Baroque Churches of the Philippines

• Proposed plan for building an ossuary to replace the original 159 crypt burials (issue resolved)
• Need for long-term solution to control the flow of heavy rainwater (issue resolved)
• Ground Transport Infrastructure (Proposed project to build the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge)

On 1 December 2020, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report along with an Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA), a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) and amended project details on the proposed plan to construct the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge (BIB), in addition to the Intramuros Conservation Management Plan (CMP). The report is available at https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/677/documents/ and provides the following updates:

• The BIB was proposed in 2018 as an alternate route crossing the Pasig River to alleviate traffic congestion and contributes to the improved capacity of the road transport network in Metro Manila. The planned BIB location is on the north edge of Intramuros (approximately 550m away from San Agustin Church, a component part of the property), which is included in the buffer zone of the property;
• The results of the AIA suggest that no archaeological remains that could contribute to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property were identified at the proposed construction site;
• The HIA indicates that there would be no direct physical or visual impact from the project on the San Agustin Church, owing to its remote distance and the number of taller structures between the project site and the church;
• On the other hand, the HIA also demonstrates that, both during the period of construction and upon operation of the bridge, the larger volume of vehicular traffic will result in increased vibration and air pollution, which will have serious cumulative effects on the OUV of the property, even though only light vehicles will be allowed to cross the bridge, as indicated in the amended project proposal;
• In order to avoid adverse impacts on the OUV of the property, the HIA recommends a series of mitigation measures, such as closing the surrounding streets and roads of the property to vehicles and creating pedestrian areas, conducting structural assessment and some changes to public spaces, as well as adapting the design of the bridge approach to the character of Intramuros, and organizing regular monitoring and maintenance work on the property and its surrounding heritage assets that could contribute to the OUV of the property.

In March 2021, an ICOMOS Technical Review on the AIA, HIA and CMP was shared with the State Party.

It is welcome that the State Party commissioned relevant studies, including the AIA, HIA and CMP to evaluate the potential impact of the BIB project on the OUV of the property.

According to the HIA, as the project site is located remotely from the San Agustin Church, immediate and direct impacts on the property are not anticipated. Nevertheless, significant potential indirect and long-term impacts have been identified as resulting from the two phases of the project: the construction of the bridge and its eventual visual presence and operation. These impacts and some issues arising from the AIA, HIA and CMP have been identified through the ICOMOS Technical Review.

During the period of construction, vibration, dust and noise pollution from the construction work and regular movement of heavy equipment are expected to increase. When the bridge becomes fully operational, increased vehicular activity in Intramuros and its surrounding area would generate additional ground vibration, air and noise pollution, and traffic congestion. These factors could have serious implications on the structural stability, weaken the plaster and compromise the adobe that forms the core material of the church.

Although the BIB would be more than 500 metres away from San Agustin Church, it would have a direct visual impact on the overall setting and sense of place of the property, including the colonial city’s fortified wall, as well as the Maestranza strip and the Plaza México, the visual corridor of the Pasig river and the underlying remains of the Baluarte de Santo Domingo, which will be directly and physically impacted by the Intramuros portion of the bridge. In light of the HIA’s conclusions regarding the negative impacts on attributes of OUV including vistas, viewsheds and the setting of the property, which could only be partially mitigated by implementing costly mitigation measures, it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to reconsider the design of the bridge, its location and the possibility of a ‘no-project option’, and notably consider converting the surrounding streets and roads of the San Agustin Church into pedestrian areas, conducting structural assessment of the Church and adapting the design of the bridge approach to the character of Intramuros. The HIA should be revised and updated accordingly, the AIA should be revised and expanded in accordance with the findings of the ICOMOS Technical Review and the CMP should also be revised in order to facilitate the long-term management and conservation of all the attributes that convey the significance of the property. The Committee may also request the State Party to provide further information regarding the proposed reconstruction of the Baluarte de Santo Domingo that is mentioned in both the HIA and AIA.

Finally, it is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to provide accurate information to the public on the project and communicate with stakeholders, including heritage experts and local communities, to develop a robust management structure and ensure the conservation of the property.