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| The proposed Solar City development map |
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| The proposed area to be reclaimed in the last remaining waterfront portion of Roxas Boulevard in Manila |
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| Perspective of the area to be reclaimed in the Manila Bay area |
The Solar City is a mixed-use commercial development project of Gold Coast Development Corporation and the City Government of Manila. The project would require reclamation of a 288-hectare portion of Manila Bay between the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the US Embassy along Roxas Boulevard. This less than two kilometers stretch is now the only waterfront portion left of the Roxas Boulevard in Manila. This stretch also gives a good view of the famous Manila Bay sunset, in fact, it is the only place left to see the sunset along the boulevard. The easement between the road and the seawall on this portion of the boulevard serves as a sidewalk and promenade for Manila's residents and tourists. With the the development of the Solar City, a big portion of the bay would be obstructing the sunset view along this area. As to how big the area that will be obstructed remains to be seen. But definitely, the 288 hectares would be a big area that would surely cover the immediate and peripheral areas near the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Manila Yacht Club from seeing the sunset.
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| Before and After the Solar City view of the Manila Bay area. |
Looking at the development plan or map of the Solar City, the project seems like a good development, except of course for its effects on : the traffic and business in this area, sewerage and flooding, soil liquefaction and the obstruction of the sunset view from Roxas Boulevard and Ermita areas.
Since this project requires reclamation of the sea, this project would take years to implement. The reclamation process alone would take years to dump big monoliths and earth into the sea. You can just imagine the extent of the area to be reclaimed, 288 hectares. After reclaiming the sea, the development would not proceed immediately. The reclaimed area would still need to settle and be compacted. How long would this process take? Definitely this would take a long, long time to ensure that the foundation of Solar City would be stable and not sink later on. After the reclaimed area is completely compacted, the actual development (horizontal and vertical) of the Solar City follows.
One problem for this project would be its access roads to the area. It has to use the CCP complex, an already developed tourist, business, convention, entertainment and hotel complex. All these establishments would definitely suffer when the reclamation starts. One option for the project's access road, so as not to disturb the CCP complex existing establishments, is to break the seawall along Roxas Boulevard and make a new road leading to the sea area to be reclaimed. But this option would sacrifice the boulevard's traffic and landscape.
Another issue on this development is the classification of Manila Bay coastal area as a national park and resort, and a protected area of historical and cultural significance. Our laws protect this area. The Manila city council's decision to enter into a consortium agreement with a private entity did not consider this matter. Manila Bay is a natural resource and is considered a national heritage and patrimony, use and development of Manila Bay should not solely be decided by the Manila local government but should include all stakeholders, including the sunset viewers of Manila Bay.
The Solar City project might be a good project that will enhance Manila's urban development and economy, but is it good enough and worthy enough for us to sacrifice the Manila Bay, our cultural and historical heritage, our patrimony, our sunset and many more?
So what do you think? Is Solar City a good or bad development?
The Solar City project might be a good project that will enhance Manila's urban development and economy, but is it good enough and worthy enough for us to sacrifice the Manila Bay, our cultural and historical heritage, our patrimony, our sunset and many more?
So what do you think? Is Solar City a good or bad development?
News and Picture Source :
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=100021019
www.rappler.com
Related Link :
http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/columnist1/41807-manila-bay-reclamation-profiting-off-the-filipino-people-s-patrimony
http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2013/02/petition-saving-manila-bay-and-its.html
ano to relocation nanaman?
ReplyDeletetatlong Bukid nanaman ang mawawala para lang sa project na ito? tsk'2 unahin nyo ang mga taong walang bahay kesa sa pgpaganda ng manila bay
ano naman ang gagawin sa mga walang bahay? bibigyan ng lupa't bahay...wow...ang swerte naman...kaya lalo nagiging tamad ang mga iyan...laging umaasa sa gobyerno wala naman pakinabang...
DeleteRelocation na naman?? Ano yun? Squatter ka ba dyan? Aba magtrabaho.ka kasi.at di yung puro reklamo! Kung gusto mo.magkabahay lahat punta ka ke willie revillame baka.magbigay...ano.ba solusyon mo? Magbibigay ka ba ng trabaho sa mga maaalis dun?? Ay kuya ate kakapag init k ng ulo...bago magreklamo siguraduhin mo na meron kang maiaip na maganda para aa mga kababayan natin...wag ka rin tapon ng tapon ng mga basura mo dun..burara ka kasi!
Deletengayon ko lang nalaman na may tao at bukid pala sa Manila Bay... wow ah... paano mawawalan ng bukid eh WALA namang bukid sa dagat??? shunga lang???
DeleteThe project will provide an estimated Php5.2 billion in revenues and 100,000 jobs.
ReplyDeleteMuch better than watching the sunset with empty stomach.
The project is an ugly monstrosity that will rob the people of Manila the only free and open space available to them to view and appreciate the Manila bay. There are already many places and building in Manila that badly need development, like the old Escolta. They don't need to touch the bay.
ReplyDeleteI will choose an ugly monstrosity than to view an ugly scenario of people in open spaces appreciating manila bay all day without working their ass of on a decent job thay this monstrsity can provide..hsving to have this monstrosity does not mean the sun would not rise and set...its not the end of the world!! Who would want to escolta when there are robbers littering the area...dahil walang trabaho! Pag pigaganda ang escolta ang mga magnanakaw naka kurbata na!
Deletethey probably would create a new boulevard at the the other end for sunset viewers...much cooler....while the idea of developing escolta and the old manila seems to be a very noble thought, it just wont hold water in terms of jumpstarting Manila's economy in the next 3-4yrs...as a matter of priority, the solar city should go ahead...perhaps tomorrow the redevelopment of old manila will follow...any other thoughts against the solar city espoused on losing the sunset view of manila bay appears to be elitist and caters only to the satisfaction of the few bourgeoisie.
DeleteYOU MOVE TO THE BAY TO SEE THE SUNSET, DON'T FOOL ANYBODY WITH YOUR PERCEPTIONS, SUN STILL SETS THERE EVEN THEIR'S DEVELOPMENT OR NONE.
ReplyDeleteMag move on na tayong.mga filipino at tanggapin ang mga pagbabago....rally ng rally yung iba na kesyo masisira ang balanse ng ekolohiya ngayong karamihan.naman.tapon ng tapon ng basura sa dagat at kung saan saan...mga ipokrito talaga ang karamihan! Reklamo ng reklamo na walang trabaho dito.
ReplyDelete.ngayon ginagawan ng trabaho ang mga pinoy reklamo.pa rin...mahilig tayo kuno sa mga pakikibaka sa tuwid ngayong baluktot naman ang pag iisip sa.pagbabago..kaya walang pag unlad pero pag may maganda namang resulta ang sasabihin....proud to be pinoy!! Kakairita!!
Basically another suspicious project to line Erap's pockets while at the same time doing nothing to improve Manila (just ser San Juan)
ReplyDeleteThis is capitalism at work. The moneyed people invests, creates jobs, promotes business opportunities, generates tax revenues, and promotes tourism. This is an excellent idea.
ReplyDeleteThis project should have senate/congress approval and not just local govt. Mayors cannot act on their own on reclamation issues. Also, I don't like the developers, their not as big as SM or MEG or ALI. Something fishy might be happening. Kung airport ang gagawin jan, magiging masaya pa ko.
ReplyDeleteOmg what view obstruction? You can move to the waterfront on the newly developed reclaimed area if you miss the Manila view. You know it's actually even a better view! Having towering skyscrapers at your background instead of filthy old districts. I fully support this expansion. It will increase land value in Metro Manila and help redevelop the shanty towns into more upscale high density condos.
ReplyDeleteInstead of visualizing about the disadvantages of that project, you should visualized fist the possible outcome of the SOLAR CITY it might become more productive when they implement those project, then after established this,you can now provide the remedies of the possible future problem that may encounter of the said project.Right?????????..always think the positive side, because. in every problems there are solutions. kung yun lang ang ikakaunland ng bansa to gain the population of tourist, why not diba?more projects,more opportunities to come..those who handle or manage of the said project,hope you can do some alternatives to avoid the negatives side affect, if we can't invade the negative...only God knows..have faith:)........
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do not agree with this project because of its reclamation of the sea issue. By dumping soil and developing business establishment in the bay might be an accident in the making because it will have a tendency to sink later on.
ReplyDeleteactually approved ako dito ang gusto ko lang is wag masyadong malaki ang lupain na sasakupin nila imaging 2 kilometers from ccp to us embassy .... grabe naman un ...... approved ako dito kasi andami niyang bibigyan ng trabaho at for sure tatataas ang ekonomiya ng Manila ...... sa aspeto naman na di makikita ang sunset ng manila bay for sure makikita un sa part na yan na gagawin pero di na sa roxas bl.
ReplyDelete