EN BANC
[A.M. No. 05-8-02-SC. November 27, 2012.]
RE: CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE MANILA HALLS OF JUSTICE PROJECT.
[A.M. No. 08-9-7-SC. November 27, 2012.]
RE: THE PROPOSED HALL OF JUSTICE FOR MANILA (COMPARISON BETWEEN THE GSIS AND JAI ALAI SITES).
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court en banc issued a Resolution dated NOVEMBER 27, 2012, which reads as follows:
"A.M. No. 05-8-02-SC — Re: Consultancy Services for the Manila Halls of Justice Project
A.M. No. 08-9-7-SC — Re: The Proposed Hall of Justice for Manila (Comparison between the GSIS and Jai Alai Sites)
RESOLUTION
Prior to the enactment of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009 1 on July 27, 2009, when the envisioned Manila Hall of Justice was still proposed to be funded from the JRSP loan from the World Bank under the Manila Hall of Justice Project (MHOJ Project), the Court issued a Resolution on February 3, 2009 in A.M. No. 05-8-02-SC and A.M. No. 08-9-7-SC. In said Resolution, the Court resolved, among others, to: cADEHI
(1) Construct the Manila Hall of Justice (HOJ) on the lot covered by TCT No. 11008 on Villegas and Aguila Streets, Manila and recall and set aside the En Banc Resolution dated October 14, 2008;
(2) Demolish the old GSIS building and other improvements on said lot and construct a totally new building to house the Manila HOJ;
xxx xxx xxx
On March 24, 2009, the Court further issued a Resolution wherein it resolved to:
(a) NOTE the Notice of Building Condemnation of GSIS Building as Proposed Site for the Manila Halls of Justice; and
(b) APPROVE the demolition of the subject GSIS Building at no cost to the Court.
In her memorandum dated August 2, 2010, for then Chief Justice Renato C. Corona, Atty. Maria Regina Adoracion Filomena M. Ignacio, Chief of the OCA Office of the Halls of Justice, states that in a June 8, 2010 Focus Group Discussion conducted as a parallel activity to the HOJ Project, representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and other affiliated cultural agencies clarified that the GSIS Building is classified as a cultural property and "coordination by the Court with the said agencies is indispensable." She further stated that in a July 2010 advance position paper, said affiliated cultural agencies in consideration of "the present day need of the Manila Hall of Justice Courts" allow for the GSIS Building's "adaptive reuse provided that the significant features shall be kept intact in order to preserve its historical authenticity, architectural integrity and cultural value."
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), and the National Museum (NM) decided that the façade of the building including the cylindrical hole and lobby and Grids A-1 to A-6 shall be preserved while the old portion behind the building can be demolished per the diagram provided by said agencies (Annex "A). CAIaDT
Considering the above, the Court hereby declares that its February 3, 2009 and March 24, 2009 Resolutions giving its imprimatur to the demolition of the GSIS Building, are superseded by the enactment of the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. Said Resolutions are therefore hereby REVOKED and declared to be of no force and effect without prejudice to the integration and/or incorporation of the demolition works in the Scope of Works of the General Contractor pursuant to the recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)." Brion, J., on leave. Reyes and Perlas-Bernabe, JJ., on official leave. (adv17)
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) ENRIQUETA E. VIDALClerk of Court
Footnotes
1.Republic Act No. 10066.