will probably be allowed on the Put up Workplace web site, an “institutional zone.”
—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Division of Tourism (DOT) chief Christina Frasco on Tuesday disclosed that the Philippine Postal Company (PhilPost) has expressed curiosity in using the fire-hit Manila Central Put up Workplace as a “cultural hall.”

Frasco disclosed this throughout the Senate committee on finance’s deliberations on the proposed 2024 funds of DOT and its hooked up companies.

In keeping with Frasco, after the Manila Put up Workplace was razed by hearth in Might, the DOT instantly reached out to PhilPost, together with the Nationwide Fee for Tradition and the Arts, Nationwide Historic Fee of the Philippines, and the Nationwide Museum.

“That resulted in a convergence assembly the place all of us provided our assist in addition to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) help for no matter it’s that they might want first within the brief time period decision of the safeguarding of the integrity of the construction,” stated Frasco.

“[W]e additionally mentioned the utilization of the Manila Put up Workplace. [A]ccording to the PhilPost, they’re open to the utilization of the property not purely anymore as a submit workplace, however as a mixed-use facility that might end result within the creation of a cultural hall inside the metropolis of Manila, particularly contemplating its proximity to different heritage websites corresponding to Intramuros,” Frasco added.

Frasco then stated that TIEZA is now funding the “detailed engineering design” for the rapid intervention that the submit workplace wants to make sure that there will probably be no additional harm that might ensue from the hearth.

Aside from rapid intervention, the DOT chief likewise careworn that “talks at the moment are ongoing” to find out the way forward for the property.

In the meantime, the Bureau of Hearth Safety in June stated there isn’t any foul play behind the hearth that razed the century-old submit workplace on Might 21, 2023.