Inquirer file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Groups opposed to the so-called “commercialization” of the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus in Quezon City staged a protest during the opening of a supermarket at the “DiliMall” on Monday even as UP president Angelo Jimenez said the establishment would benefit the community.
The DiliMall is located on the former site of the UP Shopping Center (SC), which burned down in 2018.
Article continues after this advertisementThe protesters included the UP Not For Sale Network, other multisectoral groups and former SC tenants, one of whom called out Jimenez for not honoring a 2004 memorandum of agreement between them and the university.
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Under the agreement, original SC tenants must be prioritized by the UP administration if it decides to replace the old shopping center with the proposed two-story DiliMall. They also have first rights to stalls and a 20-percent discount in rental fees in their first five years of occupancy.
Article continues after this advertisementThe stallholder told Jimenez that although the discount was honored, the agreement to place them on the first or second floors was not.
Article continues after this advertisement“You will place us on the third floor while we have large machines to operate and carry. Why is that? And we have been asking for a meeting with you, this is my first time to meet you,” she told the UP president.
Article continues after this advertisementJimenez, however, pointed out that DiliMall was “almost in completion” when he became UP president. He also told the protesting groups he would always be open to a dialogue with them.
Provisions honoredIn a statement to the Inquirer, the UP System said it honored the 2004 agreement with stallholders, particularly the 20 percent rent discount and five-year freeze on rental fees.
Article continues after this advertisementAs for concerns about photocopying services being placed on the third floor, it said the mall made sure “to provide convenience features like escalators and elevators—including a service elevator for tenant requirements.”
It even likened the setup to other shopping malls which have their “heavy-duty photocopying services” on upper floors.
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