Because how many more shopping malls does Metro Manila need?
“The group of tycoon Enrique Razon yesterday said the City of Manila would benefit from ‘urban renewal’ and unlock more revenues from the preservation and redevelopment of the 82-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex (RMSC),” reports Doris Dumlao-Abadilla in Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Razon issued the statement, as heritage conservation advocates have started an online signature campaign to oppose the conversion of the sports complex into a commercial center, which includes a shopping mall.
The petition on Change.org argues, “Built in 1934, RMSC has been the site of many Filipino triumphs in sport. Not only it was built for the Far Eastern Championship Games, the precursor for the Asian Games, it was also destroyed by World War II and was rebuilt later, making it a historic place. The complex has hosted the Far Eastern Championship Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and other international and local matches and tournaments. The Rizal Memorial Stadium, Coliseum, and the rest of the complex are architectural and historical gems, as it is designed in Art Deco style and has hosted different international matches.”
For his part, Razon reasoned, “The city has had no income from RMSC for years now, leaving the city with no funds to modernize facilities.”
The report pointed out: “The Razon group also noted that the PSC had been considering to transfer the RMSC to a different location, possibly Clark, in order to build the Philippine Olympic Village. This new sports complex is envisioned to be a larger and more modern sports complex complete with training facilities for national athletes as well as facilities to host large sports meets. This is expected to happen when funding for the relocation is complete.”
