Acting on tip, agency halts iconic building’s demolition
A day after workers were seen removing metal grills from the iconic El Hogar Filipino Building in Manila beside the Pasig River, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has ordered an end to the tearing down of the structure.
NHCP deputy executive director for administration Carminda Arevalo told the Inquirer that the agency had issued a cease and desist order to protect the building.
“The gist of the order is that we ordered them to immediately stop the dismantling of any part of the building,” Arevalo said in a phone interview.
The order was executed on Monday and served to workers of New Golden City Builders Inc. (NGCB), which NHCP officials found working outside El Hogar on Tuesday morning.
The commission immediately took action after workers were seen removing metal grills from the building’s stairs. Gemma Cruz-Araneta, chair of the Heritage Conservation Society (HCS), said they learned of the activity on Monday afternoon.
“We heard that the NGCB, while a storm was raging on, were dismantling the interiors of the El Hogar Building. This was reported to us by members of the HCS-Youth who said that workers were removing metal grills and loading them on to a truck with the name of NGCB,” Araneta added.
“Those grill works were beautiful and intricate and came from the magnificent staircase inside the El Hogar building,” she said.
The Inquirer tried to enter the building on Tuesday but was repeatedly turned away by security personnel without any explanation.
“The El Hogar Building is protected by Republic Act No. 10066, the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, which protects buildings that are 50 years and above. Before being demolished, they have to ask permission from cultural agencies,” Araneta said.
The building located on the banks of the Pasig River has been valued for its Art Deco style. Built in 1914, it was designed by Ramon Irureta-Goyena and draws inspiration from neoclassical and renaissance styles.
