Bayani Fernando defends Circulo del Mundo amid structure’s removal

Former Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando defended on Thursday  the construction of Circulo del Mundo in the middle of the sculpture's removal in preparation for the Papal visit and the upcoming construction of a skyway going to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

"Nakakahinayang, hindi lang doon sa pera na ginastos natin kundi pati doon sa pagpapakahirap ng maraming tao na gumawa niyan," Fernando said in an interview with GMA News TV's News To Go.



He suggested that instead of removing the structure completely, the authorities can move it to another location to save the award-winning public art it houses.

"Kung binabaklas man nila, 'wag nilang sirain kundi iurong lang nila," he said.

Fernando said that the Circulo del Mundo design was the best among a national contest judged by National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon Abueva, glass sculpture Ramon Orlina, and former Tourism Secretary Gemma Cruz-Araneta.

According to him, the budget for the construction of the project amount to P50 million from the NAIA.

"Lalong higit na sayang ang ginastos ng taumbayan diyan, kung 'yan ay ating sisirain," he stressed.

Not yet done, design not followed

Circulo del Mundo is a rotunda built to ease the heavy traffic expected when NAIA Terminal 3 opened, Fernando said. Aside from the sculpture, the MMDA then also widened the Andrews Avenue up to eight lanes. The road-widening project cost around P20 million, the former MMDA chairman said.

He also noted that the sculpture was made for the overseas Filipino workers.

"'Yang istraktura na 'yan, may kahulugan. 'Yan ay unang-una ay para sa ating mga OFW na pupunta sa iba't ibang bahagi ng mundo kaya 'yan ay Circulo del Mundo," he explained.

However, the sculpture's design was not completely followed, he thought.

"Ang sa tingin ko ay hindi pa tapos 'yan. May mga bagay na dapat pang ilagay diyan... Maaaring walang nagka-interes dahil sa akin nagsimula," Fernando said.

He said that authorities could have made Circulo del Mundo even more attractive to passersby.

"Hindi ako magaling sa arte pero ang kulay diyan ay kulang lamang," he said.

Skyway project

Fernando also noted that adding a skyway near NAIA is not part of Metro Manila's master plan.

"'Yang skyway na 'yan, wala sa plano. Sa Metro Manila master plan, wala 'yan. Nito lamang 'yan na nagkaisip sila lagyan," he said.

The 7.75 kilometer four-lane elevated expressway will provide access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and link South Luzon Expressway to the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway. — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News