Finally – Puerto Galera Builds the Muelle Heritage Project

The Administration under Mayor RDI launched the massive Muelle Heritage Rehabilitation Project. The Notice to Proceed has been issued to the Contractor two weeks ago. A big day for our town, a sad day for the residing vendors as they where given the Notice to Vacate on April 17, giving them one month to pack up their belongings.

A new Muelle Pier Area was planned already many years ago but never materialized. The plan reportedly was to build a mixed commercial/residential building at the Pier.  The proposed development of the area created since the very early stage anger and fear among the Vendors residing at Muelle Pier, running restaurants, convenient store’s and souvenir stalls, fearing for their livelihood, the resistance was and is high.

The Honorable Mayor Rockey D. Ilagan had a complete different approach. Learning, that Puerto Galera was about to be delisted as Man And Biosphere Reserve of the United Nation (MAB), the Mayor and his Team pledged to focus on basics and the environmental protection/rehabilitation during his first term. With that in mind, he founded a Technical Working Group, to come up with ideas and concrete plans to rehabilitate Muelle Pier.

The Group came up with the Idea to transform Muelle Pier into a cultural Heritage Site, including the rich history of Puerto Galera in their design, and honor our Man and Biosphere Reserve Membership.

Launched in 1971, UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB) is an Intergovernmental Scientific Program that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments.

MAB combines the natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihoods and the equitable sharing of benefits, and to safeguard natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable.

Its World Network of Biosphere Reserves currently counts 669 sites in 120 countries all over the world, including 20 transboundary sites. Puerto Galera was the first MAB reserve in the Philippines and is still the only Town worldwide who is listed as such. Now-days, the Philippines have still only three MAB listings.

As the new plans now comply with the rules of TIEZA, the national Government was able to fund the first stage of the project. 60 Mio Pesos was granted to the People of Puerto Galera to rehabilitate their historic bay area, and make it a prime tourism spot in Town. Parks, paddle boat stations, a Museum, a 1:1 Copy of an old Spaniard Galleon – serving as conference center and extension of the Historic Museum – will be build, together with a Grand Stand, who will be able to give around 500 people space for events, offering bars and restaurants in the basement and, finally, got public comfort-rooms.

A boardwalk, with proper lights and places to sit will roundup the picture.

“It will take approximately one year to complete phase one” so Mayor RDI to the Fortnightly Journal, “after almost two years of hard work and preparations we moving on and finally doing it now. Phase one will include the reclaiming, boardwalks, the Galleon, Grand Stand, the Terminal and the Landscaping. The Museum, the Lighthouses and the boardwalk at the Badlaz site will be realized in Phase two. We are preparing the plans and details for funding as we speak.”

The overwhelming Majority of the People in Puerto Galera is looking forward to see the project finally on his way.

The Technical Working Group included:

-Principal Architect Mc Niel A. Ceniza
-MENRO Joan Margarette A. Yap
-Arch. Maan Shane Pausanos
-Arch. Jenny Cepillo
-Engr. Geraldin Bacay
-Kees Koornstra
-Dr.Mario Lutz

The associated people from TIEZA’s Architectural & Engineering Department where:

-Engr. Amelita Caganda
-Arch. Arthur Anonueva

SITE PLAN A
SITE PLAN B
SITE PLAN C
SITE PLAN D