MANILA - The Department of Public Works and Highways is pushing through with the construction of the Binondo-Intramuros Friendship Bridge despite fears that it might plow through some heritage sites in the country's capital.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said they continue to hold dialogues with the concerned sectors and stakeholders, like the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, as they proceed with the construction of the bridge.

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The P4.2-billion bridge, which is funded by China through the Duterte administration's Build, Build, Build program, is seen to ease traffic in Manila.

• Do we really need the Binondo-Intramuros Friendship Bridge?

International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Philippines has said the construction of the bridge will plow through the portion of the San Agustin Church, a declared UNESCO world heritage site since 1993. They said this may cause the removal of the church from the UNESCO list.

The NCCA has also listed Intramuros for possible inclusion in the Philippines’ Tentative List for future declaration as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

--report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News