DPWH project threatens Spanish-era walkway in General Trias

A Spanish-era walkway is in danger of being destroyed by the Department of Public Works and Highways as it builds a new bridge at the area in General Trias, Cavite.

According to Oscar Oida's report on "24 Oras", the ordinary-looking walkway is made of adobe bricks that were put together when the country was still a colony of Spain.

"This particular place, ang tawag sa kanya, Camarin, ng mga matatanda. Ngayon, Buenavista na," De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Professor Jeffrey Lubang said.

"Ibig sabihin non, storage 'yon. Taguan siya. Nakita namin 'yung historical significance," the heritage advocate added.

"Bago namin gawin 'yan, meron kaming pakikipag-ugnayan sa local government especially the local mayor and the congressman," said Engineer Oscar Dela Cruz of DPWH Cavite District 1.

"Kung iyaN e sinasabi nila na heritage, supposedly during the time pa lang noon, sinasabi na nila na wag kayong magtayo dito," he added.

Lubang said he and fellow heritage advocates are asking if the bridge project could be moved to spare the walkway.

Dela Cruz, however, said that doing so would take time and entail additional costs.

He indicated that it was impractical to spare the heritage structure.

"The problem is kung titingnan n'yo sa ilalim ng tulay na iyan... tapyas ang ilalim niyan so it poses danger," Dela Cruz said. —NB, GMA News