Amending Presidential Decree No. 1277 DatedJanuary 4, 1978 Entitled "Providing For The Preservation Of The Walls Of Intramuros And The Restoration Of Its Original Moat And Esplanade" By Inc

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PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1537

AMENDING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1277 DATED JANUARY 4, 1978 ENTITLED "PROVIDING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WALLS OF INTRAMUROS AND THE RESTORATION OF ITS ORIGINAL MOAT AND ESPLANADE" BY INCLUDING PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION OF THE WALLED CITY

WHEREAS, the Walled City and its Walls represent as integral parts of our national history; and if properly preserved and conserved will contribute to the tourist potentials of the City of Manila;

WHEREAS, Presidential Decree No. 1277 dated January 4, 1978 was issued to save the deteriorating conditions of the Walled City and its Walls;

WHEREAS, some provisions of the said decree are not clear on the preservation of the Walled City;

WHEREAS, some items are not covered in the said decree to insure the success of the preservation and restoration of the Walled City and its Walls;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby amend Presidential Decree No....

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Summary of Presidential Decree No. 1537

Preservation and Restoration of the Walled City of Intramuros
- The Walls of Intramuros and the Walled City itself are precious historical relics that should be preserved and restored. (Section 1)

Treatment of the Walls
- Parts with minor damage shall be maintained and cleaned as is. (Section 2)
- Parts almost totally destroyed shall not be reconstructed but left as is. (Section 2)
- Parts with partial destruction shall be restored. (Section 2)

Access and Easements
- A 6-meter access road along the inner face of the walls shall be provided. (Section 3)
- A 55-meter clear space along the outer face of the walls, bastions, and ravelins shall be provided for the restoration of the moat and esplanade. (Section 3)
- This road and space shall be open to the public and not obstructed or used for parking. (Section 4)
- Owners of encroaching structures have 3 months from publication to clear the area, or the Military Corps of Engineers will demolish the structures at the owners' cost. (Section 5)

Penalties
- A fine of 100 to 1,000 pesos for the first offense of altering or defacing the walls without written authority from the National Historical Institute. (Section 6)
- A fine of 1,500 to 5,000 pesos and/or imprisonment of 1 to 6 months for subsequent offenses. (Section 6)

Zoning and Construction Regulations
- Intramuros is declared a commercial, residential, educational, and cultural district, except for historic spots. (Section 7)
- New buildings shall be designed for residences, businesses, offices, schools, colleges, and universities, except for churches and convents. (Section 7)
- All new buildings and alterations/repairs affecting the entire facade shall conform to Spanish-Filipino colonial architecture. (Section 8)
- No warehouses or storage of crates/containers allowed. (Section 9)
- Building height shall not exceed 30 meters, and no tower shall exceed 35 meters from the sidewalk. (Section 10)
- Existing pre-1945 street widths shall be preserved. (Section 11)

Implementation and Funding
- Necessary funds shall be included in the annual appropriations for the National Historical Institute, which shall disburse the funds. (Section 12)
- The National Historical Institute shall exercise supervision and control over the reconstruction or preservation, issue rules and regulations, and approve all construction or remodeling within Intramuros. (Section 13)
- The Institute can call on any government agency for assistance. (Section 13)
- Inconsistent laws, orders, rules, and regulations are repealed or modified accordingly. (Section 14)
- The Decree takes effect 30 days after publication in the Official Gazette. (Section 15)