THE National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has approved the demolition of Santa Mesa Fire Station, prompting responses from heritage advocates and local groups.
Manileños for Heritage (M4H), a heritage conservation group, has opposed the decision, citing the fire station’s historical significance as one of Manila’s oldest firefighting structures.
“Despite early petitions and calls for a cease and desist order to protect the structure, NHCP has failed to engage the local community, particularly the residents of Santa Mesa, who have been actively monitoring the issue,” said M4H in their Facebook post.
“We are particularly alarmed that while NHCP is considering the recognition of other heritage fire stations in Manila as historic landmarks, it has paradoxically facilitated the destruction of Santa Mesa Fire Station,” they added.
The group claimed that NHCP’s move “undermines the credibility of the agency and disregards its own mandate under Republic Act No. 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.”
Under this law, structures over 50 years old may be considered important cultural properties, requiring thorough assessment before any modifications or demolition. The Santa Mesa Fire Station, which dates back to 1919, meets this criterion.
According to Renacimiento Manila, it was the last fire station constructed during the American and pre-war era and remained standing after World War II.
M4H claims that the “Proposed Reconstruction” plan by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be a complete demolition and replacement of the structure. They alleged that this is a violation of heritage laws and questions the transparency of the deliberations done by NHCP regarding this matter.
“The lack of transparency in NHCP’s deliberations, particularly its meeting with the BFP, further raises concerns about procedural integrity,” said M4H.
Renacimiento Manila, a heritage advocacy group dedicated to preserving, restoring, and promoting Manila’s historical landmarks, also shared M4H’s post. They had opposed the plan as early as January this year, and wrote to NHCP to stop the demolition.
With the demolition now moving forward with NHCP’s approval, M4H has formally submitted a memorandum to the NHCP Board of Commissioners, urging them to reconsider and rescind their decision.
In the memorandum, M4H emphasized that the public and the community were not consulted for the plan.
“Any agreements or resolutions arising from this meeting were never cascaded to the local residents, depriving the community of its rightful voice in this matter,” the memorandum stated.
“We call for public consultation before any lifting of heritage status, a mandatory 15-day public notice period for such cases, and consideration of relocating the structure rather than outright demolition,” said M4H in their post.
“Our memorandum further highlights the legal and administrative consequences NHCP officials may face for failing to follow due process,” they said.
Republicasia has reached out to NHCP for comment about the issue. As of writing, no response has been received.
