6/17/2019 Santa Ana, Manila residents cry for help to protect the heritage district | Lifestyle | GMA News

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Santa Ana, Manila residents cry for help to protect the heritage district 
Published September 26, 2014 6:58pm

By TRISHA MACAS,  GMA News

A map of the heritage zone of Santa Ana, Manila. Courtesy of Sen. Pia Cayetano's media team.

CDC Holdings, Inc., the developer of the planned Manila Green Residences
(https://www.facebook.com/ManilaRivergreenO icial) located along Pedro Gil between Santa Villas and OB Montessori,
started yet another condominium construction project in the historical Santa Ana town without undergoing the
Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA).

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6/17/2019 Santa Ana, Manila residents cry for help to protect the heritage district | Lifestyle | GMA News Online

This information was stated in a letter from National Museum director Jeremy Barns to Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada
stated. 
 
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The letter, dated November 27, 2013, said that the location of the 31-storey condominium was in proximity of a significant
archaeological areas. It also noted that the area of the project covered the Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone. 
 
Hence, Barns said an AIA must be performed before the city government can issue a building permit by virtue of Republic
Act 10066, or The National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, Section 30. 
 
The AIA is an important step in determining if an area is an important archaeological site before excavation or land-moving
is performed. 
 
However, the developer pushed through with the project since the permit was issued before the AIA, De Leon explained. The
permit only had a note saying, "subject to AIA." Moreover, its zoning permit had a di erent street address, she added. 
 
Although the Santa Ana Heritage Tourism Association (SAHTA) tried to stop the excavation, with the blessing of the national
agencies and the help of the police, CDC Holdings continued the work saying a building permit was already issued, De Leon
said. 
 
A team of experts inspected the site on January 2014. The team found pieces of pottery and other artifacts, which were
already damaged. 
 
CDC Holdings, Inc. was also invited to the Thursday public hearing led by senator Pia Cayetano at the Rizal Park Visitors'
Center in Manila, but no representative showed up. 

Heritage zone

The residents of Santa Ana, Manila, led by SAHTA president Sylvia Lichauco-de Leon, presented the challenges the town is
facing as a heritage district during the Thursday hearing.  
 
According to De Leon, a portion of Santa Ana was declared a heritage zone by the National Historical Commission of the
Philippines (NHCP) on May 12, 2014. Prior to this, the government of Manila classified the town as a Histo-Cultural Heritage
Overlay Zone by virtue of City Ordinance No. 8244 on September 22, 2011.  
 
Following the recent declaration, the Manila City Council, led by councilor Priscilla Marie Abante, also stated in a resolution
issued August 14, 2014 that there must be strict compliance with national agency-issued guidelines in dealing with the
Santa Ana Histo-Cultural Heritage Overlay Zone. 
 
Santa Ana's heritage zone is composed of historic houses and structures from the Spanish and American colonial periods,
including the Santa Ana Church complex and Plaza Hugo. Moreover, the town is known to be an archaeological area. 
 
Once an area has been recognized as a heritage site, it is protected by NHCP. Therefore, any construction should adhere to
the guidelines given by the national agency. — VC, GMA News

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