Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 7163)
The purpose of Letter of Instructions No. 733 is to direct the restoration of certain areas and buildings in Intramuros, ensuring that construction conforms with the highest historical and aesthetic standards, fostering historical and artistic consciousness, and preserving the cultural heritage as mandated by existing laws.
An Ad Hoc Restoration Committee for Intramuros is tasked to prepare the restoration plan. This committee is chaired by the Director of the National Historical Institute and includes members from the Bureau of Building and Real Property Management, the National Parks Development Committee, and other persons designated by the President.
The areas and buildings include Palacio del Governador, Commission on Elections Building, Ayuntamiento Building, Intendencia Building, Intramuros Fire Station, Rural Bankers Association Building, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Edward J. Nell Building, the row of buildings on Aduana Street fronting Plaza de Roma, Plaza de Roma open space fronting the Comelec, and open spaces around the Intendencia.
The Committee must ensure the external appearance of the public buildings faithfully reproduces their appearance at a specific historical cut-off date, the main rooms reproduce their former appearance when possible, the building use is compatible with their historic value, inclusion of government projects in the CY 1979 infrastructure program, and private buildings' construction/expansion conform to the Committee's plans and designs.
The construction of the Palacio del Governador Condominium is suspended. The site and construction in progress should be returned to the national government under terms approved upon the Committee's recommendation.
No external modifications to the buildings or ruins listed shall be authorized or undertaken until the Committee completes its work and submits its recommendations.
The restoration plan must cover the exterior appearance of the buildings, major interior features and utilization of the public buildings, and the design and utilization of the open spaces surrounding the buildings.
The Committee is required to submit its recommendations on or before September 30, 1978.
The Director of the National Historical Institute, Chairman of the Commission on Elections, Governor of the Central Bank of the Philippines, National Treasurer, President of Land Bank of the Philippines, Director of the Bureau of Building and Real Property Management, Director of the Bureau of Public Works, and Director of the National Parks Development Committee are directed to comply.
The Committee is instructed to ensure that the use of the buildings be compatible with their historic value, integrating both preservation of their appearance and functional relevance to public use.