PhilPost open to make the most of Manila Central Post Office as ‘cultural corridor’

REMNANTS OF A LANDMARK A drone shot taken on Monday afternoon exhibits smoke
billowing from the Manila Central Post Office as firefighters proceed to place out the blaze
that began on Sunday night time. Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna assures heritage advocates that no
industrial improvement will probably be allowed on the Post Office website, an “institutional zone.”
—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Department of Tourism (DOT) chief Christina Frasco on Tuesday disclosed that the Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) has expressed curiosity in using the fire-hit Manila Central Post Office as a “cultural corridor.”

Frasco disclosed this through the Senate committee on finance’s deliberations on the proposed 2024 funds of DOT and its connected companies.

According to Frasco, after the Manila Post Office was razed by fireplace in May, the DOT instantly reached out to PhilPost, together with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, and the National Museum.

“That resulted in a convergence meeting where we all offered our help as well as the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) assistance for  whatever it is that they may need first in the short term resolution of the safeguarding of the integrity of the structure,” mentioned Frasco.

“[W]e also discussed the utilization of the Manila Post Office. [A]ccording to the PhilPost, they are open to the utilization of the property not purely anymore as a post office, but as a mixed-use facility that would result in the creation of a cultural corridor within the city of Manila, especially considering its proximity to other heritage sites such as Intramuros,” Frasco added.

Frasco then mentioned that TIEZA is now funding the “detailed engineering design” for the instant intervention that the put up workplace wants to make sure that there will probably be no additional injury that may ensue from the hearth.

Apart from instant intervention, the DOT chief likewise pressured that “talks are now ongoing” to find out the way forward for the property.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Fire Protection in June mentioned there isn’t a foul play behind the hearth that razed the century-old put up workplace on May 21, 2023.

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