Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 18) — The Philippine Long Distance Telephone Inc. (PLDT) has filed a petition to remove the Ramon Cojuangco Building (RCB) in Makati City as an important cultural property (ICP).
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) announced the petition notice on its official social media page on Tuesday.
“Notice to the Public: Notice is hereby served that the Philippine Long Distance Telephone (PLDT) Inc. has filed with the NCCA a Petition to Remove the Presumption of Ramon Cojuangco Building, a Work of National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin, as an Important Cultural Property,” the statement read.
Located at Makati Avenue, the 15-story RCB serves as the main headquarters of PLDT. It was designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin. It was commissioned by PLDT in 1974 and was completed and inaugurated in 1982.
In its petition, PLDT said the RCB “does not demonstrate exceptional cultural, artistic, and historical significance. Thus it cannot be regarded as an ICP.”
PLDT added that the building does not represent the iconic works of Locsin, saying that the building is “generic, nondescript, and purged of any references to local culture, tradition, climate, or identity of the place.”
The company also cited Republic Act 10066, which states that the works of a National Artist are considered of historical significance unless otherwise declared by the NCCA.
According to PLDT, it plans to “redevelop and transform [the structure] into a modern, ecologically sustainable and open campus-type headquarters.”
The NCCA said the public may send their written support or opposition to the petition via email until June 7.
