Skaters off limits at Bonifacio Monument – city official

The Andres Bonifacio Monument or Kartilya ng Katipunan in Manila. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Spare the monument of Andres Bonifacio.

This was the message of a Manila City official to skaters, as the local government prohibits them from skateboarding and rollerblading on the monument’s ramp not only to show respect to the nation’s hero but also for safety reasons.

“Hindi naman po talaga pwede dyan sa Kartilya, for public safety and welfare din. Nakaka-damage po kasi sa granite ang pagbagsak ng mga skateboards and rollerblades,” Julius Leonen, chief of the Manila Public Information Office (Manila-PIO), told reporters in a Viber message.

“Kapag nasira po, may possibility na ‘yung mga next na mag-i-iskateboard, o kaya naman ‘yung mga maglalakad, at risk sila sa mga accidents. Pwede pa rin naman sila mag-skate sa area, ‘wag lang mismo sa monument,” he added.

According to Leonen, a similar policy may likely be implemented to other historical monuments and shrines around Manila.

“May possibility na maging strict din tayo sa ibang monuments, our city engineer’s office will look into it. Hindi lang kasi siya issue sa desecration, public safety, and welfare din,” he pointed out.

Leonen noted there are specific spaces in Manila where skateboarders and rollerbladers can play. He mentioned a “Skate Park” in Paco, which skaters can use for free.

Leonen thinks skaters might have been attracted to the Bonifacio Monument now since the area has already been cleaned.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has recently ordered the thorough clean-up of Bonifacio Monument, which the local executive described as the “biggest toilet” in the city /kga