Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ordered to temporarily stop the above-ground construction of the MRT-7 Quezon Memorial Circle station since it will affect the national heritage park.
In a statement, she said the landmark’s identity as a national heritage park would be damaged.
Furthermore, it was revealed in a project review that it had exceeded the area for construction, where the proposed floor area is more than five times the indicated 4,997 square meters in the projects’ permit and clearance.
According to the lady Mayor, the Quezon City Government will look for a win-win solution to protect open spaces amid the advancement of transportation, where thousands of commuters will benefit from the mass transport project.
Belmonte also mentioned that she had initiated talks with the Department of Transportation, contractor EEI, the San Miguel Corporation, and the National Housing Authority, and other stakeholders for clarification and guidance.
Because a historical landmark is at stake, she consulted with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, the Quezon-Avancena Family and the descendants of the late Manuel Quezon regarding the matter.