Development : Solar City at Manila Bay - Is it a Good or Bad Development?

The proposed Solar City development map

The proposed area to be reclaimed in the last remaining waterfront
portion of Roxas Boulevard in Manila

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. 

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?

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

Petition : Saving Manila Bay and Our Sunset

The Beautiful Manila Bay Sunset

I studied in one of the universities in Intramuros, and one of the places we used to go to kill time before going to class or study before an exam was at the Rizal Park, particularly in that small pocket park area behind the Grandstand. It was a good place go, alone or with friends. That place was also a dating place for couples, and a picnic place for families and"barkadas". The best time to go there was late in the afternoon during sunset. And the best place to sit was along the sea wall or the benches facing the sea.

The last time I went to this place was when a a balikbayan cousin invited me to a dinner in one of those seafront restaurants, two years ago. The place had changed a lot, most of the area is now a parking lot. The seawall area where we used to watch the sunset is almost gone, replaced by the Manila Ocean Park and restaurant expansions.  I was saddened with what I saw. Yes, there were new development and tourist attractions, but the sunset viewing spots were gone.

For many Manilans, it is a ritual to go to the Rizal Park and the Roxas Blvd seawall to watch the beautiful sunset of Manila Bay. Watching the sunset is a mesmerizing and an almost spiritual experience. Seeing a big orange fireball going down the horizon with the sky changing its hues with all the shades of red, orange, blue, violet, magenta as it goes down is just something out of this world. Very few cities or places have sunsets, but fewer are places with a beautiful sunset. And Manila has one of the most beautiful sunset in this planet.

Nowadays, if you want to see an unobstructed view of the famous Manila Bay sunset, you have to go to the seawall along Roxas Blvd. between the US Embassy and the Manila Yacht Club. This is the only location now left to see the sunset along Roxas Blvd. But soon, the sunset view will be obstructed by a new real estate development in this area. A big portion of the Manila Bay between the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the US Embassy will be reclaimed and developed into a commercial hub.

We hope that that day will never come when we will never see the sunset along Roxas Boulevard anymore. If ever that day comes, Manila's sunset years has come.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE PETITION NOT TO RECLAIM MANILA BAY

Please sign the petition below

Click link below to sign the petition :
http://www.change.org/petitions/s-o-s-manila-bay-save-our-sunset-stop-the-reclamation-of-manila-bay?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=18773&alert_id=oNXzRKjwGs_QxbcFZjviM

Photo Source :
http://mypinoy.tv/news/reclamation-of-manila-bay-sunset-view-revived/