Manila: An international society has identified the capital's walled city of Intramuros as among the ten endangered cultural heritage sites in the developing world.
The Global Heritage Fund (GHF) cited Intramuros, as well as the adjacent Manila riverside citadel of Fort Santiago, as among the historic cultural treasures on the verge of "irreparable loss and destruction."
Essentially the site where Spanish colonisers had built walled fortifications near the mouth of the Pasig River to establish a colonial administration that reached out to the islands of Luzon, Visayas and parts of Mindanao, Intramuros endured several revolts as well as the Second World War.
While Intramuros and Fort Santiago had survived human conflict, resisting the onslaught of modernity and develoment may yet prove to be a challenge.
"Although much of the modern development that has changed the face of Manila has occurred outside the walls of Intramuros, several major chains have opened outlets inside the fortress walls, including Starbucks and McDonald's. Additionally, the old moats that originally surrounded Intramuros have since been filled and converted into a golf course," it said.
According to the GHF, poor management and lack of vision and direction by development administrators could imperil efforts to sustain the cultural treasure.
