By Sammy F. Martin
MANILA, June 23 (PNA) — The unabated desecration of Quezon Memorial Circle, another national monument and landmark that serves as the burial site for the late nationalist and last president of the Philippine Commonwealth Manuel Luis Quezon, has caught the ire of congressmen who are also leading the fight against the builders of Torre Manila, the Rizal Monument eyesore.
In a weekly news forum, Ugnayan sa Batasan Representatives Winston Castelo (LP, Quezon City); Rodel Batocabe (Ako Bicol Party-list) and Ibarra Gutierrez (Akbayan Partylist) vowed to look into the reported transformation of the QMC into a “flea market and carnival” by the Quezon City government.
The trio, all members of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development, agreed that there was an urgent need for a review of existing policies and laws that protect national shrines and monuments from commercialization and desecration.
They have led the House inquiry into the construction of the controversial Torre de Manila, which was described as “photo bomber” because it allegedly ruined the line of sight of the Rizal Monument.
“There is now a need to determine flaws of existing laws in order to protect national shrines. We cannot allow them to turn into carnival sites,” Batocabe said.
On the other hand, Castelo vowed to initiate a House inquiry into the reported desecration of the QMC, where the Quezon monument stands.
The Quezon monument is the burial site for Quezon, acknowledged in Philippine history as the Father of the National Language and the last president of the Commonwealth government.
Castelo said the “development” of the QC Circle has been assigned to Tadeo Palma, who had served as the city administrator and Novaliches chief executive during the mayoralty term of now Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.
Palma, who took over the management of the memorial circle from former Vice Mayor Charito Planas during Belmonte’s mayoralty term, has allowed the operation of a carnival and “tiangge” or flea market that have occupied huge areas of the vast QMC lot.
Planas was assigned to manage the QMC as chairperson of the Quezon Memorial Foundation. Using donations from private firms and government, Planas was credited for rapidly developing the circle into one of the top public parks in the country.
The carnival has become a “permanent fixture” at the QMC since it was first established for over four years now.
As this developed, flea market stall holders who reportedly pay at least Php 1,200 per day for vending rights have been operating inside the QMC for over two years.
An estimated 200 stalls and stores have littered the QMC grounds.
Castelo said the construction of the 30-storey Suntrust condominium building behind the Quezon City hall will also have to be looked into since edifice, like the Torre de Manila, obstructs the view of the QMC. (PNA)