MANILA Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, in his continuing endeavor to beautify the capital city, has cleared the 64-hectare Intramuros of all forms of obstructions and eyesores.
The famous Walled City, founded by the Spanish in 1571, has withstood wars, natural disasters and successive waves of colonial invaders, but not the road clearing units sent by Estrada to conduct a massive clearing operation in the 445-year-old stone citadel.
“Intramuros is an important cultural heritage that should not be neglected. We must keep it clean and well-maintained to help in its preservation,” Estrada said, citing the importance of the famous Spanish-era enclave to boost tourism in Manila.
Dennis Alcoreza, head of the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, said the road clearing operation covered major streets within Intramuros.
Dozens of illegally parked vehicles, unauthorized structures, unsightly piles of garbage, and numerous junks and eyesores were removed; sidewalk vendors were driven away, and dozens and dozens of pedicabs and “kuligligs” or motorized pedicabs that have been causing traffic in the area were impounded, Alcoreza said.