Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso defended his plan to convert the Intramuros Golf Course into a forest park on Wednesday, Dec. 3, as more people, particularly golfers and other stakeholders of the facility, continue to criticize the proposed project.

Speaking at the Manila Tourism and Cultural Development Plan - Stakeholder’s Consultation and Planning Workshop, Domagoso underscored the importance of the conversion, saying that it's primary purpose is to give it back to the people of the city and to promote an inclusive and sustainable urban development plan in Manila.

“Recently, may mga nagwawalang golfer. Akala mo ba sila ang may-ari at karapatan. Nanggalaiti sila na bakit daw gagawing park? Tingnan n’yo ang argument. Talagang mahahalata mo na mga taong makasarili (Recently, there are some golfers who are complaining about the proposal as if they are the owners of the land and have the rights to it. They are angry about it being turned into a park? Look at their argument. You can really see that these are selfish people)," Domagoso said, adding that the Intramuros Forest Park is a legacy project that will benefit not just the people today, but the future generation as well.

“Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa inyo, hindi po ako nanghihingi dahil sa kapritso. Hinihingi ko po ang sense of pride ng Manila—to give it back to us (I just want to let you know, I'm not asking for it out of whim. I'm asking for the sense of pride of Manila—to give it back to us)," he stressed.

The mayor also urged Manileños to join him on the city government's advocacy and to not turn a blind eye to it.

Upon learning of the golf course's proposed conversion, golfers, the facility's stakeholders, as well as some heritage advocates, expressed their strong opposition of the plan as they called for the preservation of the site’s cultural, economic and historical value.

A petition dubbed as “Save Club Intramuros Golf Course" has since gained traction, with its petitioners arguing that the plan threatens not only jobs and tourism revenue, but also a living piece of Manila’s heritage.

According to the petitioners, the plan not only threatens the jobs of the facility's employees and the city's tourism revenue, but also "a living piece of Manila’s heritage."

“We urge that this plan be reconsidered as we believe that the preservation of the golf course is essential not only to our community but to the cultural, economic, and historic identity of the City of Manila,” the petitioners said in a statement.

“The potential closure of Club Intramuros would put these people at risk of losing not only their jobs but also the dignity and stability that come with them,” the statement read.

Domagoso had earlier presented the conversion plan to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. last Oct. 17.

The proposal was developed in consultation with renowned urban planner and architect Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr., with whom the mayor had prior discussions.

“Napag-usapan po namin ni Architect Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox, Jr. ang ating proposal sa ating Pangulo na gawing forest park ang golf course sa Intramuros. Nakita natin na underutilized ito at iilan lamang ang nakakagamit, kaya panahon na upang mapakinabangan ito ng mas nakararami nating kababayan bilang isang malawak na green space sa Lungsod ng Maynila (Architect Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox Jr. and I discussed with the President our proposal to convert the golf course in Intramuros into a forest park. We observed that the area is underutilized and benefits only a few, which is why we believe it is time to make it accessible to more of our fellow citizens as a vast green space in the City of Manila),” the mayor explained.

The President has yet to issue his decision on the conversion project, saying that he will review the project’s merits and the concerns raised by stakeholders.